“I’m going to need a lot more explanation than that,” he says, and I can tell by the tone he’s done fucking around. I can’t say that I blame him. The whole thing sounds crazy. The whole thingiscrazy.
“Daniel is marrying that blonde bartender. You know the one with the fake tits and the eyebrow piercing?” I say.
“Angie?” he asks and grunts. “I mean, I caught on that she was his side chick. That’s half the reason I was opposed to Harper’s relationship with him. I didn’t think they were serious.”
“I don’t know that Daniel is serious about anything ever,” I say. “I mean, he was willing to put a ring on your sister’s finger just so she’d give up her v–”
“Don’t.” He puts up his hand and shakes his head, and I stop. “I guess it doesn’t actually surprise me. What surprises me is that you are going to the wedding with Harper. Why?”
I run my hand through my hair and take a deep breath. “He sent her an invite.”
“He sent her an invite?” he parrots.
“A formal fucking invite. Like a Shutterfly kind of thing, and she lost her shit. Then she said she wanted to go, but not alone.”
“And she asked you?” He says skeptically.
“I offered.”
He nods. I can’t tell if it’s a good nod or a bad nod. His expression tells me it’s a bad nod, but the ship is already sinking so I keep going.
“She wants to go as a couple.” I add.
He scoffs. “You’re kidding,” then he scowls. “You’re kidding, right?”
I shake my head slowly and put up my hands. “I won’t let anything happen to her,” I reassure him.
“You’re damn straight you won’t let anything happen to her!”
“I’m doing this to make sure she gets through it okay. I’ve already saved her from his bullshit once,” I say.
Jaylen bites his lip and clicks his tongue. “You did. You showing up to his wedding with her on your arm would be a pretty good burn.”
“It’s the only reason I’m doing it,” I tell him. “I told her about Angie, and that he’d been sneaking around.”
“Shit,” he mutters. “How did she take that?”
“Better than I thought. He ghosted her for days before ending things with her. I think that softened the blow some when I told her what was really going on. But the wedding thing…that stung,” I say.
“I’m sure it did,” he says as he stares at nothing in particular. I’m aware that this is a slippery slope. Despite the age gap and everything else, Jaylen loves his sister. He’s also viciously protective of her. Againstanyone.“So this was all her idea?” he asks.
“Yep. She wants revenge.”
A small smile forms on Jaylen’s lips. “That sounds like Harper. I can’t decide if it’s a good thing or a bad thing that she is as fiery as she is. I’d pay good money to see the look on Colby’s face when you and Harper walk into that room.”
I smile. It’s going to be golden. The anger. The silent humiliation. It will be satisfying; that’s for fucking sure. When I look at Jaylen again, his smile has disappeared.
“Just make sure you keep an eye on her,” he says.
“Of course,” I say. “If he so much as utters the slightest remark in her direction, I’ll put him in his place and get her out of there. Showing up to rub it in his face is one thing, but we don’t have to hang around longer than that. I have no desire to, anyway. The idea of eating and drinking on his dime already rubs me the wrong way.”
“Okay,” he says after a pause. “The whole thing is shady. But if she wants to be there, it’s better that she isn’t going alone. I’m trusting you, Ash. My sister better not get hurt.”
“I won’t let that happen,” I promise him. “Daniel won’t have a chance.”
“I mean by anyone,” he says before heading off into the locker room.
I’m not an idiot; that was a threat. Jaylen didn’t say much, but what he did say speaks volumes. He’s obviously suspicious, and he’s got his fangs out. If anything happens to Harper, there’s going to be hell to pay.
