“Wow… look at that thing!” Lola cried out in amazement as she stared down at the sparkling ring on Gigi’s finger. “It’s gorgeous.”

Phoenix couldn’t help the bit of pride he felt swelling in his chest as his friends oohed and ahhed over his wife’s new ring. It had put a huge dent in his savings account, but seeing how happy it made her made everything worth it.

“Thanks!” Gigi smiled. “I was so excited when we got the call from the jewelry store. It arrived very fast! We thought it would take much longer.”

“It’s so beautiful.” Addy smiled warmly as she spoke. “And it probably helps the whole ‘being married’ thing feel more official, huh?”

Gigi nodded. “It really does.”

“You know, it’s interesting…” Niko began. Phoenix laughed softly. He knew they were about to get presented with some kind of obscure, useless fact. “I was surprised to find out you guys are married.” He confessed. “The average marrying age in Western Europe is the highest in the world, you know. Over thirty, in most countries!”

“Is that so?” Phoenix asked with a teasing smile. “Yes, very interesting.”

Niko seemed to miss his sarcasm completely. “I definitely thought so! And… I guess it made me wonder… What made you two decide to get married so young?”

Addy gave her friend a disapproving look. “Niko, you can’t just ask people stuff like that.”

He just shrugged, seemingly unfazed. Lola said nothing, but eyed Phoenix and Gigi with interest, as though also waiting for their response.

Phoenix smiled at his friends. He didn’t mind answering. “Well, to be honest… We had to.” He explained. “We never really wanted to get married so soon. But we knew I was coming to the US to study. And that was the only way Gigi could come too.” He glanced over at his wife as he spoke, and noticed the growing fire behind her eyes.

Oh shit. What did I do?

“Ah…” Niko nodded in understanding. “So, a marriage of convenience, basically?”

“Kind of… There wasn’t really any other way…” Phoenix began, then quickly thought better of it. He shook his head almost frantically. “Wait, that’s not what I meant! We love each other very much.” He added hurriedly. “We always wanted to get married someday anyway. And I’m very happy it turned out this way.” Phoenix turned hopefully toward Gigi as he spoke.

She completely ignored his words. “I’m glad we were able to hang out tonight. But it’s getting late… I think I’ll go back home now.” Gigi smiled at their friends with false cheerfulness. “I’ll see you all soon, I hope.”

“Oh! Um… Do you want me to come too?” Her husband asked nervously. He’d switched back to German without even realizing it.

She shook her head. “Don’t worry, Phoenix. I don’t want you to feel like you have to.”

Gigi turned and walked away without another word.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.

As though on cue, a loud rumble of thunder broke through the air as a few drops of rain began to fall.

“Wowwww…. smooth.” Addy rolled her eyes sarcastically as soon as Gigi was out of earshot.

“Don’t be like that, Addy.” Lola shot her friend a look. “I’m sorry, Phoenix…”

He sighed sadly in reply. “Why did I have to say it like that? You guys know what I meant… right?”

They all nodded sympathetically. “We do.” Niko assured him seriously. “And there are tons of financial and legal benefits to marriage, you know. There’s totally no shame in –”

The look on the others’ faces silenced him instantly.

“Go talk to her.” Lola placed her hand on Phoenix’s arm for a moment. “We’ve all gotta get out of this rain anyway. But… Maybe walk really slow so she has a couple extra minutes to calm down?” She suggested with a small smile.

He nodded gratefully. “Yeah, I will.” He assured her. “Thanks, Lola.”

“We’ll talk tomorrow? For our Space Dementia raid?” She asked hopefully.

Phoenix smiled. “Yeah, definitely. See you guys later.”

With a soft sigh, he finally got up and began heading back up the hill toward home.

It was difficult to ignore the heavy knot of worry and anxiety that grew in his stomach with each step he took. It had been a long time since he’d seen Gigi so angry. They’d had their fair share of little spats since they’d arrived in Brindleton Bay, and that was already bad enough. The snippy comments, the guilt-tripping…

But Phoenix had a feeling this time would be even worse. And he knew he deserved it for being so thoughtless. But he already felt so embarrassed and foolish for upsetting her in front of his friends. Wasn’t that punishment enough already?

When he finally arrived back at the house, Phoenix found his wife standing in the kitchen waiting for him. She’d known he would follow, it seemed.

“Gigi… I’m sorry.” The words passed his lips almost the moment he’d set eyes on her. “I shouldn’t have said that. I fucked up.” He hung his head sadly as he spoke.

His apology was completely ignored. “Phoenix, I have a question for you.” Her voice was calm and cold. “Why did you marry me?”

