Jesus.
Jasmine put it on. “I’m in charge. I’ll wear the hat.”
She looked calm, happy, and focused on the matter at hand. She gave Gabby a wink, like she was excited to leave it all behind shortly.
“Why don’t you all head to the boat?” Jasmine said. “I want to meditate with the bride for a moment before she takes the plunge.”
Still bickering about accessories, Lana and Justin left the honeymoon cottage and headed to the yacht. “I’ll see you there,” Justin said.
As soon as they left, Jasmine collapsed in a chair. She reached for a bottle of lotion and screwed and unscrewed the cap, like it was a fidget toy.
Gabby filled with warmth, flattered that Jasmine trusted her enough to let her guard down.
After she was sure everyone had left, Jasmine asked, “Did you secure an immunity deal for Naomi and me?”
“I’m working on it,” Gabby said.
“Working on it?” Jasmine set the lotion down and came to attention in a way that made Gabby want to excuse herself.
Gabby nodded. “If everything goes to plan—”
“If what goes to plan?” Jasmine cut her off.
“I’m sorry. I misspoke. I’m waiting on approval from higher-ups, which should come through any minute.” Gabby smiled serenely and tried to project calmness.
“This is not a comfortable position for me or Naomi. What are we supposed to do in the meantime?”
“Act normal.”
She let loose with a peal of laughter. “Normal, huh?” She gestured to Gabby’s princess dress. “This is a fake wedding, I assume?”
Gabby nodded.
“That’s good because there’s nothing worse than being in an unhappy marriage.”
Gabby’s heart went out to Jasmine. If your life was built on a partnership with a person who didn’t respect or love you, the rest of it was bound to crumble. “You’re going to feel so much better once we get you out from under Genesis’s thumb.”
Jasmine seemed to relax. “Thank you, Gia.”
A sunny afternoon, time to get fake married, theG-Spot
Gabby walked out to the dock in her Huntress Couture wedding dress, her train wadded up in her arms, and a pair of Crocs on her feet. The two attendants to help with the train had never arrived. It was so bulky that corners kept escaping and hitting the ground, dragging in the dirt in a way that would definitely bother Lana. It was like carrying a full load of laundry with no basket, trailing socks through the house.
If anyone had a career in espionage ahead of her, it was Kyle. Here she was about to get married with her AirTag still stuck to her shoe. She’d added a few other non-Lana-approved items to the outfit during her thirty seconds alone. Instead of the traditional garter belt, Gabby had strapped her engagement taser to one thigh and a knife to the other.
Naomi, who was making a simple sheath dress look like a million bucks, fell into step beside her. It was the first time Gabby had seen her alone since the paddleboarding disaster.
With a smirk, Naomi said, “Nice Crocs. You know Lana is going to absolutely lose her shit. I don’t think that’s how she normally styles her gowns.”
“I’ve got bigger problems than Lana,” Gabby said.
“You say that now.” Naomi slowed her pace. “I know it’s not a good time, but I have something for you.”
Gabby’s skin prickled with anticipation. After yesterday’s paddleboard fail, she hadn’t been sure that Naomi would take her deal, let alone spill secrets. Not to mention, iMoan was clearly Naomi’s thing. “I moan is Naomi spelled backwards” couldn’t be a coincidence. Yet another thing she’d put a pin in to deal with later. Gabby had A LOT of things to come back to later.
“I have time,” Gabby said. “The wedding can’t start without me, right?”
“Guess not.”
