Initiative (Suncoast Society #31)(60)

“I was just talking with Rev. de Papio about everything. Marcus and Joanie came by this morning and—well, I goofed up.” She batted her eyes at him like she’d made a major boo-boo, and he fought the urge to laugh.

“What’d you do?” he sternly asked, apparently in character, based on her seemingly over-caffeinated, practically manic lead.

“I couldn’t wait to tell them!” She wheeled around and waved her hand at a pile of brochures and papers covering the reverend’s desk. “I know you wanted to tell Kyle next even though we already told Grant, and I’m sorry, but…well, they were John’s parents. I knew they’d want to know, and they’re so happy for us!”

Darryl didn’t understand what, exactly, had prompted this, but he could easily follow her train of thought. He’d get the details later and suspected it had something to do with her buying Jack out.

Darryl sighed. “It’s okay, sweetheart. I understand. I know how much you love them. Under the circumstances, I can’t be aggravated at you about that.”

“Even better!” She squealed, making him wince. “Marcus and Joanie agreed to pay for the whole wedding! Isn’t that amazing?”

She threw her arms around Marcus, then Joanie, who both looked just as stunned as Darryl now felt.

Only Darryl’s long back history and hours of D and D allowed him to stay in character. “Wow…that’s just…wow. Thank you.” He hugged the older couple, too.

Rev. de Papio finally spoke up. “I tell you, Marcus, you and Joanie are absolutely amazing people. I am so honored I’m going to be performing this wedding for these two. No two people are more deserving of happiness than this young couple, especially after everything poor Susie here has been through the past couple of years. I remember how devastated your whole family was when you lost John.”

Darryl had to chew on the inside of his lip to keep from laughing. The head start Susie had gotten on derailing whatever conniving plot Marcus had up his sleeve had let her f*cking bury the guy.

They’d deal with the rest of this later, but for now, he was enjoying the hell out of the older man’s obvious discomfort.

Marcus appeared to be at a loss for words. “Umm…”

“We were discussing the schedule,” Susie said. “Trying to find a good time when the church would be available and that they’d be able to spare Darryl for Sunday services, as well as time off from teaching at the school for our honeymoon.”

She returned to the reverend and touched his arm. “I have absolutely no words to describe what Marcus and Joanie mean to me,” she said.

Darryl had to move, to step around the other couple and pretend to stumble on his way to the other chair in front of the reverend’s desk, next to the one Susie had occupied when they walked in.

It was that, or he was going to seriously lose his shit laughing and blow whatever this was out of the water.

“You know,” Rev. de Papio said, playfully chiding Marcus. “You could have just told me what was going on when we talked earlier. From your tone of voice, I thought it was something serious.” He laughed. “I am so happy for these two, you have no idea. And you, my friend, to offer to pay for the wedding for them? That’s…that’s the wonderful spirit of Christ flowing through you. I am honored to call you my friend.”

He shook with Marcus, who still looked like he’d had his nuts kicked clean up into his body but hadn’t fallen over yet.

Darryl noticed that Susie had made a pointed effort not to look him in the eye following the initial wink.

If she did that, he knew they’d both be laughing their asses off.

Marcus pulled his cell phone out, as if he’d just received a call. “Excuse me a moment. I need to take this.” He stepped outside the door, closing it behind him.

That left Joanie standing there, uncomfortably silent as Susie hooked an arm through hers and started animatedly chatting about flowers and cakes and…

Darryl didn’t even know what else. He tuned it out and kept a placid smile plastered across his face and studied Joanie.

She looked nearly sick to her stomach.

Marcus returned a moment later. “Sorry, but I’ve got a business emergency I need to take care of. We’ll have to talk another time.”

“Oh, that’s okay,” Susie said. “I understand. I hope it’s nothing serious? We’ll handle the initial plans today with Rev. de Papio and I’ll fill you in later.”

She let go of Joanie and flung her arms around Marcus to hug him. Darryl noticed the man was slow and very uncomfortable to finally pat her on the back as she whispered something in his ear.

He now looked like he’d been completely neutered without the benefit of anesthesia. He gave everyone a sick smile before he turned and left, his wife following him.

Now Susie let her gaze fall on Darryl. It hardened his cock to see the victorious, predatory smile on her face as she slowly walked over to the other chair and retook her place.

She then turned to the reverend. “I told you, they’re just the most indescribable in-laws I ever could have asked for. Now, where were we?”





Darryl walked Susie out to her car nearly an hour later. He didn’t have a class because it was his lunch and planning time. He walked around to the passenger side and got in while she stared the engine and cranked the AC.