Page 62 of Love in the Wild

“She’s fine, but she’d be a lot better if we could find a way to end the fighting.”

“Any ideas?” Gage asked. “I don’t see our families getting together to sing ‘Kumbaya’ around a campfire.” He’d been racking his brain about it for years. The answer wasn’t just going to jump out and bite him after all this time.

“I’m glad you asked. I do have a plan.” Brett threw his hands out at his sides. “Thea and I got married today.”

Gage stared at Brett, trying to make sense of his nonchalance about starting World War III. “Come again?”

“Looks like we’re brothers,” Brett said. “You can be the ugly one, and I’ll be the pretty one.”

Choosing his words carefully, Gage tried to push down the fire rising up his throat. “You’re joking. You married my sister?”

“Earlier today. Took an oath before God and the judge.”

“You’re an idiot!” Gage looked at Hadley. “Tell me he’s not serious.”

Hadley winced. “He’s serious.”

Gage pushed a hand through his hair. “Why?”

“Well, when a man and a woman love each other–”

“Shut up,” Gage spat. This guy was absolutely nuts if he thought marrying Thea was a good idea. The Howards were going to lose their minds for sure now.

“You asked!” Brett said.

“I mean why would you think this was a good idea? They’ll go after her for sure now. She won’t even be safe in Alabama. You just dug her grave!”

Brett huffed. “Over my dead body.”

“That can be arranged.”

“Stop it, you two,” Hadley interjected. “Gage, listen to him. He’s really trying to do the right thing. You had to know he and Thea were going to find a way to be together. Keeping them apart was never an option.”

Gage stared at Hadley, trying to understand why she couldn’t see the harm in what Brett and Thea had done today. It wasn’t as if they could keep something like this a secret. “Where is she?”

Gage looked back and forth between Hadley and Brett. When no one answered, he repeated, “Where is she?”

Brett waved his arms as if he were introducing a princess at a ball. “Hadley, you want to take this one?”

Gage’s nostrils flared as he drew in as much air as possible. If Hadley had bad news, he didn’t want to hear it.

Hadley fidgeted with her fingers. “Thea never left. She’s been staying at my place. Brett’s been sleeping on the couch to make sure we’re protected.”

She what? Thea was here the whole time, and Hadley lied to him.

Hadley lied to him. He’d trusted her. She’d fed him the story she wanted him to hear the whole time.

“Gage, say something,” Hadley whispered.

“I don’t have anything nice to say right now,” Gage said in a carefully controlled tone.

Hadley reached for his arm, but he pulled back. “Don’t.”

“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry. Brett and Thea didn’t know if they could trust you not to tell the rest of your family, so they asked me to keep it a secret. I wanted to tell you.”

“That’s true. We asked her to, but she really didn’t want to.”

“I know you,” Hadley said, pointing to her chest. “I wanted you to trust me because I trust you, and I broke that. You have every reason to be mad at me.”

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