Page 67 of Wed to You-
She wanted to offer to stay, but Jagger clearly wanted to deal with his father alone. “All right.”
The minute Jaggerhad asked for turned into thirty. But Chelsea, with Marlena as her ally, felt she did all right. Yes, she was a bit of a novelty because of her accent, especially when she realized how much they liked it and she allowed for a little more of the color and colloquialism of southern language into her conversation. A few of the guests she was talking to shared the peculiarities of their own regional dialects.
“In New York, they say ‘get on line’ not to mean the Internet, but to stand in a line. I’m from California and it took me forever to realize they weren’t talking about computers.”
“Really?”
“People say New Yorkers have an accent, but I don’t hear it.” The woman standing next to Marlena said.
“Many people from New York and New Jersey retire in my area and we can hear the accent.” Chelsea sipped her wine.
“Well, New Jersey, yeah.”
“Chelsea.” Jagger took her arm.
“Oh hey, sugar.”
“Sugar. That’s darling. I’ll have to use that,” the woman next to Marlena said.
Chelsea’s smile fell when she saw Jagger’s face. It reminded her of when he’d arrived home earlier that day. As if all the happiness and life had been sucked out of him.
Before he could say anything, she pressed close to him. “I know we only just got here, but I’m not used to fancy parties. I’m a little tired.”
He stared at her for a moment, and she swore she saw only emptiness in his eyes. Didn’t he get that she was giving him an excuse to leave?
He gave his head a quick shake. “Yes, of course.” He looked to the ladies Chelsea had been talking to. “It is our honeymoon.”
“Awww,” the ladies said in unison.
“Thank y’all for such a lovely time.” Chelsea shook their hands
“It was our pleasure. Jagger, she’s a doll. Be nice to her.”
Jagger nodded but didn’t say anything as he guided Chelsea out the door, down the elevator, and out to the waiting limo. Chelsea stepped into the limo and took a seat. She hadn’t been in a limo since prom and never in one where the seats ran side long in the car.
“Just drive around the city, George.” Jagger got in behind her.
“Yes, sir.”
George got into the driver’s seat and shortly after they pulled away from the curb. Moving sideways in the car took getting used to, but she sat back and let the tension melt the farther away they got from Jagger’s father. He was right. His dad was an A-one douche bag. She glanced to Jagger and knew he was holding in his anger. It radiated in waves off his body from the moment his father approached them. It seemed even worse now, making her wonder what his father had said. She wanted to ask, but she wasn’t sure how to deal with Jagger in this mood. Maybe he just needed a few minutes to himself. Brianhad been like that. When he was in a stink, he brooded for a bit and then was fine.
On the other hand, maybe Jagger was brooding because he hadn’t ever had anyone to talk to.
“Are you okay?”
“I need a minute.” His voice was terse and irritated, as if he were talking to a child.
She didn’t like his tone and had a few choice things to say about it, but decided it would be like putting salt on his wound. Let him brood. She could address his ill manners later.
“Can I have a drink or something?”
He nodded, still looking away from her.
She moved toward him and closer to the fridge. If she were taller, she might have been able to open it and get a drink while sitting in her seat. But she wasn’t taller so, with a sigh, she pushed off the seat onto her knees and opened the fridge.
“Do you want me to get it?”
She shook her head. “No, you take a minute.” She winced at the terseness of her words. She might not like his dark mood but, after meeting his father, she understood why he’d have it and didn’t want to add to it.
