Page 26 of Love Among Vines

“You’re in luck. I have it in spades.”

Thank god the urge to vomit and/or wail like a banshee had passed. Rett had been her little guiding light, there before she even knew she needed him.

She took a step back. “I understand if you want to leave after hearing all that. Nobody wants to be the arm candy for a professional mess.”

He shook his head. “We had an agreement. I’m not going anywhere. Especially not now. Let’s go find another bottle of champagne. I think you’re going to need it.”

CHAPTER TEN

RETT

Rett stood in the foyer,half-empty bottle of champagne in one hand and Jade’s clutch in the other. She was rolling on the floor, over and over again like a drunk rotisserie chicken.

And frankly, he didn’t blame her. He knew all too well what it was like to have someone close utterly betray him. Although a lot of the sting had subsided, he’d never forget that morning.

His heart ached for Jade. While she probably should have suspected from the beginning that it wasn’t just an emotional affair, that didn’t make the news any less devastating. She deserved better than this.

The door opened, and one of the other bridesmaids—not the rude one from the tasting—walked in. She probably could have crushed his skull with one of her biceps.

“What the hell are you doing? The wedding starts in twenty minutes. Camila will shit an entire duck,” the bridesmaid said.

“I’m processing, Kenya,” Jade said from the floor. “It turns out Nate screwed Ashley for an entire month before breaking up with me. And then they both lied about it for two years.”

Kenya’s mouth fell open. “Oh,hellno. Give me some of that.”

She snatched the champagne from Rett’s hand and tossed it back. Then she threw her clutch at him and dropped to herknees. Seconds later, her hands were above her and she was rolling along right next to Jade.

“Who makes bridesmaids wear thousand-dollar satin dresses? I’m so done with them.” Kenya rolled over to a potted plant and grabbed a fistful of soil. She sprinkled it on herself before continuing to roll.

“I’m not stopping until every inch of this dress is rumpled. And then I’m going to get obscenely drunk and make a scene. Sorry, Rett,” Jade said in his direction.

He smiled. “I’d be happy to help.”

He was friendly with the owners of Barrington Terrace. They would definitely give her a pass if he explained the circumstances.

“And then tomorrow,” Jade continued from the floor, “I’m never going to think of any of these people again. Except for you, Kenya. I like you.”

Kenya stopped and rolled onto her front. Potting soil had created several dirty streaks and splotches on the dress. “Aww. Thanks, Jade. I like you too.”

“And then,” Jade added, “I’m going to make so many incredible paintings. And one day, Patricia is going to want one of them so badly. And I will make sure every single one of her friends gets to have a Jade Gardner original. But never her.”

“What are you doing? Are you insane? Patricia is going to flip out.” Another bridesmaid had apparently entered the foyer. Her eyes bulged.

Jade shot a glance over her shoulder. “Good.”

The newcomer marched over and grabbed Jade’s wrist. “Was this your plan all along? Wait until the wedding and then humiliate Ashley?”

Jade yanked her wrist back. “No, Camila. My original plan was to marry Nate and have his babies. But then he fucked Ashley because I was sad that my parents died.”

Camila’s thin lips pressed together. “What do you mean?”

Jade relayed the story.

Camila listened intently. At the end, she crossed her arms and glanced out the front doors.

“Well, that certainly explains why Ashley was hiding in the closet and refusing to come out. She kept saying ‘what if he does to me what he did to her?’”

“It’s going to be a disaster,” Kenya said as she climbed to her feet. She smoothed a hair that had escaped from her updo. “Is she coming?”

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