Page 37 of Maggie

Uh-oh.

“I told you I don’t like her,” he said.

“Sure. But we had no idea it was like that,” his dad said. “That’s unacceptable. We could have said something to Burt.”

Wylder held up a placating hand. “It’s okay. Her attitude isn’t Uncle Burt’s problem. I try to stay away from her when I can. It’s no big deal.”

“Has she always been like that to you?” his mom demanded.

Hesitantly, he nodded. “Yeah.”

“Hmph. Well then.” She wiped her hands indignantly. “I’m writing her out of my will. And we’re leaving. Where’s Burt?” She looked around the room for Wylder’s uncle. She grabbed Wylder’s dad by the arm and they both left to find Burt.

Maggie smiled. “You didn’t tell your family?”

“No. Frieda was a childhood bully. I handled it.”

Maggie laughed. “Sure you did.”

Aubrey shook her head and said, “She never treated me like that. I knew I didn’t like her, though. There’s always been something about her. I’m sorry, Wylder. I wish you’d said something.”

“It’s okay.”

“It’s not okay. It’s unacceptable. We wouldn’t be here if we’d known. You shouldn’t be here, either.” She scooted her chair back and grabbed a shawl and purse that hung on the chair. “Let’s go.”

The entire table stood, abandoned their dinners, and left.

Aubrey and her family left the building first, and Maggie and Wylder followed about a minute behind them. Night fell while they were inside and lights illuminated the parking lot. When Wylder opened the doors of the church to leave, camera flashes and paparazzi shouts began. “Maggie, did you get married?” “Maggie, what are you doing here?” “Maggie, whose wedding is this?”

“Shit,” Maggie said.

Wylder shouted to Aubrey, who was already in the parking lot, “Aubs! Go home! Be safe!”

“Okay, you too!” Aubrey shouted back.

Wylder turned to Maggie. “You ready for this?”

She nodded.

The crowd of reporters made Wylder’s protective instincts kick in. Tension flooded him. He tucked his arm around Maggie’s shoulders and moved them forward through the crowd. She pressed her face into his chest, and he held his arm out protectively to keep people back. No one touched them, which was good because adrenaline flowed through Wylder. The shouts and light flashes continued, but they kept moving, and made it all the way to Wylder’s Jeep. He helped Maggie into the passenger side and rounded the vehicle to climb into the driver’s side.

He shut the door behind him and triggered the automatic locks. Tension pulsed through his body and he cracked his knuckles to relieve some stress. “Whew. That was intense.”

He put the key in the ignition and turned on the car.

Maggie’s cheeks flushed. “I’m sorry. It’s not usually that bad. Sometimes it is when I’m with the rest of the band, but not usually by myself.”

He looked at her with shock. “That’s normal for you? Sometimes, anyway?”

“It is. I’m sorry.”

“Hey.” He reached over and grasped her hand. He didn’t want her to feel bad. He waited until her eyes met his, then said, “Don’t apologize. No harm, no foul.” He forced a chuckle. “Those pictures probably sold our fake relationship even more to the tabloids. Hell, we may even be married now.”

She laughed. “It’s a good possibility.”

The sound of her laugh relaxed some of his tension.

“Let’s get out of here.”

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