“What?” Bree squawks.
Bree, Nat, and Lexy are all wearing off the shoulder short silver dresses that hardly cover their bottoms. And each one has paired the prom-like detail with matching silver shoes. It might have been an elegant concept, but the reality is more Las Vegas showgirl—and come to think of it—exactly what I was wearing last night.
“I’m the best girl, Bishop,” Bree is quick to assure her. “I’m your bestie. I’ve done things for you that have cost me plenty.”
“Like taking money from Chloe to be my friend.” I offer up the example without hesitating.
Laken huffs, “She did that?”
Bree gasps and points an accusatory finger my way. “You picked a fine time to be a bitch, Skyla.”
“Brielle!” Laken barks. “Chloe is marrying Skyla’s husband. Have a little compassion, would you?”
“I’m sorry!” Bree croaks as she speeds on over and collapses her arms over me. “I’m so, so very sorry. I don’t understand any of this. I don’t know why Gage has lost his freaking mind. I don’t know why he would ever hurt you like this. It makes zero sense to anyone. It’s all we were talking about last night. No one can believe he would marry”—she looks to Chloe and swallows hard—“her of all people.”
Chloe rolls her eyes. “Bree, consider yourself demoted to guestbook detail. Messenger”—she straightens and manages to look regal in the process—“yes or no?”
Lexy winks my way. “Say no. I bet I’m next.”
I glower at Chloe a moment. “Yes.”
“Yes?” Chloe and just about everyone in the room chime along with her, equally as stunned.
“Yes.”
If Gage Oliver is going to go through with the malfeasance a second time, perhaps far more on purpose than he ever did the first, then I want to be within striking distance. I want him to see my face lingering feet away while he does it. If Gage is going to have the balls to spit in my eye one more time, I want to make sure he doesn’t miss. It only fuels my hatred. It’s pumping up my adrenaline, making me bitter to the core, and I’ll use that to propel my people right back where they belong, and send him and all of the Fems to hell.
Bree makes the sound of an injured animal. “She’s not even wearing a dress!”
I glance down, surprised to find myself in a pair of Gage’s old sweatpants, a sweatshirt that readsWest Paragon Highwith Cerberus the three-headed monster emblazed underneath it. In all honesty, I hadn’t given my attire a single thought.
“She’ll do just the way she is.” Chloe gives a satisfied smile my way, but layered underneath it I can feel her own vengeance ready to pour out all over me. “We’ll need the boys to stay for pictures afterwards. Don’t get any ideas of running out the door once it’s through.”
“What about Sage?” I tease. “You want the full family experience, don’t you?” What I would give to hold Sage in my arms without her squirming to get away from me.
Chloe scoffs. “I think we both know what a little shit Sage is. It will be the boys and Tobie. Perhaps even a picture of you in the background, Skyla?” Chloe is in full wicked vigor. “All of us as one big happy family.”
Lexy ushers us all out of the room and lines me up outside of the grand room with Wesley, my very own Gage lookalike.
“What in the hell.” Wes closes his eyes methodically as if he had seen it all. “Look, I’m sorry you have to deal with this bullshit, and believe me, I’m caught up in it in ways I don’t like either, but I’m pretty sure you’re free to walk out that door if you want to.”
The music starts up in the next room and everyone quickly buttons up their errant conversations. It’s official. The madness is starting and here I am, a willing participant.
I blink back tears and forbid them from falling. Instead, I take a ragged breath and push past the boulder the size of this entire island sitting in my throat.
“If you were marrying Chloe, and Laken stood right there in your midst—how would that make you feel?” My stomach sours as stabbing pains fill my insides. Every last cell in my body is protesting what I’m about to do.
Wes sighs as he threads his arm through mine. He’s so very handsome, clean-shaven, his thick, black hair slicked back still damp, his cologne spiced and fresh, and his tuxedo is impeccable.
“I would die a thousand deaths knowing that the woman I really wanted to marry was just within reach. I would rather fall on a spirit sword than go through with the mockery. I would gouge my own eyes out with my bare hands. I wouldn’t hesitate to step right past Chloe and fall on my knees and beg Laken’s forgiveness, kiss her feet, and wash them with my tears. My soul would be forever scarred for causing her such great grief, such aching sorrow. My heart would plead for her to understand.” His voice breaks and he takes in a deep breath.
I lean in and pat his hand, warm and thick and so very much like my old Gage. “That was so beautiful, Wesley. What would you want her to understand, though?”
Wesley looks right at me and I feel something, something warm and familiar, a love pulsing from him like never before.
“That ultimately every sacrifice I made was for her—for us, for our children.” His forest green eyes penetrate me so completely I feel his plea right down in my bones. Tears beg to come, and I take a sharp breath.
“Children? Come now, Wes. You and I both know Charlie belongs to Coop.”
