Page 80 of Single Mom's Christmas Wish

In my mind, I’m pushing her away and shouting, but I can’t move. I can barely see anymore, either. It’s all a messy blur.

“Relax, Reed,” Callie’s voice comes through the haze with a sickening echo. “It’s just for show. We’re not really doing it.”

“I’ll kill you,” I manage to whisper.

“No, you won’t because you’re a good man. I can see it in your eyes. You will have to apologize to Dakota, though. She’s going to be pissed.”

Dakota.

Oh, fuck.

Callie’s plan. This was it all along.

29

Dakota

“Where is he?” I ask Maddox and Archer once I get downstairs.

They both freeze upon seeing me, their eyes wide and sparkling, their lips parting ever so slowly. I see awe in their gazes. Muted adoration. The kind of love I’ve always dreamed of yet always seemed just out of my reach.

“Wow,” Archer breathes, his shoulders dropping. “You’re a sight to behold.”

“Thank you,” I mumble, my cheeks burning hot. “I’m ready to go, but Reed hasn’t replied to any of my texts. Do you know where he is?”

Maddox blinks a few times. “He’s supposed to be upstairs, getting ready.”

“It’s bad luck to see each other beforehand,” Chelsea says.

“Oh, come on, it’s not a real wedding,” I say over my shoulder. “I’ll get him.”

Maddox is about to say something, but Chelsea hooks her arms through theirs and puts on a devious grin. “Fellas, let’s get you inside. We need to do one last check and make sure everything is ready; then, you guys need to get into place at the altar.”

Chuckling, I make my way back up the stairs. Truth be told, I’m nervous as hell. I need Reed’s embrace before we go through with this. He has this way of kissing and holding me that soothes my very soul and given the emotional charge of today, I need him more than ever. So, what if it’s bad luck to see the bride before the wedding; that’s just superstition anyway. Lord knows I’ve had my fair share of misfortunes, and I’ve managed to overcome all of them.

I dare not laugh in the face of fate, though, so I cautiously approach the groom’s chambers and then knock on the door. “Mind if I come in?” I call out.

A dull moan reaches my ears.

“Reed, are you okay?” I ask and push through the door.

I freeze upon entering, unable to fully register the sight before me. All I can think about is that I want to sew Chelsea’s mouth shut. She was right, it is bad luck. I realize it is the worst kind of bad luck when I see Callie riding Reed on the couch by the window. His pants are down. Her pale pink dress is rolled up around her hips. She’s moving back and forth, and I think I’m going to be sick again.

Bile gathers in my throat.

“Callie…” I manage, my voice barely a whisper.

My sister turns her head and looks at me. For a moment, I hear nothing. I understand even less. But then her lips curl into aglossy red smile as she keeps swaying her hips on top of my future husband, whose face I can’t see from this angle.

“Dakota, I…” Callie says, but there’s not a single hint of emotion in her voice.

Reed’s groan has my skin crawling.

I can’t take any more of this.

Panting harshly, I turn and run out of the room, utterly disgusted and confused. My heart is breaking a million times over as I almost stumble down the stairs. By the time I reach the bottom, I’m sobbing as I hold on to the sculpted wooden railing, unable to stand anymore.

“Dakota?” Archer’s voice breaches through the avalanche of tears coursing down my heated cheeks. “Dakota, what’s the matter?”

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