Page 79 of How to Ruin Your Ex's Wedding
I feel the limo begin winding up the hills, I assume toward Pimplecock’s. The houses in this area are ostentatious. It figures this is where they live, which is also why it’s not surprising he has gated access to his home. The driver buzzes for permission to enter, and I hear a scratchy voice answer, then the gate opens slowly.
Hunter is outside waiting when we approach the house. I try to move Tabatha from my lap again, s process I should have started five minutes ago. She protests and wraps her hand in the fabric of my shirt. Before I can do anything else, Hunter has opened the door, his face red and stern.
“Tabatha—” he starts. Then he sees me. And Tabatha. “Well, isn’t this becoming quite the habit,” he sneers.
“She had too much to drink, we’re just making sure she gets home safely,” I say.
“We?” Hunter asks. Then he sees Gregor. “Oh, hello, Gregor, I didn’t see you there.” His tone changes completely to something friendly and inviting. Gregor waves a hand in reply.
I scoot toward the open door prepared to hand off Tabatha.
“Can’t she stand?” Hunter asks.
“She was sick earlier,” I say by way of explanation, climbing out of the limo and trying not to drop Tabatha at the same time. Not an easy task.
“How convenient that you were there to help her,” Hunter says. “What, you had to leave my party early to rush to her side?”
“No,” I said. “I didn’t even know she was going to be there.”
“It was my idea,” Gregor interjects, also climbing out of the limo. “Maisey told me where they were going to be, and I wanted to see her again. Pax didn’t know.”
Hunter does not look convinced.
Tabatha starts to open her eyes. “Oh hey, Pax,” she says softly.
“We brought you home, Tabs.”
“Home?” She glances around, seeing Gregor first. “Igor BigJerksy,” she says, her voice friendly. “I’ve decided to like you after all these years. But only because Maisey does. So be nice to her. She’s my new friend.”
“Yes, ma’am,” Gregor says, laughing.
“Tabatha, are you well?” Hunter asks.
She looks at him, as if seeing him for the first time. “Hunter! How lovely to see you.” Then she looks back at me. “We’re getting married.”
“I know,” I tell her. “In less than a week.”
“That soon?” she whispers loudly.
I nod.
“Do you think it’s a good idea?” She looks from me to Hunter then back at me again. “For me to marry him.”
I watch her expression, trying to decipher what she’s getting at. If she’s just drunk babbling or actually asking me my opinion.
“That’s enough, Tabatha,” Hunter says. “Let’s go. You need to sleep this off.”
She peeks up at me through her lashes. “I need to sleep this off.” I nod, suddenly feeling beyond sad suddenly. This is probably the last time I’m going to see her before she marries this idiot. He has no idea what he’s getting with her. How lucky he is.
I lean down and kiss her forehead softly. She closes her eyes and sighs. I take a moment to memorize her face one last time and then hand her to Hunter. Where she was easy for me to hold—she can’t weigh more than a hundred and twenty pounds—he struggles under her weight.
“I can walk,” she slurs.
“It’s fine,” he snaps.
And with that, they disappear into the house. I watch until I see the lights downstairs turn off, and those upstairs turn on. Then I climb back inside the limo and let the guy drive us to Gregor’s. It isn’t until we are halfway there that I realize I left my heart with Tabatha.
Where it belongs.
