Page 27 of Until You

“Please. I promise you’re not bleeding to death. We’ll patch you up with a couple of butterflies, then when we’re done, you can go get your stitches.” She gave him a sardonic smile. “We’d hate for that pretty face to get scarred.”

A bad-boy grin spread across his face. “I hear women like guys with scars. It makes them look more dangerous.”

“Of course, a guy like you would say that.”

“How’s it going over there?” Brittany called over.

“Fine!” Holly shouted. “We’re just cleaning it up, and then he’ll be good to go.”

Just then the blonde hurried over and draped her hand possessively on his arm. “You poor baby. I can’t believe that woman kicked her shoe at you!”

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” Lanie countered, sounding indignant.

“No worries, Celesta,” Tyler said, shifting his stance to shrug off her hand. “It’s just a scratch.”

“She’s Celesta?” Lanie began to giggle.

What in the hell was she laughing at? She really was drunk. “What’s so funny?” Tyler asked.

“Nothing.” But she was still giggling as she eyed the blonde woman.

Celesta shot her a withering glare. “Look at all the blood! You could have killed him.”

“He’ll be fine, Selestra,” Kevin said, turning Tyler so the woman couldn’t see his wound. “I think the photographer’s looking for you.”

“My name is Celesta. Why can’t anyone get it right? And I can’t do anything without my partner.”

Tyler caught Holly’s attention with a wild look, but before the wedding planner could say anything, Lanie put a hand on her hip and made a shooing motion, still wearing a grin. “Then run on over and claim him. He looks like he’s waiting for you too. Tyler’s mine.”

Randy’s gangly teenaged cousin waved to Celesta.

Lanie gave Holly an expectant look. “Celesta is Alvin’s partner, right?”

She nodded. “Yeah. That’s right.”

Celesta’s face turned red, and she started to protest, but Holly stared her down. Celesta’s anger faded, and she grudgingly stomped toward Alvin.

Holly handed Kevin a butterfly bandage, and he applied it to Tyler’s forehead. “This is holding it really well, but since it’s on your forehead, you should still get stitches. I suspect it’s going to scar either way, but it’s likely to scar less if you see a professional.”

Guilt washed over Lanie’s face.

“Kevin,” Holly said, “he still has blood smeared all over his forehead.”

Lanie snatched an alcohol pad from the kit and ripped it open. “I’ll clean him up.”

Holly lifted her eyebrows as she waited for Tyler’s answer.

“Yeah,” he said. “You need to get back and boss everyone around. Since this is Lanie’s fault in the first place, she can finish up.”

Lanie started to protest, then closed her mouth and looked like she was biting her lips to keep from saying what was on her mind.

Tyler laughed.

Kevin glanced between the two of them, then clapped Tyler on the shoulder. “Drinks later. You promised.”

“That was before my trip to the ER.”

Kevin waved him off as he walked away. “Hell. You’ve got something like six hours before it’s too late for stitches. Don’t be a wuss.”

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