Total pages in book: 88
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 85608 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 428(@200wpm)___ 342(@250wpm)___ 285(@300wpm)
I didn’t know exactly what she must have seen, but it must have convinced her that I wasn’t going to run this time. I didn’t know what that meant either. But I couldn’t actually run anywhere when we were officially getting married in a few weeks. Doing this for my dad was important, and anyway … I liked my time with Gavin. I liked Gavin.
I sighed and shook my head. Katherine was getting in my head. I didn’t need to worry about all of that yet.
I lifted the bottom of my skirt and headed toward the bathroom. The place was massive, and after doing my business, I decided to step outside. Most people were still inside, enjoying the air-conditioning. It was shockingly warm today, even with the sea breeze blowing in off the water.
Pulling my hair off of my back alleviated some of the heat, but it wasn’t enough. I was going to have to return to the cooler temperatures as well. As I turned the corner though, I saw a flash of pink.
My brow furrowed as I stepped forward. That looked like Margaret’s dress. But why would she be hiding around the corner?
Then, I saw exactly what Margaret King was doing.
Micah Locke had her pinned against the side of the building. Her leg was hitched up around his waist, and they were kissing like their lives depended on it.
A gasp escaped me, and I reared back. My hand flew to my chest. My eyes going wide.
Micah jumped back from Margaret, as if he’d been scalded. Margaret looked at me in a state of horror. She’d been married to Merritt Locke for a matter of weeks. They’d just returned from a week on their honeymoon. And now, she was making out with his brother.
“Uh, what the fuck?” I spat.
Margaret leaped forward, pushing Micah behind her. “Oh my god, Whitley. I can’t believe you saw that. Please, please, please don’t say anything to anyone.”
“That’s his brother!”
“I know. I know,” she said quickly, stumbling forward slightly. Maybe she’d had too much to drink. “It shouldn’t have happened, and it’ll never happen again. Just please don’t tell Gavin.”
I glared at her and then to Micah. “Well, what do you have to say for yourself?”
Micah looked between me and Margaret, as if he had no idea what to say. “We’re drunk. It was a mistake.”
“Then, maybe you shouldn’t be staying at this mistake’s house,” I snapped at Margaret.
Margaret looked close to tears. “You’re right. I don’t know how this happened.” She dabbed at her eyes. “Are you going to tell Gavin?”
“Are you going to go home and tell your husband?”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Yeah. I … I’ll tell Merritt. He’ll forgive me. But … I just … I don’t want the rest of my family to know.”
I clenched my hands into fists. I wanted nothing more than to let everyone know what an idiot she was. I’d left relationships for way less than this. I couldn’t believe she’d done something so stupid. And Micah seemed … unrepentant at best.
The whole thing made my head spin. But it also wasn’t my place to tell her family what she’d done. If it had happened to me, I would have glitter-bombed the house and let every person know what a douche they were. But … I was marrying into this family. Whether real or not, this would complicate matters.
“Fine,” I grumbled. “But get out of here and go home and text me what Merritt says. I’m not going to be an accomplice to your cheating. If you don’t tell him, I will.”
Margaret’s face paled. She must have seen how sincere I was. “Okay. Yeah. I will. Thanks, Whitley.”
I nodded and then hurried away from them, leaving the shattered pieces of their deception behind me. It made me sick to even know about it. Like something slimy was on me. And it was hard to shake, even when I got back to the party and into Gavin’s arms once again.
24
GAVIN
Whitley looked flustered when she returned to me. No amount of gentle cajoling could get her to explain what had happened. She just laughed and played it off, quickly changing the subject.
I didn’t know what it was about.
But it couldn’t be good.
She was stiff in my arms the rest of the night. As if uncomfortable to be there, when she’d been nothing but overly willing since we’d agreed to date. Whoever had said something to her, they’d certainly be hearing from me when I found out what they’d said.
Even Court noticed.
When we finished for the night and were heading back toward the cars, Whitley clung to English’s arm and was whispering furtively in her ear.
“What’s up with that one?” Court asked.
“I wish I knew,” I told him.
“Thought you were getting along.”
“We were.”
I followed Whitley as she and English took off ahead of us. English gave her an alarmed look, glanced back at me, and then pulled her closer to her.