You're not saying you're in love with me, but you're going to.

70

Reece and Marjorie arrived back at their place, Marjorie immediately flopping on the couch. Reece stood in the kitchen, dialing Autumns number.

"Hello." Autumn said.
"Hey. Do I even want to know what you two did?" Reece asked.
"No." Autumn giggled.
"Did you kill her? Or harm her in some way? I cannot have you going to jail for that, Aut." Reece said, sincerity clear in his voice.
"No, and no. Well, I harmed her mentally. She's not getting off anytime soon." Autumn smirked. "Also, remember that venue you asked me to call, you know, about the party?"
"Fuck." Reece sighed. "I completely forgot all about it. Roger fucked everything up."
"It's alright. I canceled it. You don't have to worry. I still want to have that party, but we need to get this shit cleared up first." Autumn said.
"Yeah I know." Reece said, biting his lip. "I'll keep you updated. I want to make it worth it. She deserves it."
"Hell yes she does." Autumn laughed. "I'll talk to you later. Love you."
"Love you too." Reece said, hanging up the phone.

Reece set his phone down on the counter and walked over to the couch, where Marjorie was staring into space.

"You alright?" Reece asked, gently touching her shoulder which caused her to jump slightly.
"Hm? Oh, yeah. I'm fine." Marjorie giggled. "I keep replaying her kissing me in my head. Like.. what was she trying to accomplish? The audacity of that woman."
"Yeah. Does she not know you're dating a Knight? More specifically the son of Roger?" Reece asked, giggling.
"That's what I'm saying!! I know I can be dumb but I'm not that dumb." Marjorie said, sighing.

Reece looked at Marjorie and cocked his head to the side, raising his eyebrow.

"Welll...." Reece started.
"Don't you even finish that sentence." Marjorie said, holding a finger up to his lips.
"Yes dear." Reece mumbled.

Marjorie took her finger off his lips and sighed. She tilted her head up towards the ceiling and sighed again.

"You sure you're alright?" Reece asked, scooting closer to her.
"I'm fine, darling. I swear." Marjorie said. "It's been a hell of a day."
"That it has." Reece sighed. "That it has."
"You alright?" Marjorie asked, sitting up. "I can only imagine what this is doing to you."
"I'm fine." Reece said, looking at her.
"Somehow I don't believe that." Marjorie said, crossing her arms.

Reece sighed once again and put his head in his hands, holding back tears.

"How come you're always right?" Reece muttered.
"What was that?" Marjorie asked, cupping her ear. "Didn't quite catch that."
"You b....." Reece paused.
"Go ahead." Marjorie said, stifling a laugh.
"I can't. I can't say that to you." Reece sighed.
"Oh come on!!" Marjorie yelled. "Have some fun Reece."
"I can't." Reece said through gritted teeth.

Marjorie's demeanour immediately changed. She rested her hand on his shoulder, gently squeezing it, trying to a get a sense of where he was going and where this change of emotion came from.

"I just feel like this is my fault. Siobhan. Maybe if I stopped referring to her as 'a squeeze' and I actually paid attention, I would see the signs. You losing your board perms and pay raise. Autumn, losing her brother all those years because of some well-woven lie my father had created, and how he strung Mia along into it. And I know you and others tell me that it's not my fault and I have no control over the situation, but it all feels like a lie. One big lie, I've been playing my entire life. I feel like a monster. I can't afford to lose you, Marjorie. What if I screw this up? You'll never look at me the same. Carly will never look at me the same. This is so screwed up. I'm sorry for ranting but it's bothering me."

Marjorie was taken back by his words, amazed that he actually opened up to her and said more than a few sentences. Reece looked up at her, thinking he definitely screwed it up. Marjorie's expression on the other hand, didn't say that at all.

"First of all, I'm proud of you for opening up more. You're a tough ass to crack my love. I love it, but it infuriates me sometimes. Second, none of this is your fault. And I know you just said you have a hard time believing it, but it's true. Not Siobhan, not Autumn, not me. You are a human Reece. Believe it or not, Autumn feels like she's screwed up in a way too. It's not just you darling. You didn't ruin anything. Carly loves you. Autumn loves you. Mia loves you. I love you. We all do. You spend every waking minute loving me, and I will spend every waking minute to show you that you are enough. It's a really screwed up world, darling. But it's not your fault. It's. Not. Your. Fault. What happened to you, and to Autumn, and to Mia, and even Siobhan, doesn't make you the monster. It makes Roger the monster. Please know that Reece. I love you. Lastly, don't ever apologize for ranting. I'm so proud of the person you're becoming Reece, a perfect one at that. Although, you were already perfect to me."

Reece was speechless. Marjorie has always had a way with words, with everyone coming to her for advice and unconditional support. Reece always felt loved by her, even if she didn't say it. Being in her presence was love. Hearing her giggle was love. All of it was love. Marjorie reached up and kissed the top of his head, pulling him close.

"I, I don't know what to say." Reece stuttered.
"You don't have to say anything." Marjorie smiled.
"Thank you." Reece sighed. "I cannot thank you enough, Marjorie."
"Anytime. That's what I'm here for, my love." Marjorie smiled, tightening her grip on him. "I love you too much to let you go."
"I also love you too much to let you go." Reece smiled up at her.

Reece kissed her lips, causing Marjorie to be stunned. There was a striking intensity behind it, one that Marjorie had never experienced before. She softened the kiss, hoping to return the kiss back with so much love, because that's all anyone needs in life. Pure love.

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A/N - sorryyyyy for any emotional damage <3 (not really)