Chapter 55: CHLOE

I upturned the entire contents of my luggage onto the bed for the second time, and still came up empty.

Jeans. More jeans. Shorts, and a couple of tops and sweaters. None of them even remotely said, ‘I’m getting married this afternoon.’

I sat on the edge of the bed staring hard at the pile as if it might magically produce a dress if I glared hard enough.

“Do you think it’ll be fine if I wore jeans, Tiny?” I asked, turning to look at her lying on the pillow, watching me with the same unimpressed expression she’d worn earlier. Her eyes blinked as if she was thinking what I was thinking…

That this marriage was a big fucking mistake.

“I’m already knee-deep in this, Tiny,” I said softly. “I can’t exactly backtrack now, can I?”

‘I was really doing this.’

The thought kept circling, half disbelief, half something closer to a full-blown panic mode. Two years together, one broken engagement, and a long, messy conversation later, we were actually getting married before the day was over. It felt both inevitable and completely insane, if that made sense.

My eyes darted to the other side of the room where Jason stood, talking into his phone. Every so often, he’d glance over at me, a hopeful and slightly nervous look on his face. Somehow, that look made the knot in my stomach tighten while alleviating it — because it was nice to know I wasn’t the only one feeling apprehensive.

That cat-like stare didn’t falter one bit.

Undeterred, I continued my monologue. “I said I didn’t need a big wedding,” I muttered. “I never said I wanted to do it in denim, though.”

Jason ended the call at last and walked over, jeans riding low on his hips, exposing that delectable V I loved so much.

Bending, he dropped a kiss on my lips. “I love you so much.”

I smiled at that. I could doubt a million things, but not that he really did love me.

He rubbed the side of my face fondly before taking a seat on the other side of the pile of clothes.

“Everything’s set for four,” he said. “The courthouse has an opening then, and not before. Dad said—’ he paused, noticing me frown at my clothes. “You okay?”

I pursed my lips and gestured at the pile. “I don’t have anything to wear, except jeans.”

His eyes shifted between me and the clothes, his forehead furrowing in confusion.

“Unless you want me in jeans.”

He looked like he was about to say that would be fine, so I cut him off.

“I draw the line at jeans, Jason. I’m not wearing denim to my wedding.”

“Okayy,” he said slowly, as if sensing I was one second from freaking out on him. “What would you like to wear then? I’m assuming that requires some sort of shopping.”

“Yeah,” I agreed, taking in a lungful of air to calm myself.

I was on edge already, and it wouldn’t do to lose my head at him, especially when he’d done nothing to deserve it.

He nodded immediately, running a hand across his scruff. “Okay. I need to shave and change too. Tell you what, I’ll drop you at the mall, then head home to clean up and meet you back here. You can take a cab when you’re done.”

That sounded like a solid plan. “Alright.” Then, my eyes fell on Tiny. “I don’t want to leave Tiny here though. She’s been cooped up in here since we checked in, and she wouldn’t like that.”

“It’s just a cat,” he mused. “It doesn’t have feelings.”

I frowned at him. “‘It’ is a ‘she’. And ‘she’ wouldn’t want to remain in here while I head out.”

Jason raised his hands in mock surrender. “Alright, alright. I can take her home with me. Mom wouldn’t mind. Derek needs to take better care of his cat anyway, but no. He left and abandoned her in your care.”

This would have been a good time to remind him that I’d basically stolen the cat… And he’d let me have her for whatever reason.

And what had he meant by ‘left’ her?

But I didn’t say anything. No sense in stirring the hornet’s nest.

Instead, I agreed.

There was no way I could refuse, and I did not want to make it a big thing. I also didn’t need Tiny reminding me of her treacherous owner, who’d played so damn good in a bid to one-up his brother.

So, yes, Jason could take the cat home to Gigi.

I reached and scooped Tiny up, and she went willingly into my arms. She had other plans apparently, because the second Jason reached for her, she snarled at him — something that sounded like a warning that made him pull his hand back hastily.

“Still hate me, I see,” Jason said to her.

I looked down at her, curling up in a feline pose in my arms. “Yeah, she’s coming with me.”

“She doesn’t have a leash,’ Jason observed.

“Don’t worry,” I said, still looking at her fine features. I’d never actually seen a black cat, but she looked so regal in that coat. “She’s rather well behaved.”

I smiled at the irony of that statement though, convinced the waitress in the hallway would have a different opinion. And rightfully justified, too.

“Yeah, right,” Jason said, as if he guessed what I’d been thinking.

Cedar Groove Mall was a twenty-minute drive from the hotel, and Jason pulled up near the main entrance.

He leaned over and planted another kiss on my lips, warm and lingering. “Text me when you’re on your way back.”

I nodded and climbed out of the car with Tiny in her carrier (the hotel had loaned me one after some creative begging at the front desk), and watched him drive away.

