Page 5 of Third Wheel

Zach nodded, jaw clenched as a little trickle of guilt flickered through him. There had been times when he’d fantasized about more… but he’d had Kincaid, and she’d had Jeremy, and fantasies weren’t cheating. Kincaid was right. He and Amy had never done anything more than exactly what they were doing right now, albeit with fewer clothes, but she’d been wrapped in a blanket for aftercare.

All they had done at the club that was at all intimate was aftercare. Then she would go home to Jeremy, where he’d reap the benefits of any arousal she might be feeling in the aftermath, though Amy usually came to the club to cry and relieve her stress, not to get horny.

“Do you know what a Dom is?” Sam asked, eyeing Mrs. Newhart warily.

“Yes, yes, I read Lexi Blake. I know what a Dom is.” Mrs. Newhart sighed, putting her fingers to her temples. “I didn’t realize my daughter… anyway. Not important.” She opened her eyes and huffed. “Jeremy is a shit.”

Despite the situation, Zach choked back a laugh. He liked Mrs. Newhart.

Amy’s tears were finally starting to slow. She hiccupped as she got herself under control, her breathing stuttering as it returned to normal. Rubbing her back, Zach rested his chin atop her head, glad Kincaid’s steady hand was on his shoulder. It wasn’t just the bridesmaids there if something happened; he could trust Kincaid to take care of anything and everything else while he took care of Amy.

Amy

Everything was awful, and it was all real.

She wanted to hide in Zach’s arms forever and never come out because coming out meant facing the real world. It meant facing her family. It meant facing her mom, who had never liked Jeremy and was probably dying to say, ‘I told you so,’ and Amy didn’t think she could handle that right now. At least she didn’t have to explain to her mom what kink was, though she was slightly disturbed that they read the same books.

Did that mean her mom and dad…

Nope, not going there.

Apparently, her brain was so desperate to think about anything other than her own terrible life that she’d rather think about her parents’ sex life. That was how bad things were right now.

“Amy, baby, look at me.” Her mom’s gentle tone helped give Amy the courage to open her eyes and turn her head. Her mom crouched down beside her and Zach, a sympathetic expression on her face. “I’m going to go help handle the guests, unless you want me to stay.”

Her mom was offering to shield her from everyone. Part of her wanted her mom to stay, but she didn’tneedher, too. She had her friends. She had Zach. And even Kincaid was standing like a stalwart buffer between her and the door. Wes had disappeared entirely; Amy wasn’t sure when.

“It’s okay,” she said in a croak. “I’m okay. I… you should probably go tell everyone…” She choked a little, tears threatening to fall again. God, facing everyone and telling them that Jeremy had eloped with one of her own friends, one of her bridesmaids, on their wedding day… she couldn’t do it. “I don’t want to see them.”

“You don’t have to, baby,” her mom said soothingly. “Don’t worry, I’m going to take care of everything.” A hard expression crossed her face. “I’m also going to have a word with Carrie.” Carrie being Jeremy’s mom.

Amy choked on the idea of having to see any of his family today.

She just wanted to go home. But home was the house she’d shared with Jeremy for the past year. He’d never put her on the lease, promising he’d do so after they got married. That probably should have been a red flag, but it had made sense when he’d explained it, and he’d sounded so reasonable…

“Do you want to come to my place?” Morgan asked, stepping forward. “Asad and I would be happy to have you.”

“Or you can come stay with me, though Morgan and Asad might be better since they have an actual guest bedroom,” Sam said.

Mom’s expression changed, realizing that what seemed like a future problem was probably a more immediate issue. No, Jeremy wouldn’t be back until the end of the week. He and Noelle were in Vegas on what was probably supposed to be his and Amy’s honeymoon. He’d planned the honeymoon andhadn’t told Amy where they were going, but it made sense that he’d be there all week with Noelle.

Like the wedding, it had probably already been paid for.

“You can come home with me and your dad,” her mom said immediately. “You can stay with us as long as you need to.”

“I don’t think running away to a different state is going to help,” she replied tearfully. “My job is here. My friends are here. And weren’t you and Dad leaving for a cruise this week after you got back home?”

“Well… yes, but we can cancel. You’re more important.”

Immediately, Amy started shaking her head.

“Don’t cancel. I’ve already upended everyone’s plans enough, cost you enough money?—”

“Don’t think about that,” her mother said sternly. “That isnotyour fault.” She sighed. “But you have a point about your job and the fact that we wouldn’t be home.”

Amy didn’t exactly want to go crawling back to her parents’ house, anyway. It felt like a step backward at a time when her life was supposed to be moving forward.

“And apparently, I need to pack up my stuff this week and get it moved somewhere else.” Her brain was finally working again. Leaning against Zach’s strength helped. She always felt safe with him. “Maybe a storage unit.”

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