Page 80 of Ghosted By Texas

“Becs!” Austin called after me as I made it through the door of the little chapel where we’d just gotten married. His family, along with Clea – who I guess was his family now, too – were all hot on my heels as well.

“Becs, wait!” Clea called out. For her, I stopped and turned and let everyone get a load of the hurt, anger, and betrayal I felt.

“Why would you invite her to a wedding I didn’t even know about?” I screamed at Austin.

“I didn’t invite her. I haven’t even seen her since the last time Vic tried to bring her to family dinner.”

I glanced around at everyone else who gathered near us. Someone had shut the doors once the family was through, so that none of the guests would witness the drama.

“I invited her,” Mrs. Mercer spoke up, shocking just about everyone present. She used to be one of my favorite people.

“Why in the hell would you invite the woman who tried to ruin my relationship with Becs, three times over, to our wedding?” Austin fumed at his mother. His palpable fury was the only thing stopping me from thinking about that unnecessary annulment.

His mother looked at me when she answered. “She needed to see that Austin was serious about you. She needed to see him marry someone else, so she could move on. It was the least I could do for my friend Lydia, since she can’t be here to help her daughter.”

Nope. That was not going to fly with me, and I didn’t care who didn’t like what I was about to say.

“So, to hell with the fact that what I needed on my surprise wedding day, was to NOT see the woman who attempted to destroy my relationship on more than one occasion?” A sinister chuckle left my mouth before I could speak again.

“What am I saying? She didn’t just attempt it. She did destroy it. Three times. And you invited her to what was supposed to be my special day. Austin and I have been working hard on rebuilding a relationship that is still not on completely solid ground. I just went through with a wedding after your husband asked me to take a leap of faith, only to find out that another Mercer family member, my supposed mother-in-law now, betrayed me by putting that woman above my needs yet again!” I growled what must have sounded like an absolutely insane noise of frustration.

“You ruined my wedding day so that Jordan could get closure?” Austin asked his mother.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t think of it like that at all. I thought you would support anything that meant she would never be an issue for you again.” Her apology was directed at me, once again, and not her son.

“You made her an issue for me again. That vile woman touched him. She reached out and held onto him, not five minutes after we said our vows, and Austin stopped escorting me down the aisle to allow it and rewarded her with a smile. What exactly did she learn, beside the fact that she was once again prioritized over me ON MY OWN WEDDING DAY.”

“I was smiling because you just married me,” Austin corrected. “I only stopped because someone grabbed hold of my arm and I didn’t want to accidentally trip you up. My reaction had zero to do with Jordan and everything to do with you on all counts.”

“Do you think Jordan will see it that way?” I asked him.

“Fuck!” He hissed through his teeth and then turned an icy cool glare on his mother. “I wish you would have informed me that you invited her. I would have told you what a horrible idea that was.”

“I’m sorry. I thought I was helping everyone move on.”

“Let’s get this clear right now. The only helpful thing to do where Jordan is concerned, is to not have her in the picture at all. If she’s going to be at your house visiting you, then make it very clear to us, so that we aren’t there.”

“She’s been your best friend your entire life. I realize things are messy and that she screwed it all up, but she doesn’t have anyone else. Her mother was my best friend and I promised to look after her.”

I understood where Mrs. Mercer was coming from. I truly did. Some people were beyond helping though. If Jordan had learned her lesson, she would have turned down the invitation, knowing that her presence would cause problems. Not only did she not turn it down, but she had to insert herself, too. Looking back, I was surprised she hadn’t objected at some point. Then again, I didn’t recall the minister asking if there were any objections. Someone must have instructed him not to.

“Mom, Jordan threw our friendship away when she lied and attempted to destroy every single chance I took at dating someone else. But she burned that bridge completely when she faked a pregnancy, that she wasn’t even capable of, to ruin things for Becs and me again. If you want to honor your relationship with her because her mom was your best friend before she died – then you can do that. If there are any further surprises of Jordan being invited into our lives,” he insisted as he waved his hand back and forth between us, “then you will be severing ties with my new family for Jordan’s sake.”

Holy crap. He really just threatened to cut his family out for me. To keep us away from Jordan.

“Whoa!” Austin’s father called out as he came inside, with Jordan in tow. “What the hell, Austin?”

“Get her out of here, now!” Austin yelled at his father.

“I was just escorting her out, as I didn’t think she should be here today, all things considered.”

“Austin,” Jordan pleaded.

“Never mind. Enjoy the party without us. We’re leaving,” Austin said to his parents while ignoring Jordan who started crying. My new husband took my hand in his and began to lead me out of the chapel.

“Austin!” His father called. We both stopped so he could look back. “I’m taking care of this. Why don’t you and Becs go get changed and by the time you’re comfortable, there won’t be any reason left here that you can’t enjoy the party, too.”

I supposed that was his nice way of saying that Jordan wouldn’t be there any longer. Truthfully, I was tired and just wanted to go take a long nap, after crying, maybe with a gallon of ice cream in my lap for comfort.

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