26. Aspyn
ASPYN
T he day of the Wright family Christmas party arrives, and I spend the morning and afternoon getting ready and giving myself the necessary pep talks.
At Deacon’s urging, I had selected an incredible new dress that started with black satin at the top and then transitioned from black satin into a maroon-to-pruple ombre, with a wide, full skirt covered in beading.
The deep V of the neckline stretches down past my sternum, necessitating that I tape my breasts in place.
I know, looking in the mirror, I’ve never owned a more beautiful gown, and I feel so pretty in it.
Deacon had bought it for me as if it were no big deal, just tossing his debit card down and announcing, “We’ll take it! ”
Now I’m fussing with my hair, curling it perfectly.
It’s gotten long, and Deacon loves it this way.
More to pull, I guess. God knows we’ve been spending a lot of time in bed lately, giving each other endless pleasure in our quest to get pregnant.
We’re twenty minutes late to the party because Deacon insisted on bending me over the couch and taking me hard while I held the dress up.
When we ring the doorbell, Sean’s father, Matthew, opens it, and his mother Cecile walks over to welcome us in.
“Thank you so much for the invitation,” I tell Cecile.
She pulls me into her arms and says, “I miss you!” in my ear. “And my darling, you have never looked more beautiful. You are absolutely glowing. And you, Deacon.” She looks him up and down and smiles. “You’re looking dapper as ever in that tux. Happiness suits you well.”
“I couldn’t agree more.” Matt claps Deacon on the shoulder. “To know you two are so happy together is a real relief for us. We love you like you’re our own children and are so glad that you both came tonight. Sean has been ordered to be on his best behavior.”
I tear up a little at Matt’s sweet words, and I give him a big hug. “Thanks. Life’s too short for unhappiness. I’m glad everything turned out so well in the end. The universe always provides, right?”
“It does,” Matt agrees. “Oh! The deviled egg tray is making its rounds. Go grab yourself a plate. I know they’re your favorite.”
I giggle and wave, then practically sprint off to the plates.
I get in prime position to scoop several eggs unabashedly.
Deacon makes his way over with a flute of champagne for me.
I’d taken a test this morning and gotten a negative, so I throw back the deviled eggs and then gulp the sweet bubbles without guilt.
“In here!” Tara calls. I glance around and spot her sitting with Cody and our friends in the adjoining game room, gathered around the pool table.
Usually, Matt and Cecile like to keep it closed during parties, but nobody gives a shit today, so we make our way in, scanning the room as I step toward our friends.
Deacon has my hand tightly clasped in his.
“He’s not in here. Take a breath,” Deacon whispers. “And you can stop squeezing my hand to death.”
I release my grip on his hand and embrace Tara, Cody, Wendy, Jett, and then Marissa.
“Hey, you’re all looking gorgeous! Who’s gonna get me something stronger than champagne?” I hold up my empty flute and pout.
“I got it,” Jett tells me, heading over to the bar in the corner to fix me a glass of whiskey and Coke. When I take it and throw a few sips back, I ask, “Has anyone seen Sean?”
“He and Quinn are arguing loudly in the car.” Marissa rolls her eyes as Bear walks into the room and apologizes for being late.
“And you should know before they come in here, she’s huge .
And also, nowhere near as pretty as you are, Aspyn.
Cute at best. By the way, holy shit, girl, you look hot tonight!
That dress fits you like a second skin.” Marissa whistles and catcalls me.
I take the compliment gracefully and finish my whiskey and hand the glass back to Jett for a refill. He snorts as if he knows exactly why I’m drinking so fast and returns promptly with another glass.
“Wowza,” Tara agrees as I do a little shimmy and grin.
“Thanks, Marissa, Tara. And we don’t have to shit-talk her. I’m happier now with Deacon than I ever was with Sean. She can have him. At least I don’t have to spend my life with that asshole. Sorry, Tara.”
“No sorry needed. I’m inclined to agree.” Tara sips her red wine. “Quinn is fairly nice, but you’re the only one I’ve ever wanted for a sister-in-law.”
“Well, unfortunately for Quinn, that’s a role she’ll likely be playing. But you’ll always be my friend.” I encircle my arm around her shoulders and squeeze. “I love you.”
Tara hugs me back and sighs. “I love you, too. Oh, there’s Quinn’s voice. It’s annoying.”
