I was grateful there weren't assigned seats for this shindig. I couldn't handle being paired with Felicity's friends for a four-course meal. Luckily, Masyn and I ended up at a table for ten with seven other people we'd known for years-even if we weren't close to them-leaving one remaining seat next to me. I'd hoped it would stay vacant, yet just as I was about to release the breath I didn't realize I'd been holding, Peyton's hand landed on my shoulder."Is anyone sitting here?" Peyton directed her question to me, but others answered, and she pulled out the chair. It didn't escape my attention that she wasn't assigned to a seat with her sister or anyone else in the wedding party; I just chose not to address it. I might not be from her side of the tracks, but I wasn't raised in a barn, either. I introduced everyone at the table to Peyton, and in a few minutes, I was surprised by how readily she engaged the people sitting with us. Even Masyn talked to her with ease. By the second cou
One beer turned into more than I could count, and by the time Masyn dragged me out of the rehearsal dinner, I was a hair away from telling Felicity where to shove it. She had Beau by the balls; I just didn't know what with. I'd picked at dinner in favor of scoping her out, watching her interact with him and his family, trying to gauge her end game. Mrs. Chastain wasn't buying her act, either. The way she pursed her lips anytime Felicity spoke to her-or near her-was a dead giveaway. Had I not consumed so much alcohol, I might be able to figure out why she was going along with the marriage of her son to a wretched witch. She didn't care that much about name and clout even if she did want her kids to marry well. "Give me your keys." Masyn held her hand out, waiting for me to hand them over. The parking lot was nearly deserted, and only the hum of the streetlights broke the silence.The keys were in my pocket. And my slacks were made of thin material. If she stuck her hand in there to
The mattress bounced under the weight of an object. It didn't take me long to realize who did the jumping. I covered my head with the pillow and tried to block out the light of day and Masyn's exuberance. Nothing could quiet the pep in Masyn's voice. She was a morning person. I was not, especially not after drinking. "You have omelets to make. Hop up." "If you don't stop that shit, you're going to break the bed. Then I'll have to sleep in the guest room with you."She stopped bouncing and grabbed the edge of my shield. "I can't understand you with that pillow over your head." I held on, and the tighter I squeezed, the more she tugged and leaned backward, trying to use her weight as leverage. Then I let go. A smile spread across my lips when she stifled a squeal and then harrumphed when her ass hit the bed. Even though I knew she watched me, I couldn't help it. I skimmed my gaze up her bare legs until my eyes reached the hem of my boxers, high on her thigh. She always had to
I didn't have a clue what we were doing at the church at ten in the morning when the wedding didn't start until four this afternoon. The guys had been separated from the girls, so with no ability to talk to Masyn, I was left wondering what she was doing-not that this was the place to try to have a conversation. I wasn't the only one who'd consumed too much last night. Everyone in this room looked rough, except Beau-because he wasn't here. And I wasn't the only one grumbling about the arrival time and wondering where the groom was.Braden and Bodie were both present, and Beau was staying at his parents' house. "Braden, where's Beau?""Probably getting drunk. He and Felicity kept the neighbors up half the night."The other guys in the room hooted like the couple had had an orgy with the Chastains down the hall.I, however, got the message loud and clear. "Any idea what they fought about?""Hell no. Bodie and I went down to Sadler's after the rehearsal dinner. They were still bi
"Beau?" I called out from the foyer after letting myself in. Without a reply, I started toward the stairs, hollering his name louder this time. "Beau!""I'm upstairs. Stop yelling." He sounded as hungover as I felt. As I took the steps two at a time, I heard him pad down the hall toward his old bedroom. By the time I reached the landing, he'd disappeared. I'd spent so much time in this house, I could navigate it blindfolded. And I knew exactly where he'd be. On his back on the bed with a forearm covering his eyes and his knees hanging over the side-just as I suspected.I took a seat in the lounge chair in the corner. His bedroom was the size of my living room and kitchen combined."You want to tell me what's going on?""Not particularly.""Do it anyhow."He groaned and sat up, dropping his arm to his side and his hands into his lap. "There's nothing to tell.""The hell there's not. You've done nothing other than fight with Felicity since both of you pulled into town. Y
"Just my mom.""And she's just standing by while it happens?" Miffed. I was totally miffed. "Why haven't you told your dad?""My mom took the prenup to her lawyer to see if there were any loopholes. She didn't think we should tell my dad since I'd lose my trust fund. Even if I end up marrying her, my grandfather wrote it to prevent his grandsons from making stupid decisions that might derail their lives. If anyone finds out she's pregnant, it's gone.""So your dad doesn't know?"He shook his head."What did the lawyer say?""To marry her and file for divorce a year later." He had resigned himself to this fate.I'd be puking my guts up in the bathroom facing the fact that I'd just lost millions to get laid. There was no way in hell I'd take it lying down, and I didn't care what it cost me, I'd kick her ass to the curb."That was his advice? What kind of quack tells a guy to get married with plans to divorce a year later?""Josten White." There was part of the problem.
It didn't matter how many years passed or where the two of us lived, nothing ever changed. I'd never had a hard time convincing Beau to do things my way...which was probably why he hadn't wanted to tell me about any of this. I had no problems playing dirty when the deck was stacked, and it was most certainly stacked in Felicity's favor."Why the hell are there so many to pick from?" "Keep your voice down." With my head bowed, I glanced around to see if anyone was around. "Two guys should never buy a pregnancy test together. Just get that one." I pointed to the box that showed a digital test window. There'd be no mistaking one or two lines. It would either be a yes or no. It was also the most expensive, so I assumed it was accurate."Should I get a couple?" Like I knew. "Sure. That way, she can prove over and over what a liar she is. It'll be great. Get one for each member of the family she's fucked over, too-including yours. Kind of like memorabilia.""You're an ass."Onl
"What's this? I don't have time for games, Beau." She looked at Peyton for an answer, and when she got nothing, she peered inside. I'd never actually witnessed steam come out of anyone's ears like it did in cartoons, but Felicity came close to being the first. "Are you kidding me?"Beau's lips stretched into a thin line just before he rolled them into his mouth and popped the P in "Nope."She closed the sack and tried to force it back. "I've already taken a test. You saw it."He refused to take it and pushed it toward her. "Then you won't mind taking a few more. You'll be in and out in five, six minutes tops. Just pee in one cup, and I'll dip each one of the tests for you. You don't even have to wait for the results if you're so certain. Think of this as an early wedding present for me.""I've never been so insulted in all my life. I don't know what you're trying to prove, Beau, but it's tasteless and ill-timed.""So was a pregnancy when I tried to put the brakes on things."