Page 48 of Out of the Dark

“Jillian needs to do that,” I reminded her.

Jo took another sip of her coffee. “You still love her.”

“Not having that discussion with you about my private life.”

“I’ll take that as a yes.” Jo winked. “Pat will cover for you. You tell Mads you were there, and we’ll get the two of you back together. Dump that bitch something fierce when the time comes because she really is no good for you. I thought you were going to shit yourself, bro.” She stood up and raised her hand for a fist bump, which I returned.

“Thanks, I think?”

“You love me.” Jo waved as she went back inside.

Sorry, but you are not the Robinson sister I’m in love with.

Chapter Nineteen

Jillian

“Jillian, stop fidgeting,” Emily hissed into my ear as she put a hand on my shoulder. “I’m going to stick you with this pin if you don’t.” Her brows dipped as she looked me in the eyes. “Just let me finish and then you can take the dress off.” That was like music to my ears.

This maid-of-honor dress was hideous. I swear, Jo was doing it on purpose. The mint green was God-awful, and I hated every single minute I had it on. I had been fitted at a shop in New York before they sent my measurements to the bridal shop back here, but I had yet to actually put the finished product on. I made a mental note to burn it when the wedding was over.

Jo was watching me from across the room with a cup of coffee in her hands. She was wearing our mother’s wedding gown, which Emily had taken in for her measurements, but the rest of the bridal party was stuck wearing these terrible gowns that Jo had picked out for us. That included me, and our other friends—Claire and Holly. “You look better than you did this morning, Jill.” Jo walked around me with a smile creeping up her face. “Did you sleep well last night?”

"I slept fine, thanks. Ouch, Mom, watch it!" I felt a pinch where the pin stuck into me.

"I warned you." Mom shook her head. "Josephine, dear, don't you have something else you can do besides bothering your sister? Where's your dress?”

Jo gave me a wicked grin. “My dress is hanging up in my room.” Wait, did she know that Hutch slept in my room last night? What was the gleam I saw in her eye? She looked like she might say something else when the loud male voices came booming from the kitchen.

"Good morning, beautiful Robinson women!” Patrick's voice bounced off the walls from the kitchen. "I hope you all are decent."

"Pat, really?" Hutch sounded horrified, but he stopped short when he saw me standing there.

Patrick appeared in the doorway. "Jill, look at you. I don't remember ever seeing you in a dress before." He hugged Jo tight against his chest.

I rolled my eyes. "Thanks, Pat, but I’ve worn plenty in lifetime. Ballet dancer, remember?" I tried to ignore the way Hutch was staring at me, but it was as if he was seeing me for the first time all over again.