Page 105 of Chasing Lynda

Do I accept defeat? Do I let my father go to jail and lose everything? Mitch’s resentment for me definitely extended to the guys, so I have no doubt that if he got control of Butten Enterprise, my family wouldn’t be the only one to be ruined. Mitch would fire my friends’ fathers too; and with Pleasure Beach barely able to keep its doors opened, we’d have no income, no legacy.

If I had any doubt that Mitch would vindicate the slight his side of the family endured, I know that my grim assessment of the situation is on point, when he smiles at me.

“What’s up, Dodge? Did the news that you’re about to lose everything shock you into silence to the point that you’ve forgotten your fucking manners? Or was just the silver spoon in your mouth that made you feel like you were better than anyone else? I think you should congratulate me and Chrissie and admit that you lost.”

I clench my fists, thinking that fucking up my shoulder for good would be worth the satisfaction of wiping that smug expression off his face by breaking a few bones.

I stand up abruptly, ready to strike but then instead of sinking my fist in the asshole’s face, I pull Lynda up from her chair and hug her to my side. “Not so fast, Mitch. Before you give Chrissie the ok to renovate my family home, remember that you inherit everything if Callie or I don’t get married before the end of the summer. Life has been a little crazy lately and I was waiting to give the good news to my parents in person. Lynda and I just got engaged and we’ll get married on Labor Day.”

I pull Lynda to me and kiss her. Hard. Hard enough to silence the blood that’s roaring in my ears.

When we part, I don’t have a chance to take in her stunned expression, because the room literally explodes.

My parents rise from their chairs, coming to hug us and congratulate us.

Chrissie and Mitch protest loudly, claiming some kind of bullshit foul play.

The guys are equally split between telling Mitch to fuck off and looking at me as if I’ve just sprouted a second head.

***

Lynda

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“LYNDA AND I JUST GOT engaged and we’ll get married on Labor Day.” Dodge pulls me to his chest and plants a hard, possessive kiss on my lips.

I don’t even have time to think about what’s happening, my body takes control by responding to that kiss in earnest.

My lips part for him and my arms close around his neck; warmth floods my nerve endings and my knees would stop supporting me if Dodge wasn’t keeping me upright against his solid body.

When he finally releases my lips, my heart is beating so loudly in my ears that it almost drowns out the chaos that explodes in the room.

I find myself in Dodge’s mother’s arms as I’m vaguely aware of his father congratulating him and everyone else talking over each other in a mixture of protests and questions.

“This calls for a toast!” Dodge’s mom says with a bright smile. “Basil, darling, please stay to celebrate this wonderful news?” She then turns to Chrissie and her smile doesn’t falter. “I guess congratulations are in order for you too, sweetheart; but I hope you’ll understand if we keep this toast to the immediate family. I’ll call your mother later to see what kind of wedding gift would be most appropriate for you. Now, if you’ll excuse us ...”

She gestures to the door in clear dismissal of the newlyweds and if I wasn’t too shocked by what just happened, I’d admire the class Patricia Butten is showing in kicking Chrissie to the curb.

Once the undesired guests are escorted out by the housekeeper, we congregate in one of the more informal living rooms where a champagne magnum in an ice bucket is waiting for us.

Dodge keeps my hand in his and I’m still too shocked about what just happened to even have a reaction.

I accept the champagne flute I’m offered and sip the cold, crisp bubbly wine while I watch everyone’s reaction to the sudden news.

Patricia is excited beyond belief. “Dodge, sweetheart, you have a lot to tell me! I mean, granted I’ve been busy with all my charitable work and between that month vacation in the south of France and all the social events I’ve been attending when your father decided to explore his chances at a run for governor ... I know I haven’t been around as much as I normally am, but the entire world seems to have changed in a few weeks! When I left to go to Nice you were engaged to Chrissie and now she’s married to someone else! And you have a lovely new fiancée!”

Dodge’s relaxed expression and the polite tone of his voice are contradicted by the way he’s squeezing my hand.

“Mom, the ‘few short weeks’ you’re talking about are well over three months. Had you not missed our graduation, you’d have known that Chrissie has been cheating on me with Mitch for the best part of this year; at least from the second she realized that my football career was well and truly over.”

His mother shakes her blonde head. “I’m shocked by her classless behavior, sweetheart. You grew up together, she should’ve at least had the decency to break it off with you before she started dating Mitch. And the elopement!” She puts a hand to her chest. “That was definitely a shock. And to think I’ve always treated her like one of my own children!”

It’s impossible to miss Dodge’s eye roll.

“Well, Mom, let me tell you that you’re the only one who’s surprised. The reason why Chrissie and I were on and off all these years is that the only person that woman loves is herself.”

There are murmurs of agreement in the room, mostly from the guys.

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