Page 45 of Reckless

He was doing this on purpose. He wanted to get back at me for waking him up this morning, for forcing him to do this. Not that he was doing anything. He just moved around from one spot on the floor to the next.

My shirt was glued to my sweaty back. Half my hair had fallen out from the messy bun I had gathered it in hours ago. My hands were dirty and every time I touched my face, I felt like my fingers were leaving a trail of dust on my skin.

“He’s right,” Lucas said. “Let’s have a break. I’ll go get her.”

I slacked down the nearest wall and closed my eyes. I heard Tyler moving around but didn’t bother to take a look at what he was doing. Seconds later, right when my stomach growled, something cool touched my cheek and I jerked to the side, my eyes flying open. Tyler held a bottle of water for me.

I took it but I didn’t thank him. He walked away and sat right across from me, his back pressed on the opposite wall.

Maybe he sensed I was pissed and didn’t want to cause a fight, or he was just satisfied with how the day went, but he didn’t say a word to me.

Clem and Lucas came down. Tyler silently stood up and moved the dining table with Lucas, following Clem’s directions.

I didn’t thank him for that either.

Then he surprised us all by taking Clem’s hand in his.

“We are going to get something for dinner. Any special orders?” I kept my mouth firmly shut.

“I don’t care,” Lucas answered. “Whatever Clem thinks she could eat without puking afterwards.”

“Spencer?” Tyler asked.

“Same.”

My voice sounded like my throat was full of sand. I waited for Clem and Tyler to get out and turned to Lucas.

“What are we going to do with the venue?”

“I don’t really care,” he shrugged. “I am marrying my nemesis with or without a venue. I don’t care if we have two hundred guests or twelve. One way or the other, we will be married by the end of the summer.” I reached over to squeeze his hand.

“That’s so sweet, Lucas.”

“Really? You think it’s sweet? The girl that wanted to turn my proposal into a spectacle.”

I smacked his shoulder.

“In my defense, I have to say I was extremely excited you two got your happy ending after all.”

“Giving the fact that my wife is pregnant, I think it’s obvious I am still getting a regular happy ending.”

I scrunched my nose. I saw Lucas in way too many compromising positions at parties while we were still in high school and it wasn’t hard for me to picture him having sex. That didn’t mean I enjoyed those images floating inside my head.

“Gross. Keep the dirty talking for yourfiancée, Cole” I emphasized on the word fiancée. “She is not your wife yet.”

“Of course. We are only having a baby, living together, and have been in love with each other our entire lives. Why would I consider her my wife?”

“Fair point,” I agreed, but the venue situation was still bothering me. “I hate that I will have to leave in a week and I didn’t help at all.”

Lucas rolled his eyes, something I suspected he unintentionally picked up from Clem.

“You managed to drag Tyler here. You did enough.”

“I don’t think he came because of me.”

“You found him. Besides, the evil sister is coming tomorrow. I bet she will have ideas.”

I shivered a little thinking about Madison coming, but I knew she was our best shot at this point.

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