Suddenly, all that crud at the store was forgotten for the time being when the sexiest man alive walked out the frontdoor and made his way down the steps of the porch toward us.
There was a new lightness in his steps and in the way he held himself since we’d been back from our trip. He had embraced therapy even more, shared with his family and friends, and the two of us had dived right into the deep end of a lifelong future together.
“I missed you, Mrs. Adams.”
That was another new thing.
I hadn’t taken his name the first time we married because I didn’t want Griffin to be unlinked to me in the same way—but now we were both going to be changing our names.
“You’re jumping the gun,” I teased.
Jett had been calling me Mrs. Adams ever since I told him I would marry him again and that Griffin and I would take his name. He hadn’t stopped using it every chance he got.
Butterflies took flight and fluttered in my belly when he flashed me his charming, dimpled grin. “Just testing it out.”
“Are you going to help me with these groceries, or just keep making goo-goo eyes at your wife?” Ruby asked her brother.
“Definitely goo-goo eyes,” he joked.
She shook her head at him as her husband's deep voice broke into the mix. “It’s my job to help you, Red.”
Lyric swatted his wife’s butt and gave her a quick, smacking kiss on the lips before reaching into the back of the car to grab bags.
“Is this all you got?” He looked back at us, brows raised. “Usually, you buy out the whole store.”
Ruby’s head swiveled in my direction, and a look passed between us. Of course, neither of our guys missed it, and both asked what that was about. My sister opened her mouth first.
“Well, we had a slight run-in with the Wicked Bitch of the West.”
I couldn’t hold back the laughter that shot from my lungs. That was an all-time new title, and the ladies were going to love it when they heard it.
“Anyway, Sloane bombarded us, and we exchanged words, but my sis here held her own.” She flashed me a proud smile.
Jett was reaching for my hand. “What did she say?”
I really didn’t want to dampen the mood, but I knew, as always, he wouldn’t rest until he had the full story. Today was supposed to be all happy, celebrating the holiday and the day we told all our friends—Ruby and Lyric were the only ones who knew so far—about the second round of nuptials we were planning and the baby.
“We’ll grab the sacks and meet you inside,” Lyric said, deciding to give us a second alone.
Once they walked away, I relayed.
When I finished, Jett said, “You’re amazing.”
I was shaking my head as if that was silly. I didn’t do anything.
“Don’t deny it. You stood up to her.” Bringing my hand up to his mouth, he kissed the back of it. “Now we can be done with all of them. Sloane is a bully, and you showed her. It’s over.”
Sloane hadn’t seemed like she was done. She’d just been cut off; that was all. Her words came back to me, but I pushed them down and let them go.
I just hoped my husband was right.
The lady's laughter could have shaken the whole house.
It was a good thing we were all outside when Ruby told the story of our run-in with Sloane. I mean, at first, they werepissed and vibrating with rage; then it turned to admiration when she told them how I’d stood up for myself.
However, it was when I told them about my sister’s witty new name for Sloane that the party really got started.
“Holy crap, Wicked Bitch of the West, that’s priceless!” Gemma screeched.
