Dark Paradise - Joel Miller x OC

The wedding

"That's a lot of work. Wouldn't you be more comfortable in the office?

-If I go, your wife will add more. Between what she wants me to learn, the daily tasks and the conflicts to be resolved, my head is gonna explode.

-You should take a break.

-I can't, I promised to finish this. I don't want to disappoint her.

-You're doing just fine. Don't you worry, she's happy to have you. Just enjoy your beer.

-I can't, I've to finish this list for Molly's wedding.

-What's left to do?

-Finding stuff, mostly. She wants a wedding dress, but we don't have enough fabric in town for that.

-Well she's the best scavenger around here, I'm sure she'll find something.

-Yeah, she's planning for a trip next week.

-Really? Are you going with her?

-No.

-Why not, it could be fun."

Joel gives his brother a heavy look. He just wants him to shut up, to stop rubbing salt in the wounds. If the young woman no longer patrols, it's not just because she's helping Maria now. The last time she was out, a strong panic attack seized her, and it took a considerable effort for him to calm her down. An energy they couldn't afford to spend on patrolling, when there are so many dangers around.

He would like her to be no longer afraid, but how could he blame her. Every time she had been out, something scary happened to her. He had come up with the idea of leaving, just the two of them, for a chalet on the heights overlooking the city. Not very far from Jackson, the place was particularly safe. He had hoped that a romantic moment outside could restore her confidence. But every time she imagined walking through the doors, her whole body froze and a cold sweat was running down her back. So he had stopped talking about it. There were enough places in Jackson to have a good time together. And if one day she came to refuse to leave their bedroom, he knew he could always organize a romantic moment there. As long as they're together, that's all that matters. He grits his teeth when Tommy begins to insist. He sees that she is uncomfortable, playing nervously with her fingers as she listens to the other speak.

"I think you should go anyway. It would allow you to discover other things, there is so much that you do not know out there.

-I can't. I'm not you, or Joel, or Molly. I'm terrified anytime that I have to leave Jackson. I know I should grow up and all but... That's the truth. I'm sorry.

-You don't have to be sorry. Not everyone needs to go out. So, what else does Molly needs?"

Joel changes the subject, shooting a warning glance to his brother. He needs to stop tormenting the young woman now, even if that is not his intention. She's finally doing something she's proud of, he doesn't have to spoil it by reminding her of what she can't do.

------

Chloe glances at Joel, who is sitting next to her at the table. It's time. He empties the contents of his glass before getting up, slowly. He still doesn't know why he agreed to do this. He had given in to wear and tear, his mistress being persuasive. And then, what the bride wants, the bride gets.

He refused at first, he didn't want to play in front of half the city. Chloe had laughed at him, didn't he want to be a musician growing up? She needed him. Molly wanted her to sing for their first dance as husband and wife, and usually Chris was the one playing the guitar. She couldn't sing without someone to accompany her.