I clapped a hand over my mouth. “I am so, so sorry.”
He waved me off with a genuine smile. “It’s okay, ma’am.”
I bit back the urge to glare at Georgette. Holy God, she really was the worst. She couldn’t even bother to learn his name right? It was a miracle she even knew mine at this point. And as frustrating and hard as it was, I pushed the anger I felt towards her down for the moment. I still had a job to do.
After apologizing another couple times to Isidro, I turned to Georgette. Pulling out my phone from the hidden pocket of my dress, I said, “So, what I like to do is set up a Pinterest board with some images of what vibe you’re going for.” I pulled up the app and typed inwedding inspo. “If you find anything that catches your eye, just let me know and I’ll save it in the folder so I can reference colors, themes, aesthetics.”
She clapped her hands together before ensnaring my arm with hers as she leaned her head on my shoulder once more. “Ooh! That one, save that!” A gasp. “Ooh, and this one!”
Each photo that she chose for me to add to the folder left me more and more confused. The look she was going for was all over the place. One minute she was fawning over these ultra chic, modern wedding photos, and then the next a rustic farmhouse wedding vibe. None of it blended. It all clashed, and none of it made sense in the slightest.
I held back a frustrated sigh and turned to smile at her before pocketing my phone. “I think that’s enough. I havesucha great idea of what vibes we’re going for.”
More lies.
But if I spent another moment with her draped over my shoulder, reeking of alcohol as she contradicted herself from one breath to the next, I was going to go crazy. Or get ridiculously drunk myself.
I managed to shift so that she couldn’t lean on me anymore, and aimed a grin in her direction. “So, what are those absolutenecessities that youhaveto have on the day of? Like you can’t imagine your big day without.”
Maybe this would give me a better idea of where to go.
“Well, wehaveto have an open bar. And one of those super awesome 360 degree cameras for the guests. Oh and a DJ, ooh but what about a live band? Your dad and I just love live music.” She pressed a hand to my leg. “Did you know that the first night you dad and I met, we were at this bar in Turks and Caicos and this amazing band was playing old eighties hits. Well,Don’t Stop Believin’came on, and I caught him singing across the bar and he saw me, and it was just like fate brought us together.”
I honestly don’t really know what she said after that. My mind just completely ran away from me, and it was all I could do to nod and smile and insert a “wow” or “oh” every now and then to keep her talking.
How was I going to plan this wedding for her? I couldn’t figure out what she wanted. Better yet, I don’t even thinksheknew what she wanted. And why wasn’t my dad being a part of this? This was his day too. I know most men argued that they’d rather just elope or do something small, but my dad loved a good party, and yet he wasn’t here helping to plan it. The man who liked to have a hand in everything was just sitting back and letting Georgette call all the shots? It didn’t make sense.
Thankfully, I didn’t have to dwell on it too hard for too long. The sound of my dad’s booming, obnoxious laughter floated across the backyard, and my gaze snapped to the door he and Hux walked out of. My dad wore an easy grin on his face, and even Hux looked laid back and at ease as he carried a tumbler of whiskey in one hand and an entire handle of amber liquid in the other.
Looked like their conversation had gone infinitely better than mine and Georgette’s. At least one of us was having a good time.
I rose from the couch and moved toward Hux, like a moth to a flame. “Hey,” I said softly, coming up to him.
“Hey, darlin,” he replied, “how’s it goin’?”
A weak half laugh half sob broke past my lips before I could stop it. “It’s fine.”
His brows furrowed, disappearing beneath his sunglasses, his mouth drawing into a frown. “You wanna get outta here?” he asked quietly.
“No, it’s okay,” I said with an involuntary shrug as I grabbed his wrist and led him back toward the couch.
Dad had already sat down, Georgette wasting no time to slather on the PDA. Her manicured fingers trailed over my dad’s chest and I fought back the urge to gag.
“How was wedding planning?” Dad asked me as he hooked an arm around Georgette.
“It’s going,” I managed to reply with a feigned brightness. It was the closest thing to the truth I could give him.
He nodded, an easy grin lighting up his face. Oh, he was for sure buzzing. There was a glassiness to his gaze and a rosiness to his cheeks. “You know, I gotta say, Queenie, I wasn’t too sure about Hux at first, but I changed my mind. He’s got my stamp of approval.”
That little revelation made my heart take flight and soar. I leaned into Hux, murmuring under my breath, “What did you do? No one’s ever good enough.”
Honestly, Dad hadn’t approved of anyone I’d brought home. Not that the list was long. I think I’d introduced him to one other guy I’d dated for a few months before Devin.
Hux’s low, relaxed chuckle eased some of the worry in my chest, replacing it with a warmer, lighter feeling. “I don’t know. I guess my honesty.”
Hewasreally honest. That made me smile. At least my dad appreciated it as well. I know I did. I grabbed his hand and squeezed gently.
“So, Hudson—” Georgette began.
