“I am.” I caught my phone lighting up out of the corner of my eye as it sat on the table, but I ignored it. I just wanted to stay here all day, but I knew that was impossible. “Feels like a dream though,” I admitted.
Hutch tilted his head. “How so?” He moved his hand up to my head. “You miss me that much, bean?” He grinned as he started to drag the blanket down. “Wait, do you have a tattoo? When did you get that?” His finger traced the small, pink ballet slipper on my hip. “Sexy,” he whistled.
I pretended to slap his hand away. “I got it last year with Madison. My roommate. We’re actually like besties.” I giggled as his fingers tickled my ribs.
“So I was right?”
“Smart man.”
Hutch dropped wet kisses all over my stomach. “You really hate it there, huh?” He dragged his gaze up to mine. “You don’t really like to talk much about it.” He glanced over where my phone sat. “Someone is really trying to get your attention this morning.”
I twisted around to grab my phone. “For someone who said they weren’t going to be bridezilla...shit.” I sat up to unlock my phone to reveal dozens of texts from Jo.
“Everything okay?” Hutch asked. “You look upset.”
Jo:Where are you?
Jo:The wedding is off!
Jo:I need you!
Jo:I’m serious, Jill!
Jo:Pat cheated on me!
I glanced back at Hutch. “I have to go.” I flung the rest of the covers off to jump from the bed. “Something happened last night.” I found my bra and my ruined panties in the living room where Hutch had left them.
“I guess so.” Hutch had his phone in his hand. “What an idiot,” he groaned as he shook his head. “Damn it, Patrick.” He began to shove his jeans on. “I guess I need to go talk to my brother.” He met my gaze just as the front door flew open to reveal Madison.
“Is this why you didn’t come home last night?” she exclaimed. “I thought you were done with her, Hutch?”
I found my pants, pulled them on—sans underwear—and quickly yanked my shirt on. “I’ll let you deal with this.” I had my sister who needed my help right now.
“Deal with?” Madison roared as she turned to me.
“Mads, don’t,” Hutch warned.
Madison shook her head. “You can’t have us both, Hutch, that’s not how this is going to work.” She stuck out her left hand. “Did he bother to tell you we got married yesterday?” It was like a kick to the stomach when I saw the gold band wrapped around her finger. “I didn’t think so.” Madison dropped her hand. “Nothing fancy; I’m afraid. Just down to the courthouse, but it’s official. I’m Mrs. Hutch Kelly, and you’re not.”
Everything Hutch had said to me last night was a lie. Was that his way of getting revenge? “I have to go,” I muttered before I shot out the front door with my shoes in my right hand and hurried down the steps, trying to keep myself from exploding into tears.
Hutch was married.
Not just married; Hutch was married to Madison Rae.
Jo was sitting on the front porch as I made my way across the street. I tried not to let my feelings show as I dropped onto the steps next to her and pulled her into my arms. Now it was my turn to comfort my sister after she had helped me so many times before.
“I didn’t think he would actually go through with it.” She sobbed into my chest.
Wait a second. I pulled back to look at Jo. “What does that mean?” I searched her face. “Back up and tell me the entire story.”
Jo pressed her lips together as she sat up. “Okay, so we always had this agreement.” She squared her shoulders.
“What kind of an agreement?”
“Pat and I had never been with anyone else. I mean I lost my V-card to him, and he lost his to me. We both knew that we wanted to spend the rest of our lives with one another—”
I jumped to my feet. “Are you telling me that you told Pat he could fuck around last night?” I was so not emotionally stable to handle this right now. I had my own shit that I was going through.
