Page 43 of Wed to You

“I thought so too.” Lexie directed her comment toward Mitch

“Why the big secret?” Mitch couldn’t hide his angry undertone.

“Not because we were trying to hide from you.” Chelsea exuded a bravado that made Jagger look at her in surprise. “Don’t think I don’t know you tried to keep us apart, Mitch McKenna. I’m grateful for all that you’ve done for me, but I’d appreciate it if you’d stay out of my love life.”

The word “love” hung in the air. Lexie grinned while Drake and Sydney looked perplexed.

Mitch’s jaw tightened. “Are you happy?”

“Very.”

She said it with such conviction that, for a moment, Jagger believed her too.

Jagger pulled her closer. “My intentions are sincere, Mitch.” Although Jagger found himself feeling guilty for saying so. He hadn’t thought it would be so hard to pull of this deception, but now he understood the ramifications. They were lying. It had to be worse for her because these people were her closest friends. Her surrogate family.

“All I care about is her happiness.” Behind his words, spoken through clenched teeth, Mitch was saying if you hurt her, we’ll have problems.

Jagger didn’t want to hurt Chelsea. But when this ruse was over, they’d be divorced, and Mitch would hate him. As much as Jagger hated losing the one friendship he had in Charlotte Tavern, he’d do it in an instant to keep Kaden safe with him.

“Well good, because we’re getting married.”

Even Jagger flinched at the way Chelsea blurted out their marital intentions into the world. Mitch turned a whole new shade of red. Lexie, who initially seemed pleased by their dating status, now pulled her brows together in a combination of worry and confusion.

“You’re what?” Lexie and Mitch asked in shock.

“Jagger and I are getting married.” She held out her hand to show the ring he’d just given her.

Lexie glanced at it before turning her sharp green eyes back on Chelsea. Mitch scowled at Jagger.

“You hardly know each other,” Lexie finally got out.

“That’s not true.” Jagger pressed a reassuring hand to Chelsea’s back. “We’ve known each other for years.”

“It’s too fast.” Lexie’s eyes shone with concern.

“Seriously?” Chelsea stared at Lexie with raised brows. “How long did you know Drake before you agreed to marry him?”

Lexie rolled her eyes and pursed her lips.

“Two weeks,” Chelsea answered for her. “How long after that before you were married? One day.”

Lexie studied her, and Jagger hoped they could keep up the pretense under her scrutiny.

“You saw Drake and me then. You saw the attraction. I even talked to you about it. I haven’t seen you and Jagger. You never talked about him.”

“Well, we couldn’t. He was the guardian of one of my students.”

Lexie bounced her baby, who’d started fussing, but her gaze remained intense. “You’re my best friend. How could I not notice?”

Chelsea closed her eyes, and Jagger could only imagine the guilt she was feeling at lying to her friend, especially now that it appeared Lexie was feeling bad for not being a better friend. “You have Drake and the babies filling your life. That’s how it should be.”

“Still.”

“No, Lexie. You’re a good friend.” Chelsea reached out and touched Lexie’s arm reassuringly.

Jagger snuck a glance at Mitch and knew for sure if looks could kill, he’d be dead, or at least maimed.

“Well, congratulations.” Sydney stepped forward, giving Chelsea and then Jagger a hug. “What a surprise, but such a happy one, don’t you think, Mitch?”

---