Page 8 of Third Time Lucky

Aaron groans, running a hand over his head. ‘Why you gotta tell her at all? She’s not your girlfriend.Youdidn’t cheat.’

‘This might surprise you, but because I’m not an asshole?’

‘Oh yeah.’ He rolls his eyes. ‘Almost forgot you’re the goody-two-shoes in this relationship.’

‘Someone’s got to keep you alive.’

‘And even though I hardly ever say it, I do appreciate that. One question. What if she thinks you’re full of shit?’

‘In that case, I show her the video.’

His eyes go wide. ‘Ah, amateur porn produced by the groom himself, what every bride dreams of seeing the morning of her wedding.’

‘Why don’t you use that twisted mind of yours to figure out how we get in to see her so I can ruin her day before she says “I do.” I’ll think of what to say while we look for her,’ I suggest, standing from the booth.

Aaron grabs the rest of the bacon from my plate, following behind me as we head toward the hotel’s lobby.

‘I’d just say it – “your husband-to-be, blowjob Brandon, has a tab with a girl from the Red Light district.”’

‘Less hurtful.’

‘OK… how about – “your fiancé has a wandering penis, and I’ve got proof.”’

‘The words “wandering penis” aren’t leaving my lips.’

‘Lame, but I think I just got an idea,’ he says, grabbing a huge bouquet of flowers from a vase and shaking the water from the stems onto the carpet. ‘We’re now flower delivery guys. Vagabond Brandon is about to be outed. Play along.’

‘Good morning, sir,’ the dark-haired middle-aged woman at the front desk greets Aaron as we approach. ‘How can I help?’

‘I’ve got flowers for the Lucy—’ He glances at me, eyes wide.

‘Gray,’ I say under my breath.

‘The Lucy Gray wedding,’ he finishes his sentence.

She motions toward a sign off to the left of the desk.

Gray – Kruzie Wedding

I beeline that way, walking past the next sign pointing into a large ballroom where a woman in a black tuxedo stands outside the door with a tray of champagne flutes. Instead of going in there, I follow a man with a camera who appears to be on a mission.

‘I’d bet money this photographer is headed toward the bridal suite.’

‘Smart!’ Aaron says, now at my side downing a glass of champagne. He tosses the glass into a garbage can on the way.

‘Are you even a hint sober?’

‘A hint, yes. But that’s about it,’ he confirms.

‘God, those flowers look like they belong in a Vegas-themed funeral.’

‘Isn’t that what this is about to become?’ he asks sarcastically.

Photographer dude lingers near a potted palm tree across the hall from a door labeled –Bridal Party.This must be the place.

I inhale deeply, then knock. I’ve only been this nervous a couple of other times around this woman. God, I hope she’s not completely ready already.

Aaron steps up next to me, the flowers covering his face. ‘This could go tits up quickly.’

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