“No. We’ve been attracted to each other since high school. Even you said we’ve always flirted.”
Taking Jen by the arm, I pulled her out of the kitchen and into the dining room.
“Jen, listen. It’s probably not too soon, but you said yourself you were worried Martin might be having sex with other women. Are you not concerned about that anymore?”
She rolled her eyes. “Why would you bring that up, Meli?”
“Because! It’s a valuable thing to bring up. Do you not feel that way anymore?”
Not looking at me, she stared at the ground. “No. I’m not worried about it anymore.”
“Look me in the eyes and tell me you’re not the least bit worried Martin might cheat on you.”
Her head shot up. “We can’t all have a Steed Parker or a Wade Adams.”
It felt like she had slapped me across the face. I took a step back. “What the hell does that mean, and how did you know Wade and I were together?”
Shaking her head, she turned to leave. “Never mind. Forget I even came here.”
I forced her to stop. “Now hold on one second. You can’t be running your mouth off like that and then turn to leave. First off, Paxton and Steed had their own set of problems before things worked out. Plus, they’d dated for years. And as far as Wade goes, you don’t know anything about our relationship.”
“You’re datin’ him. It’s all over town how the Parker princess captured the prince.”
Snarling, I pinched my brows. “What in the fuck? Did you just make that shit up because I know no one has said that, and if they have I want names. I’m kicking some ass!”
“Whatever. I’m so sick of watching everyone else get the guy. I want the guy for once! I knew that first day you came walking into the bar and Wade stopped talking to me just to stare at you that he had a thing for you. It’s never going to change for me. I’ll always be the girl who gets the okay guy. Well, Martin is more than okay. He’s hot, he has a big dick, he knows how to use it, and he loves me!”
“I really hope for your sake my mother did not hear you say that.”
Her face turned red. Closing her eyes, she slowly took in a breath and let it out. “Amelia, I’m happy. Can you not just be happy for me?”
My heart dropped, and in that moment I totally got it. “If you’re sure this is the right thing to do, I’ll be there for you. Hell, I’ll even throw you the shower.”
Jen’s eyes lit up. “Really? And you won’t mention Martin being unfaithful again?”
Ugh.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “I promise I won’t ever mention it again.”
But it will happen. And you’ll be on my doorstep crying about it.
Jen hugged me. “Thank you, Amelia! Thank you so much!”
We laced our arms together and walked back into the kitchen. Jen wore a huge smile. “We were just talking about the wedding and all of that.”
Everyone in the room gave her a polite smile, but I knew damn well they’d heard the whole showdown. Noises carry far in the country, and all.
“Well, I best be going. I’ve got to ask a few other friends. Bye, y’all!”
“Bye,” everyone called out as I walked her through the house and to her car.
“Let’s plan a weddin’ meeting soon. We have lots to go over,” Jen said. She slipped into her car, rolled the window down, and called out, “See ya around, Meli!”
I watched her drive off. A sick feeling settled in my chest because I knew she was headed for heartache. The front door closed behind me, and I heard the girls walking my way.
“Does she have any idea she is marrying the biggest manwhore of them all, Meli?” Paxton asked.
I nodded. “She knows.”
“And she’s not worried?”
I shrugged. “I guess she’s willing to ignore it. Maybe he’s changed.”
Waylynn pushed open the screen door. “He hasn’t. Trust me. I can’t tell you how many times he tried to feel me up at my welcome home party.”
I groaned. “Oh, God. What do I do? I promised her I’d never bring it up again, but I know he is going to end up hurting her.”
Waylynn sighed before saying, “You don’t do anything. Jen is not stupid. She damn well knows what she’s getting into and if that’s the door she wants to walk through, you have to let her walk through it. Hopefully when she reaches the next one, she’ll know if she should go through it or not.”
I exhaled loudly.
“But honestly, who cares about Jen and Martin? I want to hear all about it!” Waylynn gushed, grabbing my hand to pull me to the porch swing.
“What are you talking about?”
Paxton and Waylynn glanced at each other and then back to me. “Aww, that’s cute, Meli, but you trying to pull off the whole innocent thing is not working,” Waylynn said. “Spill it. Was he big?”