“Because I love you.” He replied seriously. “You know that.”

“Really? Because that’s not what you told Niko.”

“It came out all wrong.” Phoenix’s voice was pained. “But you know that’s not what I meant.”

Gigi just shook her head. “You said you ‘had to’… Like I’m some kind of burden to you or something!”

Phoenix could feel his own temper beginning to rise. “Now you’re putting words in my mouth. I never said you’re a ‘burden’!”

“You might as well have! I’m sure that’s what they all think now.” She narrowed her eyes at him as she spoke.

“They don’t! I swear to God, they don’t. And I already told you I was sorry. I don’t know what else you want from me.” The back of his throat suddenly felt so tight and dry. “I know I fucked up. And I feel like shit for it. I really do.”

“I just wish you didn’t embarrass me in front of your friends like that!” She snapped. “You made it sound like I forced you into this or something. I thought this was what you wanted!”

“I did want it! But we both know this happened sooner than we were planning… Would you ever have asked me to marry you if I wasn’t coming here?”

“That’s not the point!”

“Look, who the hell cares why we did it?! It doesn’t change how I feel about you, okay?! I wanted you to come to the US with me. I wanted to do this with you. Because I love you.”

“Then why didn’t you tell them that?!”

“I did! Weren’t you listening?!”

“You only said it because you knew I was pissed at you! You didn’t really mean it…” He watched her wipe away a few tears as she spoke. “I forced you into this. You didn’t really want it… Did you?”

God damn it. Phoenix couldn’t stand seeing her cry, no matter how angry he felt at her or what painful truths lingered behind her words.

“Baby… come here.” Phoenix broke the distance between them at last, pulling her against his chest.

He could feel the warm wetness of her tears against his shirt. But he was grateful she chose not to pull away.

“I’m really am sorry.” Phoenix repeated once more as he continued holding her against him. He hated when they fought like this. “I wish I could take back what I said.”

At last, Gigi finally pulled away from him. “I’m sorry too.” She said softly. Her tears seemed to have smothered the fires of her earlier rage. “I shouldn’t have freaked out like that. I was just so mad…”

“I know… It’s okay.”

Gigi shook her head. “It’s not okay. I was a total bitch.” She said softly. “I let my stupid temper get out of control…”

“You’re not a bitch.” Phoenix insisted. “I love you. And I’m happy I married you. I promise.”

“I love you too… So much.”

Phoenix smiled gently at her. “Look… can we just pretend this whole stupid fight never happened?”

“Really? You’re willing to forgive me that easily?” Gigi asked. “But… I’ve been such a very bad girl.” The sudden change in her tone sent a pleasant shiver running up Phoenix’s spine.

Mm… Kinky makeup sex? I’m down for that. Phoenix’s lips curled into a smile. “Do I need to teach you a lesson?” He replied in a growl.

“Yes, sir.” She whispered.

Phoenix let out a low chuckle as he took a step toward her.

Bzzz!

The loud vibrating of his phone in his pocket nearly ruined the moment. Phoenix did his best to ignore it and not break character. “On your hands and knees.” He commanded as he reached for the buckle on his belt. “Now.”

Bzzz! Bzzz! Before Gigi could even make a move, his phone was going off once more.

This time, it was so much harder to ignore. Whoever was texting him wasn’t giving up any time soon, it seemed. Maybe it was something important?

Gigi sighed in disappointment as she watched him pull his phone from his pocket.

“Sorry… Let’s just pause here for a minute.” He gave her an apologetic smile as he glanced down at the screen.

Phoenix felt his heart drop instantly at the sight of Tam’s messages. It was nearly two o’clock in the morning back home. And Tam’s texts never felt so rushed, or had so many errors. Oh shit. What happened?!

His brow furrowed in concern as he frantically replied.

Phoenix felt like he was going to be sick. Had something happened to his brother?! Just as he was typing his next reply, the phone began vibrating in his hands.

Jasper was calling him.

His hand trembled nervously as he lifted the phone to his ear. “Hello?!”

“Phoenix…” Jasper’s voice broke on his brother’s name. “I’m sorry to bug you. I… I just really… I need to talk to you.” It was clear he was crying. Another wave of nausea rushed through Phoenix’s stomach at the sound.

“Tam just texted me… What the hell happened? Are you okay?!”

“N-no… I’m not okay. I fucked up so bad. I ruined everything. I…”

“Just take a deep breath, okay? You’re scaring the shit out of me. Please, just tell me what’s wrong.”

Phoenix could just barely make out Jasper’s reply over the sound of his loud, shaking sobs.

“It’s Tam. He… He broke up with me.”