Madison had gone allout for the rehearsal dinner tonight, making sure that she was dressed to the nines. I’ll admit the dress she had looked good on her, with the tight waist, and the perfect blue that brought out the color in her eyes, but I knew she would never compare to whatever Jillian was wearing. The dress was sleeveless, Madison’s arms were toned and tanned, her legs looked long and lean, but I couldn’t help feeling well, nothing when I saw her. I had made a huge mistake marrying her, but that was my own fault, and I couldn’t back out now.
“Well?” Madison placed her hands firmly on her hips. “What do you think, baby?” She twirled around to give me the full effect. “It’s perfect, right?” She batted her over coated lashes at me.
“Perfect,” I echoed Madison’s words, even though I didn’t feel the same.
She pouted. “Come on, I spent a lot on this for you.” She touched the skirt. “It’s special,” Madison murmured as she fingered the fabric.
“You’re right.” I didn’t want to upset her tonight. I needed her on her best behavior for my brother and for his future wife. “You look beautiful.” I dropped a kiss against the top of her head, knowing she wouldn’t want me to wrinkle her outfit or makeup. “It will look even better on the floor later when I take it off you,” I added to make her smile.
Madison beamed happily at me. “You look great, too, babe.” She let her eyes wander down my body at the green dress shirt and black slacks I had on. “Too bad we don’t have time for a quickie before we go.” She dragged her teeth across her bottom lip.
Fat chance. “Tonight,” I assured her, lying through my teeth. “Before we go”—I stopped Madison as she was about to open the front door—“promise me something.” I pushed a piece of blonde hair behind her ear.
Her brows dipped. “What?” Her voice dropped. “If this is about Jillian or Jo, please spare me.”
“This is Pat and Jo’s wedding rehearsal.” I ignored the look on her face. “I don’t want to ruin this for them. For my brother and future sister-in-law. Your brother-in-law,” I reminded her. I cupped her face with my hands. “Let’s just play nice with everyone for the next couple of days so everybody is happy.” I slid my lips over Madison’s as she sighed.
“Fine, but only because I love you.”
The rehearsal dinner was being held at the same location as the Jack and Jill, and was only a few minutes away from the apartment we shared over Zed’s Automotive. When we arrived a few minutes later, Madison chuckled softly under her breath as she turned to face me with a smirk on her pretty face.
“Remember what you were saying to me back at the apartment?” Her smile told me something big was about to hit me in a not-so-good way. “I think you might want to remember that when you see who Jillian brought as her date, again, tonight.” I swear she might be enjoying this.
At first, all I could see was Jillian. She looked so beautiful I could hardly breathe. Her dress had thin straps that clung to her shoulders, and the dress itself fell right above her knees with some sort of sheer lace hanging from the trim. The color, fuck me, it was a beautiful maroon that just seemed perfect for her, and it was designed to make her legs look like they were a mile long. It wasn’t until she turned to her right to speak to whoever was standing next to her that I realized just exactly what Madison had been talking about.
Fucking Knox. Again.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away as rage tore through my body while Jillian touched his arm, smiled up at him, and laughed at something Knox said. I was going to jail tonight because he’d be murdered by my bare hands.
“Look who made it.” Patrick threw his arm over my shoulder. “Relax, calm down, and take a deep breath,” he whispered as he turned me away from the sight I was so intent on. “Want a drink, brother?” He held up two beers in his hand. “One of these is for you, as long as you promise to behave tonight and not commit murder.” He tried to make it sound like he was kidding, but I saw right through him.
I grabbed the bottle and drank it all down. “Thanks,” I mumbled before I glanced over at Madison who had her lips pinched together. “Let’s go sit down,” I suggested, but when I tried to take her hand, she pushed mine away.
That’s how it went for most of the night. Madison ignored me, making sure to play nice with everyone else. She talked a lot with Belle and Claire, was polite with Knox when he stopped at the table to congratulate Jo and Pat, even nodding at me without saying anything. Madison stepped away to go speak with my parents, Brent and Joan Kelly, as well as saying a quick hello to Jillian and Jo’s mother, Emily. However, she made sure to stay as far away from Jillian and Jo as possible. I think she was a little afraid of what might happen if she did, considering Jo slapped her this morning. That didn’t stop Jillian from coming to me instead.
“This is adorable.” She dragged her finger in the air between the two of us. “The two of you, married and all. Just sitting here looking like the perfect fucking couple.” She slurred her words, which made me realize she was drunk out of her mind.
I stood up. “Where’s your date?” This was bound to get ugly fast with these two. I needed to defuse this before it got worse.
“None of your business.”
“Go sit down, Jills, you’re embarrassing yourself.” Madison rolled her eyes.
Jillian took a step forward. “What did I tell you about using that nickname, huh?” she hissed. “How does she know that nickname, Hutch?” She turned her eyes on me. “Did you tell her?”
“You’re drunk.” I moved quickly around the table. “You need to go sit back down.”
“Don’t touch me!” Jillian cried when I placed my hands on her arms. “Hey, I got one for you, Mads. Come closer so I can tell you a secret.” She giggled loudly. “Hutch was a virgin until me. I took his V card,” she tried to whisper, but it sounded too loud to me.
I grabbed Jillian by her hips. “You’re done,” I growled and carried her right outside through the back of the restaurant before she could say anything else. She flailed against me, trying to kick me any which way she could, and got me a couple of times in the shin and knee before I nearly dropped her onto the ground. “Grow up,” I warned.
“Fuck you,” she spat back.
I pointed a finger in Jillian’s face. “You’re drunk, Jilly, and you don’t know what you’re saying right now.” I watched the way her eyes moved over me. The hurt in her greens, the way her face crumpled. I had done to Jillian exactly what she had done to me. “I’m sorry,” I whispered.
“I hate you.”
It was like a slap across my face. Three words that I never thought I would hear from her mouth. “You don’t...Jillian, you don’t mean that. That’s just the alcohol talking.” I wanted to hit something. I wanted to turn back the clock, and go back to that night I first told Jillian I loved her, beg her to stay, and then everything wouldn’t be so messed up right now.
