Rocky Start (A Rocky Start)

“He’s just Bennett’s book agent.”

“Oh—I know where I’ve heard your name. That explains it. I’m a lawyer, and there was a great deal of talk about the possible lawsuit with all that false reporting.”

“Yes. Bennett has asked me not to go forward with the matter because it had no effect on his career or his relationship with Darcy, but I will say it’s how I met Georgie, so I will give the rumor mill kudos for bringing us together sooner or I might not have met her until today.”

“Well, it looks like the best man won, so I respectfully bow out. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need a drink.” He winks at me and heads over to the bar and I wonder what that was about, but I pull Georgie even closer.

“He seemed nice,” she says with a smile. I growl. “I wasn’t interested in him, and it was clear he didn’t want me either.”

“Yeah, I don’t know why, but I’m grateful I didn’t have to kill him. For a lawyer, he’s a big motherfucker.”

“He is. Do you really think he’s a lawyer?” she asks.

“I don’t know, but as long as he stays away from you, I don’t give a fuck what he is.”

“I’m going to check on my sisters. I’m ready to go home soon.” I kiss her cheek and watch her walk toward Lydia.

“Thanks for not ruining the wedding reception. My wife would have lost her freaking mind, and I would have turned into one of my fucking characters and buried some bodies,” Bennett says, coming to my side.

“I’m trying to behave, but he backed off. How are you liking your new in-laws?”

“They’re tolerable, but I’m grateful they live far away.”

“I’m not that generous. I don’t want them anywhere near Georgie or our future family.”

“That won’t always be feasible.”

“I will do my best to keep them at a distance.”

“They’re so unaware of how much they’ve created a distance between their kids and themselves. Then again, I think they like it.”

“It could be. Georgie says they barely waited for Lydia to turn eighteen before they fled the state, leaving her to choose to grow up on her own or rely on her sisters. They had no intention of taking her to Florida with them.”

“Well, maybe they’ll be better grandparents.”

“I wouldn’t hold my breath on that.”

“Damn, you’re starting to sound like me. They’ve done a number on you. This is my wedding and you should be happy as fuck for me, twirling that beautiful sister-in-law of mine around the room, reminding every dick around here that she’s yours.”

“You’re right. I’ve got to forget those assholes and dance with the woman I love more than life itself. Excuse me. And don’t call her beautiful…only I get to do it.” He chuckles while I go find my woman. We aren’t leaving until I hold her and let the music spin us around for everyone to see our love.

Chapter Ten

Georgie

“So I’ve been meaning to do this for a bit, and since we’re all here together and it’s not for a joyous occasion, I can finally get it off my chest.” I take a deep breath. Sean holds my hand. “Yesterday, I finally cut our parents out of our lives. As far as I’m concerned, they are no longer my parents. I know it’s harsh, and you’re probably wondering why.”

“Because they’re always dicks to you?” Darcy blurts out.

“That, and…”

“Do you remember when we were packing in the basement and I didn’t go to dinner?”

“Yeah, that was an awkward night. Mom and Dad were acting like, well…nothing was wrong.”

“I found this…” I pull out the old file folder with the documents.

“Inside are my birth records. Sean and I have since made sure everything is legal when we married, but it seems your father is not my father.” They gasp, reading the documents. My sisters look up at me with tears in their eyes.

“What? What the hell?”

“They didn’t talk to me until they got home, but they explained it like this. He cheated on Mom, so she left with you. She met a soldier and had a relationship with him and was about to divorce Dad when I was born. The soldier had gone off to war and was killed. Dad came back, and they got back together and shortly after she became pregnant with Lydia. They’ve kept it a secret all these years, but needed my documentation for legal reasons. See, they have been collecting a check in my name from my father’s benefits since I was a baby. I have some other family members, including the man that came to the wedding. He wasn’t here to pursue me as a love interest. He’s my cousin. He came to see if it was really me on behalf of the family. I’m my father’s only child, and my grandparents want to meet me.”