Page 65 of After the Vows

There’s no reason to wonder any longer if she’s causing trouble. She is.

I’ll go get my wife.

Thought you would.

I can practically hear his laughter through the text.

“Natalia.” I kneel down in front of my daughter. “I need to pick up Chloe.”

“Why? Is she in trouble?”

I hope not. “Will you stay with Mrs. Agatha until we get back?”

“Dad. I’m not a child. I can stay home alone.”

“I don’t know how long I’ll be gone.”

“Fine,” she huffs. “But I’m researching surfing lessons while I’m there.”

Once I drop Natalia at our neighbor’s house, I drive to the bar. I take the truck since I don’t know if Chloe is in any shape to walk.

I step into the bar and let my eyes adjust to the darkness before searching the space. Chloe’s friends are in a corner booth. Maya appears to be sleeping while Nova is giggling uncontrollably. Meanwhile, Sophia and Paisley are deep in conversation.

“I’m telling you,” Sophia says as I reach them. “I saw the alien plain as daylight outside my window.”

“And how much alcohol had you drunk at this point?” Paisley asks.

“Listen to me. It was an alien.”

“Was he green and had antennas for ears?”

“Yes!” Sophia slaps her hand on the table. “I knew it! You saw him, too.”

“Yes, I did. On Saturday morning in a cartoon on the television.”

I clear my throat. “Where’s my wife?”

Sophia sighs. “He says, my wife.”

“Chloe is his wife or have you forgotten? How much moonshine have you had?”

“As much as you.”

Paisley purses her lips. “Chloe is at the bar.”

She points to where Chloe is standing with a group of men. Why the hell is she speaking to a bunch of men? After the night we enjoyed? Who the hell does she think she is?

I prowl across the room. The men notice me and frown. Chloe whirls around to see what they’re frowning at. She waves to me and nearly falls over. One of the men catches her.

I wrap my arm around her and pull her away from him. “Keep your hands off my wife.”

Chloe pets my chest. “Don’t be mad, hubby of mine. I was thanking these gentlemen for buying us moonshine.”

“They bought you moonshine?”

She grins up at me. “Yep. We won the Bootlegger’s Escape Room festival and now the entire bar is buying us rounds.” She leans close to me. “They don’t need to buy us rounds. We drink free because we won!”

She throws her arms in the air and falls backward. I tighten my hold on her before she falls.

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