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CHAPTER FORTY-NINE

GARY

I didn’t swear often, but this revelation deserved it.

I always knew my parents favored Brienna.

It was kind of hard to miss when they’d take away my toys and give them to her because she demanded them.

But I never thought they’d go so far as to have her walk down the aisle at my wedding.

I bet even if she was already married, they’d probably try to force me into a double wedding/vow renewal so she could be the star.

The normal numbness and resignation weren’t there this time, and I felt my blood boil.

“What the actual fuck?!”

“They pissed off our sweet summer child. He’s gonna blow,” someone whispered. I didn’t know who. I was too pissed off to see straight. I vaguely felt someone take the joint from me before I crushed it, but I didn’t care. I launched to my feet, pacing back and forth and muttering under my breath.

“How the fuck does she think I’d go for this? Is she insane? What would people even think? It’s not like they won’t know she’s not the right person! Does she think they’ll just glance over it? We’re not even the same gender!”

“Gary. Gary!” Easton barked. It caught my attention, and I swung around, wide eyed and furious.

He beckoned me with a crook of his finger, and when I was close enough, he dragged me into his lap.

“Relax. She won’t get fucking close to the aisle.

But if we make her think she will, we could humiliate all three of them so much, they’ll have to leave town to escape the shame.

There will be a lot of heavy hitters at that party.

She’d be recognized all over town. It’d probably end up on social media.

Instead of chasing you off, we can chase them off instead. ”

I latched on to his shirt, narrowing my eyes at him. “How?”

His slow grin always thrilled me, but now I saw it for what it was. A fucking promise that he was going to destroy my family and make them regret ever hurting me. And he was going to do it with a smile.

The next five months were a blur. The wedding planner, a sassy man named Ben, was told about what my family wanted and how we were going to deal with it.

He had to be brought in on the ruse because Easton wouldn’t have been able to take six months of dealing with Brienna.

He loved our plan and even set a few things up himself to record it all.

I thought I’d be a nervous wreck about the whole thing, but Easton and school kept me busy.

Since Brienna didn’t want me anywhere near the wedding planning (because she was planning to steal the show and didn't want me to find out) I got six blissful months of not hearing from her. Or my family in general. I thought I’d be sad about it.

I avoided cutting contact completely for years, because I was afraid of being alone in the world, but I ended up loving it.

My stress levels were down, studying was easier when I wasn’t worried about my sister’s demands, and I was never lonely.

On the days Easton was busy, Carter met me for lunch, and I even ran into Frankie a few times, too.

And every day after class, instead of spending the entire night in the library, I went to The Hideout, studied at the kitchen table while Coach made dinner, and relaxed with my friends when I was done. And my grades never suffered for it.

I knew it couldn’t last forever, though.

Once school was done, the full focus was on the wedding, which was only a few weeks away.

Everything that Easton and I put off had to be done, including having our families meet, a rehearsal dinner where I had to pretend I didn't know about Brienna’s plan, and then the wedding itself, which apparently had over two hundred and fifty guests.

“You’re not serious.”

Ben snorted, propping his chin on his hand. “They really kept you in the dark about all this, didn’t they? Two hundred and fifty and counting. I’m still waiting on a few more responses from your side.”

“I’ve been busy with school,” I said defensively. I looked at the guest list and the table set up he supplied again, swallowing hard around the nausea climbing up my throat. I’d never been the center of attention before. I wasn’t sure I could handle it.

“You look a little green. Please don’t throw up on my tablet. Do you need some water?”

I nodded quickly, accepting the bottle he handed me. A few swallows settled my stomach a little, and I leaned back heavily in my chair once I wasn’t about to lose my whole lunch.

“Don’t worry so much. As one of the grooms, your job is to go where I tell you. Let me handle the hard parts.”

I could do that. And Easton would be there. Speaking of… “Did Easton approve this list?”

Ben pressed his lips together tightly. “He did, but he wasn’t happy about it. He called it a media circus. I’m pretty sure he’s moments away from eloping with you.”

“I’d be okay with that.” And I totally would, if that didn’t completely defeat the purpose.

“Okay, but don’t,” Ben scolded. “I set all this up. It’d hurt my feelings if you wasted all that effort.”

Snickering, I put my hands up in surrender. “I’m just going where I’m told. It’s Easton you have to worry about.”

He dropped his head forward dramatically.

“And here I thought now that I had the other groom in on the planning, I’d have some support.

” He clasped his hands together, giving me the biggest puppy dog eyes.

“Please help me. I’m a little afraid if I keep pushing, your fiancé will eat me. And not in the fun way.”

That got him a dirty look, and his pleading expression broke for just a second to laugh at me. Ben told us already that he was happily married to his work and would never date a client. Then he spent a good twenty minutes staring at Jayden, so I didn’t think I had anything to worry about.

Letting out a heavy breath, I shook out the anxiety from my hands. “Okay. Let me see it again. What did you want me to do?”

“Just focus on your family and friends. I don’t know them, so I don’t know who can’t sit beside who, and who should be kept far, far away from the bar. I’ll discuss the rest with Mrs. Warner tomorrow when we meet for the cake tasting.”

“Right.” Did I disappoint him by mentioning I wasn’t close to my extended family and therefore not in the loop for the gossip?

I glanced at him and decided against it.

He was a sunshiny guy when I first met him, but he looked a little run down now that we were getting closer to the wedding itself. I could make some best guesses.

“I think it looks good. I doubt my parents will actually stay, but–”

“Don’t worry about that,” he said dismissively. “I have to put them on there for appearances, but I’m well aware they won’t stay. Hopefully, Mr. Warner will be okay with me and my assistant eating their portions. I almost never get to eat at events as fancy as this.”

I jerked my head back. “That’s awful! You definitely need to take time to eat! Add extra meals! You shouldn’t have to rely on them staying or not just to get a meal!”

Ben’s smile softened. “I knew I’d like you. Only a really good person could tame the man you’re marrying. I’ll put down some extra meals. Did you want to feed the photographer, too?”

This wasn’t technically my money, but I could invite my own guests, and I’d pay Easton back for it later. “I don’t want anyone to go hungry just to throw a wedding. Make sure they all get meals. Put them as my guests. I’ll pay Easton back after I start my internship.”

“Can I just say I love how you’re determined to be equals with him? Most people would take advantage or at least allow their rich spouses to spoil them occasionally.”

I shrugged, my face burning. “He does spoil me. He gives me affection when I want it, spends time with me, and makes me laugh. No one has ever treated me as well as he does.”

“That’s just sad,” Ben deadpanned. “But seriously. That’s super sweet. You should put that in your vows.”

All the blood drained from my face. “My what?”

Ben looked up from where he’d been tapping on his tablet. He frowned at me. “Your vows? You know, the little speech you say when you’re standing at the altar? Did you forget about those? I thought I sent you an email reminder about it.”

Nope. Definitely didn’t get that email. Otherwise I would’ve been panicking much earlier than now. “I thought those were standard. You know, like repeat after me?”

“I mean, they can be. But with big weddings like this, it’s expected to write your own. The rich and fancy like to live vicariously through people who actually have feelings and the ability to fall in love. Are you afraid of public speaking? Because I’ve got some breathing exercises for that.”

Deathly. I was so used to being quiet and in the background that just having the attention on me walking down the aisle made me nauseous.

Now I had to give a sentimental speech in front of everyone?

What if I messed up? What if I couldn’t remember it and ended up just staring at Easton like an idiot?

I was going to embarrass myself and him at the same time.

On. Our. Wedding. Day. Black dots popped up on the edges of my vision, and my head went all swimmy.

“Try not to worry so much. It’s not that– Gary!”