Before I even knew what an incredible man he’d become.
Or how much he’d mean to me.
Never in a million years did I fantasize about waking up next to him with a ring on my finger and having absolutely no memory of how it got there.
I wished for this to be the year my life finally changed.
The year I got what I wanted.
Stupid birthday wish.
The girls gave me a wide berth when I got out of the shower.
They left me alone as I threw my clothes back into my bag, handed me a coffee, and stayed quiet as we drove to the airport. What do they say about small miracles?
It’s not until we’re all on the plane and Everly sits down next to me that she decides I’ve had enough time to sulk and lifts my sunglasses off my head. “We need to talk.”
I close my eyes and lean back against the leather seat. “I know. And I’m sorry I yelled before. It’s not your fault. It’s not any of your faults. I’m the idiot. It’s just . . .” I try to put into words the insane emotions warring inside me. The hurt. The devastation. The anger. At myself. At Easton. “I don’t know what I’m gonna do.”
My phone rings again, and I silence it for the millionth time this morning and toss it in my purse.
“Well.” Everly reaches inside my bag and pulls it back out. “I’d say you’re going to have to answer this at some point. But there’s something you need to know first.”
I crack open my eyes. “What else could I possibly need to know? Did I have a threesome last night too?”
“Jesus Christ, trouble,” Maddox groans way too loud. “I don’t need that shit burned into my brain.”
“You picture Lindy having sex a lot, madman?” Everly taunts. “Kinky. I like it.”
Callen takes a swig from a flask and cracks an arrogant smile. “Don’t knock it till you try it.”
“Try what? Picturing Lindy having sex?” Brynlee asks, shocked.
“Eww.” Grace’s cheeks pink as she smacks Callen’s shoulder. “Just. Eww.”
Callen winks at me. “What? I’m not related to her.”
“Oh my God.” Everly covers her face as she cracks up.
“I didn’t have a threesome,” I moan. “It was a bad joke.” Because that’s what this whole day has been. A bad joke. “We’re going to get it fixed, and if I’m lucky, we’re going to do it before the whole world finds out.”
“Easton isn’t something that needs to be fixed, Lindy,” Kenzie clips back, protecting her brother.
“Lindy . . .” Brynlee pushes when my phone keeps ringing.
“Oh my God.” I give up and yank the stupid thing out of Everly’s hand. “Hello?”
“Madeline Kingston. What the hell were you thinking?”
And the hits just keep coming.
A collective groan echoes around the cabin.
Gracie reaches across the aisle and hands me her iPad, and I gasp and completely miss whatever else is being said. Because on the screen is Everly’s Instagram page.
With a post from last night.
Easton’s holding my face in his hands, and I’m holding his hands in mine.
And that look in my eyes. Wow. We look so happy. So . . . in love.
And then there are the rings on my finger. They’re on full display for the world to see.
Everly’s caption reads Congratulations to the new Mr. and Mrs. Easton Hayes!
I look at the girls and cringe. “Hi, Mom.”
LINDY
As Charles pulls up to our building, Brynlee squeezes my hand. “You sure you want to go right over to your mom’s? Maybe you should take some time to think first.”
We landed at the private airport outside of Kroydon Hills about an hour ago, and the knot that had been slowly growing in my stomach during our flight doubled in size. Everly basically live streamed my wedding, and it’s been picked up by a handful of news outlets already, including the Philly Press and ESPN.
My mom is going to kill me.
I bite down on the inside of my cheek until I taste the metallic tang of blood. “No. But I’m not sure I have a choice. If I don’t go, Brandon and she will just show up here.”
“True. Then she might bring reinforcements,” Everly adds as she and the girls climb out of the SUV.
“Yup. Like my mom,” Bryn snickers. “Suck it up, buttercup. Better to get it over with. and hopefully avoid the rest of the family.” She follows the others out of the SUV, and I drop my head against the seat.
“Traitor,” I murmur as they greet our doorman.