Angie backhands me in the chest. “We’ll be there, Mrs.–”
Mama narrows her eyes at the screen.
“Evie,” she finishes.
“Thank you, Angelina. I can’t wait to see more pictures. You looked absolutely stunning.”
My eyes automatically stray to Angie’s image reflecting back at me. We’re a mismatched pair, the beauty to my beast, but somehow we still fit. “Most beautiful bride in the world,” I tell her.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook just because you gave me another daughter-in-law, Griffin Hayes.”
I can’t help but smile. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Can’t believe two of my babies had the audacity to get married without me,” she mutters. “What did I do to deserve this?”
Angie rolls her lips together, but a quiet laugh bubbles out of her anyway. I run my hand down my face to hide my matching reaction.
A timer goes off on the other end of the line. Mama pulls on a pair of oven mitts and stares directly into the phone. “See you on Sunday.”
The unmistakable threat lingers as the screen goes black.
We crash back against the sofa and dissolve into fits of laughter. I roll my head to the side and stare at Angie’s profile as her brilliant smile takes over her face. She looks just like she did the night before. Radiant. Untamed. My laughter dies the second she catches me staring.
Our gazes lock as silence stretches between us. I could lean in and kiss her. Does she want me to? This was much easier when we were drunk and uninhibited. Now, I’m caught between desire and indecision. Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a goddamn conscience. It’s the only thing holding me back from taking what I want.
I break the intense eye contact.
“Family dinner,” Angie says with a resigned sigh.
“Yup.” I stretch back and weave my fingers together behind my head. “It’s not too late to go on our honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon? What honeymoon? Did you pull that ponytail too tight, Griffin Hayes?”
“I don't know, but we could make one up. Avoid family dinner altogether.”
“Need I remind you that this is your fault?” She rolls her eyes and puts on a fake baritone.“Trust me, Angel.”
“You were the one who said she wanted revenge. Has Tyler texted you yet?”
She flips over her phone and stares at the screen, expression blank. “No. There’s nothing.”
My phone vibrates again, and this time it’s not the family group chat. I should’ve seen this coming, but I thought for sure he’d contact Angie first and try to get herback.
Tyler: Ancient history huh? You’re a real piece of shit, Griff.
Fuck.
I shouldn’t feel guilty for stealing his girl—she was mine before she ever belonged to him—but I can’t help the twinge of regret for throwing a lit match on our friendship. How could we come back from this? If I’m honest, I’m not sure I want to. Tyler’s been skating on thin ice ever since he went after Angie in the first place.
I watched them for years—witnessed the way he’d try to assert control over her, the way he’d try to make her feel small so he didn’t have to face his own shortcomings. To her credit, she never cowered, no matter how hard he pushed.
Angie peers down at the text lighting up my phone. “Ancient history? What does that mean?”
I cough to clear my throat. “Beats the hell outta me, but I think the plan is working.”
“You really want to pretend we’re in this for the long haul?”
“Who’s pretending? I said ‘til death do us part, Angel. If that’s not long haul, I don’t know what is. But if you want a do-over, I’ll promise ‘til death do us part and into the next life, too.”
