Page 13 of Rim Job

They are no doubt awake as I head down the hallway of our floor to the door of our room. Their shouting comes through the door loud and clear. I can’t quite make out what they are saying, though. I hold my breath as I slide the card in. The sound of the locks disengaging seems to be about as quiet as a cannon shot. I cringe, and pain slices through my head before I slide the door open.

“No, she had on a black dress and red shoes. Not a red dress and black shoes. My God, how do you call yourself hotel security if you can’t recall the description I just gave you? My best friend is missing! We need to look for her now! Right now! If you can’t handle this…”

Shit.

Jen paces across the room nervously on the phone. She swipes tears from her face with her free hand. My heart breaks. God, they must have been worried out of their minds. I’m a horrible friend. Jen turns and screams when she sees me. She throws her phone across the room as she runs toward me.

“Oh, my God! Where the fuck have you been? We’ve been worried sick about you.” She almost tackles me with a hug, and then she starts to squeeze the life out of me. Breathing is over-rated anyway. She pulls back from our embrace, holds my shoulders in her hands, and shakes me.

“We have called you a thousand times. Why didn’t you answer? We woke up and couldn’t find you.”

“I kind of lost my purse, so I don’t have my phone. Please stop shaking me. You're going to make me sick.”

Screams from behind me make me turn, and I’m tackle-hugged by Glory and Ev.

“Oh, my goodness, Ti, are you okay? We’ve been worried sick.” Glory squeezes me tightly, and I return her hug. I’m a shit friend. It’s my best friend’s wedding day, and here she is, red-eyed and worried about me.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you all.”

“We’re just glad you’re safe. I came back to the poker table, and you were gone. I thought you came to the room and went to bed. I went in your room to wake you up this morning and you weren’t there, didn’t answer your phone. We freaked out! Where did you go?” Evelyn asks as she squeezes me tighter.

“It’s a long story, girls. We can talk about it later, okay? Right now, we’ve got a wedding to prepare for.”

I try to redirect the attention from myself to where it needs to be—Glory. This is her day. Plus, it will buy me some time to come up with something to tell them besides the truth. I don’t want to lie to my friends. In fact, I never have, but this, this is too much. It’s too embarrassing. I just want an annulment and to forget that I ever was Mrs. Rimmington Banks. Whoever the hell she is.

“You have to tell me before I leave for our honeymoon. Promise?” Glory asks, her eyes pleading with me for the truth.

“Absolutely.” Another lie. My gut churns. “Now, let’s get ready for your bridal breakfast!”

I plaster the biggest smile I can muster onto my face for my friends before I head off to my room and straight for the shower. Scalding hot water should help wash away some of this hangover and what I did last night, at least, the evidence of it between my legs. I step under the spray, and my tears mingle with the water trickling down my face. I scrub my hair.

How in the hell did I let this happen?

I have plans. A list. Marriage to a stranger wasnoton it. I lean my head back and close my eyes while I let the water rinse away the shampoo.

Why would I marry this man? What in the hell did I drink?

I try to clear my mind, but I’m assaulted with visions of my husband, naked, and on top of me…running the tip of his nose along my neck as he breathes words into my flesh. “My beautiful wife.” Oh, God, that thick accent…

His hands grip my hips, angling me so he can fully seat himself inside me. I gasp, and my eyes pop open.

Was that real? A memory? If that was real, how could I forget it?

Because you were trashed, Christina. Trashed.

I look down at my hips, and sure enough, faint bruises that look like fingerprints mar the skin there.

Fuck.

A knock on the bathroom door pulls me from my thoughts. I turn the water off and reach for my towel.

“Yeah?” I ask as I wrap the towel around me.

“Ti, can I come in?” Jen’s voice is tentative.

“Come on in, Jen.”

The door opens, Jen slips through it and closes it behind her. She narrows her eyes on me. “We need to talk, but right now, there is a gorgeous English man out in the hallway claiming to be your husband.”

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