Page 17 of Snared

He burst out laughing. Again. “That’s even better.”

“Goodbye, asshat.”

“Talk soon, bridegroom.”

I ended the call before he could get in another word. Or snort of laughter.

I wasn’t about to tell Phillip, but I did have a memory of kissing Charlie. Last night was still fuzzy, but my head had begun to clear a bit. I hadn’t been totally blackout drunk, like I’d let Jax and Charlie believe.

Drunk off my ass, yes. To the point of blacking out, no.

The combination of her ex, the pain I’d seen in her eyes at the bullshit the asshole spewed, the large quantities of alcohol I’d ingested, my father’s texts talking about how hot Charlie was and asking if I’d started fucking her yet had tipped me over the edge.

And then we’d walked up to a chapel.

And instead of my father’s MO of fucking and forgetting, I’d not fucked and gotten married.

Maybe I had been drunker than I’d thought.

I needed painkillers and coffee stat.

And maybe an appointment with Evie.

CHARLIE

I twisted my damp hair up into a messy bun and glared at the gold band on the bathroom sink counter.

I’d gottenmarriedlast night.

ToJosh.

I wanted to slam my head into the vanity’s mirror.

What.

The.

Actual.

Fuck.

Some of the night was starting to come back: Josh punching Troy, both of us watching my ex’s smug expression vanish as he cupped his bleeding nose. I’d felt a small sliver of appreciation for a man I still didn’t trust. I mean, yes, he’d stood up for me, but I still couldn’t be sure of his agenda. I’d never expected him to get into a physical altercation because of me.

But I couldn’t remember much else. I vaguely remembered more drinks and then a chapel. A conversation with Josh after Jax bailed sat on the edge of my brain, refusing to come forward.

I shook my head.

It didn’t matter. No one knew. We’d get it annulled before anyone found out and that would be the end of the insanity.

There was definitely a benefit to not being as well-known or easy to spot as my bandmates. So far, we’d flown under the radar on this in a way that Bash, Jax, and even Tristan never would’ve been able to.

Thank god no one knew. At least one thing had gone right in what had clearly been a shit show of a night.

My phone pinged, and my chest seized with apprehension.

Tristan: Shake off the booze and get down here for breakfast. We have a surprise.

Panic welled up in my throat. The morning had already been surprise enough for me. I wasn’t sure I could take any more.

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