Page 24 of Masked in Deception

Oh…and here I was thinking you had a date or something planned.

Jack:

You want to go on a date with me, Princess?

Margot:

I want to do a lot with you, Jack…

Jack:

Mmm, you and me both.

How about this? Help me get Ledger straightened out and then I’m all yours for the break.

Margot:

All mine, huh? Pinky promise?

Jack:

Pinky promise.

Margot:

That means I can do ANYTHING I want with you?

Jack:

Jesus, you’re killing me, baby girl.

Chapter twenty-two

23 years old

“Come on, Margot, let’s let the newlyweds have some alone time.”

Jack congratulates Ledger as I give my new sister-in-law one last hug. “Welcome to the family, Sloane. I’m so happy to finally have another girl around. If Ledger gives you any trouble, just let me know.”

“Thanks so much, I’m sure that’ll be sooner rather than lat…Ah!”

My brother picks his new wife up and jogs her up the stairs. “You losers get out of here. I have a marriage to consummate!”

Jack throws his arm around my shoulders and walks me to the car.

I’ve alwayslovedweddings. I was that little girl who kept a folder packed with her wedding plans. I wonder if Mom still has that somewhere. It would be fun to look back at what preteen me thought would be aclassywedding. The one thing I know hasn’t changed is that I want it to be a huge to-do.

Ledger and Sloane’s wedding was beautiful for how last minute it was. He literally proposed earlier tonight after winning a fighting competition. I’m sure the photographer will get a hefty bonus for all the editing it's going to take to clean up some of the cuts and bruises on his face.

He and Jack apparently spent last night decorating his house and planning the whole ordeal before he finally caved and hired someone to come in and help get things set up. Red roses covered almost every surface of his house, making it look like a sea of crimson. The only guests were Jack, a friend of Sloane’s, and me. It was intimate in its simplicity and seemed perfect for my brother and Sloane too, from what I’ve heard about her.

A small wedding isn’t for me, though. I would want the entire world to know I was married.

When we both get buckled up, I look over at Jack, and from the look on his face, I don’t think I’m the only one in a post-wedding haze. “This is weird, right?”

Ledger has never even brought a girl home. Neither of my brothers has. Or Jack.

“Yeah, this is definitely weird,” he says as he starts backing out of the driveway and using one hand to get the hot air turned up to full blast and my seat warmer on. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m happy for my brother. But, I don’t know. I guess I’m both a little sad he’s not around as much and a little jealous of the reason.”