“I finalized the flowers for the wedding,” I tell the girls as the guys step to the side to talk about cars. “I’m going to stick mostly with wildflowers, and we’ll do flower halos for all the bridesmaids. I won’t be wearing a veil or be given away or anything like that.”
“The veil is when you feel bridal, not like a little kid dressing up in her mother’s wedding dress. I can’t explain it, but it’s a real phenomenon. Just think about it, okay?” Tara argues with me.
“I want to wear my hair in a half-updo with the flowers braided in. I found a great photo—” I reach for my phone to find the hairstyle website when Sean’s voice rings out.
“Ridiculous. You’ve managed to ensnare Deacon, but he will never marry you. He’ll realize before this sham of a wedding happens that you’re not right for him. You’re the girl men date, not the one they marry.”
I whip around and face Sean, an acrid taste in my mouth as he stands there with an expression of distaste on his face and his eyebrows raised high. Suddenly, Deacon materializes and shoves Sean, hard.
“Fuck you, Sean Wright, and don’t you ever, ever talk about my wife like that again!” Deacon shoves him one more time for good measure. Sean almost loses his balance as his eyes bug out and the creases in his forehead pop along with that blue vein in the center of it.
“Wife? You’re about five months too early. You still have time to get out of this!”
Deacon grabs my wedding band from his suit pocket and shoves it onto my hand, holding it up in the air right by Sean’s face.
“We got married, asshole, and this woman is the best thing that has ever happened to me. You may have used, abused, and cheated on her with your new baby mama, but she’s safe with me. I’ve got her forever.” Deacon’s red in the face by the time he finishes.
A hush falls over the room. That’s when I notice a tall, redheaded girl, visibly pregnant, standing outside the entrance to the room, her eyes wide with shock. She presses a hand to her open mouth, turns, and runs.
I don’t know why I do it, but I chase her in my heavy dress and finally catch up to her near Sean’s Range Rover as she leans against it, gasping.
“God, you’re fast,” I tell her as I hold up my hand and reassure her everything is okay. “I’m not here to make drama. I can see you’re upset, so I…ran after you.”
Maybe it’s because I was her, and I wouldn’t wish that fate on my worst enemy.
The short-haired girl begins to sob, and I find my heart unexpectedly aching for her over the man who had charmed her, and—for a long time—had both charmed and deceived me.
“I had no idea he was with you. How long were you together?” She looks horrified and red in the face. As she cries, she grows even redder and blotchier, sniffling loudly.
I try not to roll my eyes at how predictable this situation is. Sean is an excellent liar, and I can tell Quinn’s telling the truth based on her reaction.
“Almost a decade. I’m sure you didn’t know about me, mostly because Sean is a great liar. He had me thinking he was a decent guy for over nine years, all the while he gaslit me, making me think I was crazy, like I had to change everything about myself to win his approval. Does that sound familiar?”
Quinn wipes her face and nods. “So far, it’s just little things. He hates that I eat pork.”
I roll my eyes and nod. “Girl, I know. He’s barely let me eat a piece of bacon in a decade. The little things grow into big things eventually, until you don’t recognize yourself anymore. And he’s incredibly controlling.”
Quinn bites her lip. “He’s already got the baby named, and I hate the ones he’s picked out. Sean’s acting like it’s his choice.”
“Quinn, it’s not you. It’s him. This is just who he is.
He’s only happy when he’s in control and controlling you entirely, if you do exactly what he wants you to do.
Nobody can keep that up forever. You lose yourself, and that’s never worth it.
Look. I know he’s charming, and I don’t blame you for being charmed, but I want you to think about your baby and open your eyes before it’s too late.
Listen to the way he talks to you, pay attention to how he treats you.
You’ve got to have an inkling that something about him isn’t right.
He cheated on me with you, and he’ll cheat on you too. ”
Quinn sniffles, shaking her head. “I-I thought I was crazy! Like, he was so charming, so good for me before I got pregnant, and now he’s like…
” Quinn gasps for breath, wiping her cheeks.
“Never happy! Nothing I do is good enough for him. He comes with me to the doctor’s appointments and smiles, but there’s like, nothing happy behind his eyes.
I don’t even know if he truly wants this baby. ”
Quinn sniffles and wipes her nose with the back of her hand. Then she stands up straight and widens her eyes. “I shouldn’t be telling you this. I don’t even know your name!”
I hold out my hand. “I’m Aspyn Beckett Ambrose. I’m sorry we’re meeting this way.”
She shakes my hand, albeit reluctantly.