Page 165 of Lavender Lake
“Oh, we’re doing this now,” Declan said, grabbing the remainder of Wyn’s drink and downing it in one swig. “I told you to stay away from her.”
“Yeah, you did. And you also told Salem I wasn’t a family man.” Cas’s cheeks heated with anger and alcohol. “What the fuck was that about?”
“Keep cutting the cake,” Poet said to Gracie as she picked up a few slices and began to hand them out to guests.
“Got it,” Gracie said, but her gaze strayed to me.
I noticed, but my attention bounced to Hadley who hadn’t shown an ounce of emotion yet, and then to Cas and Declan.
Liquor and emotions were running high.
“You knocked up my wife’s sister!” Declan yelled as he stepped toward Cas.
“Aww, he called you his wife,” Poet said to Hadley, a dopey, boozy grin on her face.
“So what?” Cas yelled back. “I’m not sorry it happened! I love her.”
The guests collectively gasped.
Declan pulled back his arm and made a fist, clearly preparing to punch Cas.
And Cas did nothing except stand there, ready to take whatever Declan doled out.
The two of them stared at each other.
“Declan,” Hadley said softly.
Her words penetrated Declan’s haze of anger and he slowly lowered his arm. She went to him and cradled his cheeks in her hands. He stared down at her as she whispered something no one else could hear. Declan turned his head and kissed her palm before extracting himself from her and stalking out of the wedding tent.
She turned and pointed at me. “You. With me.Now.”
Without waiting to see if I would follow, Hadley hiked up her wedding dress and headed toward the barn.
“Did she just leave her own wedding?” Poet asked.
“Yes,” I said, hiding my head in shame.
Muddy shoved a slice of wedding cake into my hands, along with a fork. “Bring her this. She might be in a better mood with some sugar.”
I gestured to the wedding guests. “What about them?”
“I’ve got it,” Muddy said. “Go.”
I looked at Cas, our eyes meeting for a moment, and then I ran after Hadley to the barn. She was stroking Goldie’s nose when I arrived.
“You’re not thinking of going for a ride, are you?” I asked.
“No. I just need a minute. Or ten. Is that for me?” She dipped her head at the piece of wedding cake I was holding.
Wincing, I handed it to her. “Hadley, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin your wedding.”
She sliced a bite of cake with her fork, but didn’t eat it. “You didn’t ruin my wedding. Amber did. I should’ve known she couldn’t bury the hatchet.”
“Except in my back.” I sighed. “Cas was right. I should’ve told you I was pregnant. Then none of this mess would’ve ever happened.”
Hadley sighed. “Salem, I already knew you were pregnant.”
My jaw dropped open. “What?”
