Page 63 of Miss Understood

“Idon’tknowwhatyou ladies are up to, but I’m getting nervous,” I say as Kennedy and Monica giggle.

After they kidnapped me from the office, stuck me in a car, and blindfolded me, we finally arrive at wherever we must have been headed. I catch a familiar aroma that I can’t quite place: ginger and something sweet in the air.

“You have to trust us,” Kennedy says, squeezing my arm.

“That’s the problem. You two are troublemakers.”

Monica pats me on the head, and I can almost hear her bouncing with excitement next to me.

“You’re going to love this, Luce. Don’t worry, we’re almost there.”

A door creaks open, and I sense movement in the room, but it’s quiet. Whispers and bodies shuffle. I have no idea where we are or what’s going on, but I’m positive we aren’t alone.

“Ouch!” I hear a deep voice cut through the darkness.

“Jesse?” I reach out but find only air.

“Did you fail to mention your friends are serial killers?” he says from somewhere on my left.

“Oh, no. What did you girls do?”

“Quiet, you two. One second,” Monica says with a pat on my shoulder.

Fingers tangle in the blindfold, and when the cover drops from my eyes, light slaps them shut again.

“Surprise!” a crowd yells, and I blink my eyes open, trying to take in whatever is happening in front of me.

A mass of people crowds a decorated room. Streamers, flowers, and a giantJust Marriedsign hang above the mass.

“Oh, God” is all I say as a hand slides into mine.

Not this again.

I look up, and Jesse’s eyes are on me. They’re pinched with the same confusion I’m feeling.

“Did you know about this?” I ask him.

He shakes his head. “All I know is, if I ever need to bury a body, I know who I’m calling.” His eyes dart over to Kennedy and Monica, who are smiling wide beside us.

“You kidnapped my husband?” I say flatly, and they give me unapologetic nods.

Kennedy slides against my other arm and leans in. “Nice to hear you acknowledging him as such.”

“Don’t get any ideas.” I nudge her away with my shoulder. “What is this?”

“Well, since you two up and got married without telling anyone, we decided it was our job to make sure there was a proper celebration.”

I tip my head back, and Jesse leans in. “You okay, babe?”

“Yes, just going to kill my friends. But other than that, fine.”

He laughs and gives my hand a squeeze, but I barely have time to register it before people start closing in. Only this time, it’s not coworkers, it’s family and friends. And the nervous energy I had when our surprise wedding was announced to the office is replaced with something else. Because this marriage might still be a sham, but Jesse and I feel like a couple.

“Hey, sis!” Serena jumps up in front of me and plants her hands on my shoulders to pull me in for a hug. “Good to see you again.”

“You too,” I tell her.

She bats her eyelashes at me, showing off her deep purple eye shadow, as Mateo and Nate come up beside her.

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