Inside, the mall was bright and busy, ladies talking in low tones and browsing the inventories with sales attendants hanging around. Walking around, I found a mid-range dress shop on the second level, and was immediately intercepted by a saleswoman with a brittle smile and the efficient energy of someone who’d worked there for almost a decade.

“We don’t have any wedding dresses in stock, but I can tell where you’ll find some,” she said, after I’d explained what it was I’d come for.

“Oh no,” I chuckled awkwardly. “I’m not looking for anything flamboyant. Just something simple and nice.” Then, when she looked at me curiously, I added. “I’m getting married at the courthouse this afternoon.”

She hummed under her breath, but didn’t push for details. Within fifteen minutes, she’d pulled out three dress options. My eyes caught the second one — a straight, soft ivory midi dress — and I picked it off the hanger to try it on. It fit like a glove, hugging the curves of my body like it’d been waiting for me all along.

The perpetual frown that seemed to be permanently etched on her face eased somewhat when she saw me in the dress.

“I’ll take it,” I said.

“Would you like to try the rest?” she said, gesturing to the clothes on the hanger.

“Not necessary. Thank you. Just ring this one up,” I said, handing the dress over.

“Fine.” She turned to go, then stopped in her tracks, looking back at me. “Would you also like some lingerie to go?”

Crap.

Why hadn’t I thought about that? Tonight was my wedding night after all.

“Do you have some samples?” I asked, my face hot.

Why was my face hot now?

I selected a matching ivory bra and panty set to go with the color of my dress, willing myself to focus on the present motions — and not on the impending sex-fest.

Bethy, the saleswoman, sold me on a matching pair of heels and a clutch, and while she rang up my purchases, I slipped in a small satin bow and leash for Tiny, a set of lavender bath bombs and salts — because a girl had to smell and feel good. By the time I walked out of the store with a large shopping bag and the cat carrier, barely thirty minutes had gone by.

Nice. There was still plenty of time to primp and get ready for the biggest moment of my life — supposedly.

The cab ride took longer than the drive over, and by the time I pulled up at the hotel, a light sheen had broken over my skin. That was weird, seeing as it was chilly outside. I hurried into the Bellmont.

“Miss Davis.”

I turned toward the direction of that voice. It was the receptionist behind the front desk — she hadn’t been there when I passed by on the way out.

I walked across the lobby to her.

“We didn’t hear from you about the move,” she said, cutting straight to the chase.

I placed the carrier on the floor and unloaded Tiny. Dropping the shopping bag, I shifted Tiny to my other hand and set the carrier on the large desk.

I didn’t think she would bound off like she did before, as she’d just been out, but I didn’t want to take that chance.

“Actually, I changed my mind about it,” I said. “I’ll remain in my room for the rest of my stay here. Please cancel the upgrade and extend my heartfelt thanks to the gentleman involved.”

Derek was no gentleman — matter of fact, he was the farthest thing from one, but we had to remain civil, didn’t we?

And I was sure as hell not calling him myself to reject his offer. I hadn’t asked him for one after all.

I said yes to Jason, and we were getting married today. And once we were married, there would be no room left for any-and-all things Derek. I’d make damn sure of that.

I’d already made the mistake of falling for his charm, and there would be no repeats. I was not my father.

Annie, the receptionist, looked mildly surprised, but she recovered quickly. Nodding, she said simply, “Of course.”

“Here,” I shoved the carrier forward. “I borrowed this earlier. Thanks.”

Upstairs, the faint smell of sweat and sex still lingered in the air. I set Tiny free, locked the door, and ran the bath as hot as I could stand it. The bath bomb turned the water a soft purple and filled the small bathroom with the scent of lavender. I shucked my clothes off and sank in up to my shoulders. Closing my eyes for a long minute, I let the heat work on the tension I hadn’t realised I’d been carrying.

The bath did little to ease the errant thoughts floating around my mind though… Thoughts that I was making a mistake by going along with Jason’s harebrained idea.

When the water started to cool, I got out, dried off, and started the process of getting ready. Midway to painting my toenails a hot pink, I paused to order Tiny a tall glass of milk, and when it arrived a few minutes later, I poured some of it into the silverware I’d taken from the dishes earlier in the afternoon.

When my phone buzzed with a text at three-fifty-two, I was ready, except to put my shoes on. I peered into my phone; it was a text from my husband-to-be.

Hear that?!

Jason: Downstairs. Ready when you are.

A shiver ran down my spine. Here goes nothing.

I put on my heels, marveling at the incredible fit. I looked at myself in the mirror one last time, pleased that I looked nothing like the bundle of nerves I felt.

Taking a deep breath, I picked up Tiny’s leash and my clutch and opened the door.

Courthouse, here I fucking come.