Page 73 of Promise Me Ever After
She dropped her hand and stared at the floor. “I didn’t know they were coming. Fraser told me they’d said no.”
“But to even invite them in the first place? Surely you must have known how much it would have bothered her.” I wouldn’t normally fight other people’s battles, but this was different. I loved Georgie and I’d do anything for her.
Darcy sighed. “I shouldn’t have invited them in the first place.”
“But I guess you don’t want an argument with your husband only hours after getting married? Easier to have a run-in with your sister.” I raked a hand through my hair.
“I don’t want to argue with either of them.”
Much as I thought what she had done was wrong, it was her wedding day and arguments didn’t need to happen.
“I’ll take care of Georgie. You go and find Fraser and enjoy the rest of your evening.” I leaned over and kissed her cheek. “We’ll catch up tomorrow.”
“I’m so pleased Georgie has got you, Alex. Thank you.” Darcy’s eyes filled with tears. “You really are good for her.” Then she flounced off, a vision in white lace.
With no idea where Georgie had got to, I made a beeline for the bar. Curtis was still there, chatting to a couple of women who appeared to be flirting heavily with him.
“All right, mate?” I asked, smoothing in beside the two women. “Not seeing my sister tonight?” I raised an eyebrow.
The women looked at each other, then picked up their wine glasses and went back to join the group on the dance floor.
Curtis spread his hands wide. “I can have a conversation with a woman without wanting to sleep with her,” he hissed. “I’m not you, Alex. It’s as dull as fuck working this wedding. I needed a distraction. And where the hell have you been?”
“Refereeing between Georgie and Darcy. You know her ex Russ, and his new bird are here? The one Georgie found him with?”
“Yeah, I overheard them talking about it earlier.” He scanned the guests. “Have you seen them?”
“Nope. Don’t know what they look like either. I could have been talking to them already and not known.” I pointed to the fridge. “Can I get a beer?”
Curtis turned a took the bottle from the fridge, then popped the cap off and handed it to me. “On the house. Courtesy of the bride’s parents.”
I looked at him. “Curtis, you work here; it would be on the house anyway.”
He grinned, knowing it was the truth, then went to the other end of the bar to serve a family who’d just arrived.
While I waited for Georgie to come back, I took my time in studying the guests trying to work out which one Russ was. I spied Fraser chatting to a group of blokes, including Gus, most of whom I recognised from the stag party. Darcy spoke animatedly with an elderly couple who could have been her new husband’s grandparents. Georgie’s mum flitted about from table to table like a social butterfly, giggling and waving a glass of champagne around. The scene of perfect domestic bliss.
“Ugh, sorry. Stella wanted to talk.” Georgie took the beer bottle from me and took a big swig. She rolled her eyes. “Man trouble.”
I turned to lean back against the bar, my gaze running her up and down. The leather coat she wore was totally at odds with her bridesmaid’s dress. I noticed she’d also put Converse on instead of heels. And yet, she still looked amazing.
“At least you don’t have that problem.” I bent over to kiss her, my hand snaking around to her arse and dragging her towards me, my fingers running up and down the buttons of her dress.
“Yeah, I have sister and mother problems instead. Of all the days.” She let out a hard sigh. “Can we get out of here?”
“You got it.”
“Leaving so soon, Georgie? I was hoping to catch you.”
Georgie froze in my embrace, her back turned to the owner of the person who spoke. I didn’t need her to confirm that the voice in question belonged to Russ. I could feel it. Wrapped in the safety of my arms, she moved to face him.
“See it didn’t take you long to fall for someone else. Does he know about your track record?”
“What? Of being fucked over by jumped up pricks like you?” I couldn’t help it. Glaring at Russ, I couldn’t fathom what Georgie had seen in him. Dark-haired and built like a rugby player, which I gleaned from what looked like a permanently broken nose, we couldn’t have been more different. Standing next to him, clutching onto his hand for all she was worth, was Eliza.
She didn’t even compare to Georgie.
How Russ had chosen her over the gorgeous, sexy, sassy woman currently pressed against me, I didn’t understand.
