Page 90 of Love is a Game

Tuck raises both hands. “Obviously, I wouldn’t be involved.”

Mia’s nostrils flare.

“It would be fun!” I say quickly. “You, me…Violet and Jess. AndVivian.We could invite Mason’s mom…” I scramble for a guest list. “All the moms! Tuck’s and Brady’s—because you really have to meet them if you haven’t already!” I press.

Mia’s brows lift. “I could invitemymom too,” she muses.

“That’s all we need!” I seize on the tiniest crack of agreement. Anything to buy me time on the very defined sweetheart neckline situation. “Low-key. Classy. Justfun!”

Mia sighs, but a small smile tugs at her lips. “Fine. But nothing like that partyhethrew.” She dagger-eyes Tuck again. “No questionable cover band, no jelly shots, no drugs, no effigies of any of my movie characters, no blow-up sex toys.” She folds her arms. “Oh yes, don’t think I didn’t hearallthe details, Tuck.”

Tuck’s mouth opens, then closes.

“Deal!” I smile brightly, as if I didn’t derail this entire meeting to avoid a dress-related meltdown.

But as we wrap up and make our way back toward the car, I realize something.

Tuck is brooding.

He’s walking beside me, hands shoved deep into his pockets, his jaw tight, gaze trained ahead.

Oh.

I brace myself.

“Epic distraction, Pen. Masterful,” he finally says.

I glance at him innocently. “What?”

“Bringing up that whole bachelorette party thing.” He stops abruptly, turning to face me. “You used me to deflect from the wedding dress.”

Oh. So,thisis happening.

I clasp my hands, trying to prompt his forgiveness.

“I admit, it was a handy coincidence, but definitely not premeditated. I honestly forgot how disastrous the bachelor party you organized turned out.”

Tuck scoffs. “Right. Throwing me under the bus was a coincidence. Sure.”

“She was already mad, Tuck! I didn’t know she was still holding all that in about Mason’s party. I mean, she’s right to be angry, that’s fair. But I assumed she’d already let you have it about all that.”

Tuck exhales, shaking his head. “Nah. When we spoke in the aftermath, it was all about being so concerned about Mason, and then relieved he ended up okay. I think perhaps, since the shock wore off, she’s had time to dig deeper into her…rage.”

I wince. “I guess that’s what happened. Sorry.”

He just looks at me.

“Tuck, you know me better than that. I wouldn’t deliberately make you suffer to avoid my own fuck up.” I pause. “That said…it was a useful outcome.”

There’s still some residual irritation in his eyes. But now, it’s mixed with a faint glimmer of humor.

“This is another point in my favor, you know.”

I frown. “Another point?”

“Yes,” he insists. “Because, in the span of an hour, I took the fall for a nearly fatal bachelor partyandgot verbally flogged by Mia while you walked away unscathed. That’s next-level sacrifice.”

I roll my eyes. “Yes, fine. Add it to your list.”

---