I fucking hate airplanes. I’m too fucking big for the seats, and the food always tastes like crap.
My woman’s asleep in my lap. The moment the seat belt light went off, she crawled into my arms and fell asleep.
I can’t wait to get her home and marry her.
I want to tie her to me in every way. I want to give her my name so everybody in the fucking world knows she’s my wife. Mine.
The need to brand her is worse than ever. She’s fucking run from me once, and I refuse to let her run again. I’m still so fucking angry at her. I’m hoping this rage I’m feeling will die down when she’s sleeping in our bed every night and wearing my ring.
I glance down at the huge diamond on her finger that glistens in the light. Fuck, my chest swells every time I look at it on her finger.
We’re getting married as soon as fucking possible. I’d do it tomorrow, but she still needs to have her visa interview and she wants a dress and a garden. All I want is her as my wife. I want to start our life together without a timer hanging over our heads, so the sooner I legally tie her to me the better.
My mind flashes back to the conversation she had with her parents before we left the UK.
Livvy’s fidgeting in the chair, watching the laptop as her fingers twist nervously in her lap. The screen flashes to life, and two older people appear on the screen. Livvy’s smile is wide, and I instantly see her resemblance to them.
“Mum, Dad. It’s so good to see you. How’s Russia?” she asks.
Her mum smiles widely before replying. “Olivia, darling, you look serene.” Barely pausing for breath, she launches into a conversation without letting Livvy get a word in. “We left Russia about two weeks ago, and we’re in Latvia now. I’m sure I sent you an email with our new location. Latvia’s such a devastatingly beautiful country, and Daddy and I just felt drawn to it. We just jumped in the camper and drove straight here. We found this amazing commune where you can camp for free as long as you help tend the gardens. They grow the most fantastic weed here, and Daddy and I have been helping to harvest the pla—”
“Mum.” Shouting loudly, Livvy interrupts her mum, who pauses midword. “Mum, I’d like you to meet someone. Mum, Dad, this is Echo.” She turns towards me, and I nod to her parents. “Echo, this is my mum, Ruth, and my dad, Neville.”
Neither looks intimidated by my tattoos or biker cut. They simply smile brightly at me. Livvy nudges me, and smiling briefly, I speak. “It’s a pleasure to meet you both.”
Neville leans forward and finally addresses his daughter. “Princess, you look beautiful. I love your hair like that, all wild and free. I always hated when you ironed it. Are you okay?”
Livvy beams at her father, blushing at his praise. “Hi, Daddy. I’m perfect. We have something to tell you.”
“What’s that, princess?” her father asks.
Livvy takes a deep breath and then says, “Echo asked me to marry him, and I said yes.”
Ruth pushes Neville back and moves in front of the camera. “Oh Olivia, how wonderful. Are you pregnant, sweetheart?” her mother asks excitedly.
Rolling her eyes, Livvy sighs. “No, Mum, I’m not pregnant. There are other reasons to get married, not just a baby.”
Ruth visibly sags. “Oh well, never mind. I got quite excited, thinking I was getting a grandchild.”
“Daddy,” Livvy says. Neville moves forward again, and blowing out a ring of smoke, he passes a lit joint to Ruth, who inhales deeply. “Daddy, could you just listen to me for a minute and get stoned later?” Livvy asks, obviously frustrated.
Neville nods silently, his eyes starting to glaze and gradually closing. “It’s a natural experience, princess, you really should try it sometime. I can give you the number of our dealer at home if you want,” he slurs.
Livvy rolls her eyes. “I think two stoners in the family is plenty, Daddy,” she says sarcastically. ”So we’re getting married as soon as we can, in the next few weeks in Texas. Do you think you and Mum could fly out for the wedding?”
A smug grin slowly stretches across Neville’s face. “God, this is good shit. The Latvians really know how to cross-pollinate,” her father murmurs. Frustration shows on Livvy’s face before she finally shouts, “Daddy. The wedding, can you come?”
Neville’s eyes close, and he leans away from the camera.
“Mum. The wedding?” Livvy cries.
Ruth focuses on the camera before pulling in a deep drag of the joint. “Oh no, dear. There’s no way we can leave Europe at the moment. I had an epiphany, sweetheart. Did I tell you? This vision came to me one night, and we’re needed here. No, sorry. There’s absolutely no way we can go to America.”
“I’m your only daughter and I’m getting married, and you can’t come because you had a dream,” Livvy shouts.
“No, dear. Not a dream, a vision,” her mother answers.
Livvy sighs deeply, her shoulders sagging, and pulling her into my lap, I address her parents. “Sir, ma’am, Livvy would like you to come to the wedding. I’d be happy to pay for your airfare from Latvia to Texas and back again,” I say.
Her mother smiles serenely. “Echo, please call us mum and dad. It’s not about the money. It’s the vision. Olivia will tell you I’m a very spiritual person, and if this vision came to me, then this is where we need to be.”
I start to speak, but Livvy interrupts me. “It’s fine, Mum. I’ll send you some pictures, and I’ll try and video call again sometime next month.”
Smiling, Ruth and Neville nod. “Lovely, dear. Oh, and, Echo, try doggy style. That’s how I got pregnant with Olivia, and I’m sure it’ll do the trick for you as well,” Ruth says.
Livvy’s cheeks burn red, and she quickly rushes to end the call. “Bye Mum, bye Daddy. I love you.”
“Love you, darling,” Ruth says.
“Bye, princess,” her father calls.
Closing the laptop, she collapses against my chest. “So that’s my parents,” Livvy says.
Smiling down at the girl in my arms, I try to imagine what she would have looked like before she left to travel the States. She told me she’s different now, but I can’t imagine her being anything but the girl I’ve fallen in love with.
James and Dan plan to fly in for the wedding. I don’t fucking like that she ran from me and straight to them, but they’re her closest friends, so for her sake I’m gonna learn to put up with them. James grew up with her, but Dan is her fucking ex. I don’t care that he’s in love with another guy. I still want to smash my fist into his face simply because he’s seen my wife naked.
The stewardess insists that Livvy has to sit in her own seat for landing, so I reluctantly lift her from my lap and fasten her seat belt.
She wakes up just as the plane lands. “We’re home, sugar,” I say happily.