Page 89 of The Forever Promise

THIRTY-NINE

crazy in love

Caroline Valeand her new husband, Eli Hazleton, were quite the couple. Caroline was tall, blond, and aloof; Eli was short, chubby, and never stopped smiling. They’d written their own vows; the ceremony was moving to watch. I found myself blinking back tears several times.

But that might have been for a variety of reasons.

I kept track of Felicia Jones throughout the ceremony and reception. Worried that I’d lose sight of her, I couldn’t relax. Bryce kept his arm around me all night, trying to keep my dress under wraps, and also, he was being sweet. My husband seemed like he was in a great mood. For once, he was very social, chatting with old friends and family members he hadn’t seen in a long time. He introduced me to everybody, but I couldn’t for the life of me remember anyone’s names. I just smiled and nodded, hoping that I appeared engaged.

I wasn’t. I was starting to sweat. Gene Windsor had given me specific instructions; if I didn’t execute them properly, he was going to fuck my shit up, as Lydia would say.

There were several bars set up around the property. Felicia and Finn Ryder worked their way through all of them, laughing and doing shots. I thought Felicia was sober, but that didn’t appear to be the case. It seemed that the guitarist was quite the partier, and she kept up with him. Finn talked easily to everyone, keeping his hand firmly on Felicia’s toned ass all night. They looked like they were having a great time. It was going to be challenging to get her alone.

But where there was a will, there was a way.

Bryce and I followed his brothers to the same bar where Felicia and Finn were hanging out, ordering yet another round of shots.

Colby got the bartender’s attention. “Who wants what—Bryce, Jake? Another round?” He turned to me. “Do you want anything?”

“I’ll have a shot of…tequila,” I said.

Bryce’s eyeballs almost popped out of his head. “You’re drinking?”

I shrugged. “It’s just a little drink, right?”

“A shot’s pure alcohol.” Bryce looked at me like I’d sprouted three heads. “And you don’t drink alcohol.”

“I do tonight.” I smiled at him, hoping I sounded like I was trying to be fun. What wasreallyhappening was that I was scared shitless. I prayed the tequila, whatever it tasted like, would somehow help. I knew firsthand that people did crazy shit when they’d been drinking. I needed an excuse. So what if I hated alcohol? I’d made a deal with the devil, and I was about to do the devil’s work. I might as well take a sip from the devil’s cup while I was at it…

Colby handed me the shot, and I knocked it back in one sip. It burned and made my eyes water. My stomach roiled. People actuallylikedthis? It was awful! “I’ll have another one,” I told Colby.

Bryce practically had steam coming out of his ears. “Chloe—”

“Aw, come on.” Colby patted his shoulder. “Let her have some fun.”

He handed me the second shot; this time, I held my nose while I drank it. Colby laughed. “Classy, Chloe. Really classy.”

“Ha! Thanks.” The tequila instantly gave me a weird feeling. I felt hot, then chilly. But after a moment, it passed.

Felicia and Finn were only a couple feet away, talking to another attractive couple. It was getting dark out. Soon, we’d have to attend the sit-down dinner and listen to speeches and toasts.Game time.

“I think I need one more.” I winked at Colby while Bryce fumed.

“You’re going to regret this,” he said.

I nodded. “Probably.” I downed it anyway.

Now I felt sick. And dizzy. And not at all like myself, which was precisely the point.

“I need to go to the ladies’ room,” I mumbled.

“I’ll take you.” Bryce reached protectively for my arm.

“I got it, silly.” I smiled at him, but I felt woozy. “Be right back.” I tottered away, and I heard Bryce curse.

“She’ll be all right,” Colby said. “And if not, we’ll just go get her. Let her relax a little. You guys have been through a lot.”

Bryce cursed again.

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