Page 45 of Unexpectingly Happily Ever After

Brit whirls around. “That’s because I am agirl!I’m a woman and unlike some of youheathens,I’m not accustomed to using my fists to solve my issues. And why the hell would anyone want to climb up on the stage? Did you think those guys were going to pull you up, forget about the hundreds of dollars in their g-strings and whisk you away? No! Those men would take your money and push you away, just like every other man in the world!”

“Brit,” I murmur, my hand on her arm. It’s not the first outburst of the evening. There’s been a variety of cursing, crying, shouting, and downright hysterics since we’ve been locked up.

It’s been forty-seven minutes since we’ve been incarcerated. Apparently, that’s the limit for Brit.

″Morgan will get us out,” I repeat, trying to sound like I know Morgan’s whereabouts. I don’t. The sight of her blond head as thewomen leaped on her was the last I saw of her. I left her a message on her cell, but I have no idea if she got it. I hope she’s okay.

″How do you know? She’s probably off screwing that Power Tower and forgot all about us,” Brit sneers.

There’s a rumble behind us. It’s impossible to have a private conversation here. “She better not touch Bron.”

″He’s mine.”

″I gave him fifty bucks, and I’m damn well going home with that boy tonight.”

I cringe and try to forget what I’ve heard. “Morgan won’t forget us.”

″I lost my cousin too,” a blond says from the bench against the wall. “They couldn’t have gotten everyone. It wasn’t even that bad of a fight.”

Brit whirls around but stops herself when she catches sight of the white dress the woman is wearing. “You look like you should be at a wedding.”

″I was. But it got canceled.”

I close my eyes, waiting for the next bout of bad temper, but Brit surprises me by leaning against the bars to face the blond. “So what happened?” Brit demands. “He dump you?”

″Shewalked out onhim,”the friend says proudly. She lifts a hand for a high five, which the blond reluctantly slaps. “So proud of you.”

The blond sighs. “I don’t know what happened. One minute I was walking down the aisle and Thomas turned and smiled at me, and I knew I couldn’t marry him.” She glances at the dark-haired woman leaning against her shoulder. “You never thought I should marry him.”

The brunette presses her lips together in a firm line. “I’m pleading the fifth at least until you talk to him.”

″So you had no reason for dumping him? Just like that–it’s over?” I wince at the venom in Brit’s voice. “That’s pretty shitty.”

The blond’s face falls. “Brit!” I admonish.

″Flora has her reasons,” the friend announces in an icy voice. “And they’re none of your business.”

Flora waves her hand. “It’s okay, M.K. And it was a pretty shitty thing to do.”

Brit harrumphs and turns away, once more gripping the bars. “I’m sure you have your reasons,” I say. “I apologize for my friend. She’s a bit upset. This is her stagette and it got a bit messed up.”

Brit whirls around. “This isnotmy stagette! Will you stop telling people that?”

″It’s my stagette too,” says a girl with a rippedBride-to-besash around her shoulders.

″Mine too,” echoes another.

″Well, it’s not mine.” Brit’s mutter is so low that only I hear her.

″What are you talking about?” I demand. “This is what we’re here for because you’re getting married! I left my kids to spend the weekend with you because you’re getting married. I used my one phone call to call Morgan. Did you even call Justin and tell him what’s going on?”

Brit refuses to meet my eyes. “It’s not like he can do anything to help.”

″But he might–you’ve hardly mentioned him.” The realization hits me like the shoe clocking me on the side of the head had earlier. “What’s going on?”

″Unlike you, Casey, I keep my thoughts to myself.”

″No, you don’t. You’re getting married in a few weeks. Justin should be all you’re talking about.” I stand, hands on hips, demanding answers.

---