Page 22 of Fall to Me
“Nope.”
As much as I hated the way he treated me, I get why he’s so protective of his daughter. I’m sure if one day I have a daughter, I’ll be as protective.
Tucker comes strutting through the door, then plops down in a chair next to mine. “Heard you’re my uncle now.”
My brows shoot up, and I run a hand through my hair. “Man, news travels fast.”
“Ol’ Uncle Carter . . . gotta say, you must have a way with the ladies because I never saw that comin’. Guess you do got that rizz.”
“If he hadrizz,” Cal counters, “He would’ve been able to lock that down a year ago; it’s called bad decisions, son.”
“Some may call it bad decisions, but I call it liquid courage,” I say.
Speaking of . . . I need a fuckin’ drink after that run in with Rhett. Standing to my feet, I saunter over to the decanter, uncap the glass container, and pour two fingers of scotch into a glass. I toss the amber liquid back, enjoying the burn as it travels down my throat.
I lift my second glass toward him. “By the way, whose grand idea was it for everyone to take a shot after we finished each task?”
“Only the person who completed the task had to take a shot.”
“Yeah, that’s not what you said.”
“That’s what I meant.”
I chuckle, letting out a sigh. “Next time, make your rules very clear, dude. You said everyone take a shot.”
“It worked in your favor, so stop your bitchin’ about it.” He laughs.
I don’t know how much it worked in my favor. I guess we’ll find out when she moves in.
Nine
River
You know when something happens in your life, and everyone’s talking about it, and they’re dying to talk to you about it, so they can learn more? But the last thing you want to do is . . .
Ding, ding, ding. You guessed it! Talk about it.
What really sucks is that awkward moment when you step into a room and everyone stops chatting as their eyes cut to you. You can just tell, because it’s written all over their faces, that you were the topic of their discussion before you walked in and interrupted the conversation. And you already know that each of them is waiting out the other to see who will be the one to crack first and ask you questions.
Yeah . . . that’s happening to me right at this very moment.
I feel awful that what I’ve done has taken the attention away from my sister on her wedding day. I don’t want anyone to make this day about me. And not because I’m embarrassed or anything like that. It’s because she’s been waiting her entire lifefor a love like this and it deserves to be celebrated without any other distractions.
The door to the bridal suite closes behind me, and my eyes flit over to Aspen sitting in the vanity chair wrapped in a white, silk robe. I begin to make my way toward her, but both Mom and Katherine cross my path, stopping me as each of them wrap me in a hug. My mom seems more cheerful. Thank God. Though she’s always been one to give you a good ass chewing, then let the subject drop.
“Your dress is hanging by Aspen’s,” Katherine tells me as I cross the room.
“Thanks. I’ll put it on right before we walk out the door,” I respond then lean down to give Aspen a quick hug.
“Sorry I’m late. Ooh, you smell good.”
“Thank you,” she says as I pull back. “You’re not that late.”
Sitting down in the vanity chair next to her, I begin applying my make up in silence. If she starts throwing questions at me, I don’t know what I’ll say to her. I certainly don’t want her to feel guilty that I’m staying married for her sake. But I don’t want to lie either. How the hell am I supposed to convince her that I wanted to marry Carter when I’ve been openly denying my attraction to him and turning down his advances left and right?
As we’re all getting ready, no one says a word about the stunt I pulled last night. I'm beginning to think I’m in the clear. That is, until the stylist is placing the last few bobby pins into Aspen’s hair, and Aspen cuts me a look through the mirror. I look back at the other girls, seeing them not paying attention to us, and I realize she’s been waiting for the right time to strike.
Well, shit.
