Chapter 72 Bryce
As the rehearsal dinner wrapped up, I brushed my lips over Jada’s temple.
“Will you ride to the ranch with Dad?” We were all supposed to go to the ranch for a walk-through of the wedding.
But all I wanted to do was have a junior-high-style, knock-down-drag-out fight in the parking lot with Jude for telling everyone about Jada’s pregnancy before we were ready to announce it ourselves.
She gave me a questioning look.
“I have some unfinished business,” I murmured.
Stiffly, she nodded.
While everyone pulled out of the parking lot or walked to find their cars on Main Street, I tailed Jude to his Aston Martin, stopping the door just before he tugged it shut. “What the fuck is wrong with you,” I demanded.
He didn’t even look at me, instead glaring out the windshield. “What do you want?” he grunted.
My fingers twitched, begging to yank him out of the car and find a place for all this rage. “How could you tell everyone about the baby? That wasn’t your place.“
“I didn’t. I told Aggie that I’d come around to being an uncle, that I was already thinking of everything I’d buy the little one when it arrives.” He shrugged. “Sorry if some people overheard me.”
Acid tossed in my stomach. My jaw was tight as I gritted out the words through white-hot rage.
“You’re going to go to the hotel, you’re going to tell everyone you ate something funny, and you’re going to bed early.
And when you wake up in the morning, you’re going to send a message to the group text saying you’re terribly sorry but you got food poisoning and you’re going home.
” My voice shook with the effort it took to keep from shouting. “Got it?”
He turned his head to stare at me, his green eyes devoid of any light. This wasn’t the Jude I knew. Maybe he’d been pretending all along. His eyebrow arched as he said, “And what if I don’t?”
It took all I had not to slam his damn head into the steering wheel. “My little girl isn’t going to look at her mom and dad’s wedding pictures and see her deadbeat dad standing next to me.”
His jaw muscle flexed. “She won’t know I’m her dad.”
“God, I hope she never finds out.” I shook my head, feeling disgusted. How had I ever considered him a friend? A brother? “She’s better off not knowing she shares your worthless DNA.”
A chink finally showed in his seemingly impenetrable armor. “Bryce, I know you’re angry now, but you have to understand, I—”
“There’s nothing to understand!” I roared, then looked around, making sure no one had heard us.
Luckily, it looked like most of the other cars in the lot had disappeared, giving way to the quiet pace of the occasional car going down Main Street.
Controlling my voice, I said, “You’re a piece of shit, Jude.
Now get the fuck out of Cottonwood Falls. ”
Before he had a chance to argue, I slammed the door to his precious car. Within seconds, his tires were spinning on asphalt, kicking up little rocks as he peeled away from me.
I watched until I saw his headlights turning off Main Street toward the hotel.
Finally, I allowed myself to breathe while adrenaline drained from me, leaving me hollow inside. My best friend was gone, and there was no getting him back.
Now that everyone was heading back into town for the night, I recognized most of the cars in the gravel lot in front of my dad’s house, aside from a silver sedan now caked in dust on the back end.
I tensed again, knowing that must be the reporter. The woman was supposed to be a fly on the wall this weekend, getting photos, material for the article to run in Dallas Brides. Our publicist insisted it would help with the believability of our wedding.
Now, I just felt on edge. No reporter had ever been allowed on the ranch before. But when I went inside, she was sitting casually in the living room with Jada, Dad, and Aggie.
Jada looked so alone on the couch, and I instantly went to sit beside her. “Sorry I got held up. Jude told me he’s not feeling well. Must have eaten something.”
Aggie’s brow creased. “Hopefully not at the diner?”
I shook my head. “A poke bowl for lunch.”
Dad nodded like that made all the sense in the world, but the reporter changed the subject like all this talk of nausea was boring her. Maybe it was.
“I overheard the news at the engagement party, a baby on the way. Congratulations.”
“Thank you,” Jada said, though her arm circled protectively around her stomach.
I put my arm around her shoulders, hoping to help her feel more secure.
“How has a little one impacted wedding planning?” the reporter asked. The question was veiled well, but it was there. Are you getting married because of the baby?
I reached for Jada’s hand. “We’d like to protect our child’s privacy. Any more questions about the wedding?”
Jada’s shoulders sagged with relief while the reporter opened her mouth to argue.
I glanced out the window, noticing it was dusky outside. “Actually, you might want to get back into town before it gets too dark,” I warned. “There are deer out this time of night. Wild boars too. They can target cars. Especially shiny ones. Yours is silver, right?”
Her tan face blanched.
I went to the window and pulled back the curtain to have a peek. “Looks expensive.”
The reporter tucked up her notebook and stood. “I’ll see you both at the wedding tomorrow.”
I dipped my head in a nod and walked toward the door. As I held it open for the reporter, I looked back at Jada. She mouthed, Thank you.
After a brief smile at my bride, I led the woman down the sidewalk, filling the time with chatter about directions back to town and reminders to drive extra careful on gravel roads.
Part of it was to distract from any more questions, but I also worried about city drivers out here.
People died because they weren’t used to these roads.
“Before I go,” the reporter said, glancing at the dusky sky. “How do your cofounders feel about the wedding? I didn’t get a chance to ask them at the diner.”
“Best to ask them at the wedding tomorrow.” I forced a smile.
Her gaze narrowed suspiciously. “Everyone except Jude. I suppose I’ll have to call him for a comment.”
My stomach sank, but I didn’t let it show in my expression. “Drive safe now.”
She nodded, getting in her car. I waited until her headlights were pinpricks on the horizon to turn and go inside. Jada waited for me on the couch, sipping a mug of warm tea. “Come with me,” I told Jada.
“Now?” she asked.
I chuckled. “I mean, that would be preferable.”
Shaking her head, she got up and followed me out the front door. I walked to the truck and held the door open for her. When we were both inside, I said, “I thought we could catch the sunset and talk.”
Jada nodded, and I watched her throat move with a swallow. “I think that’s a good idea.”