Chapter 3 #2
“I actually think Jace’s jokes would only improve the night,” Riley said, batting her eyelashes at Jace, because like Parker and Casey, she and Jace were madly in love.
Sickeningly, actually.
“You would say that,” Matty sighed. “You’re blind to actual humor because of Jace’s hair.”
I snorted at that one. Jace had dramatic, long blonde hair that he refused to cut because he believed he would lose his football superpowers—his words, not mine.
“Actually, I think it’s because of my big c—” Parker slapped a hand over Jace’s mouth.
“No talking about your cock in front of my lady,” he hissed.
Jace grinned beneath Parker’s hand. “Well, now you’re talking about my cock, so technically…”
“Don’t get him started on the quarter of an inch.” Ophelia sighed as she batted her eyelashes at Matty.
Another couple sickeningly in love.
Matty growled at her all cute-like.
“Don’t you mean an inch?” Jace said, wagging his eyebrows up and down as Matty groaned loudly.
“Tell your joke,” Parker growled, a small smile on his lips because it was impossible not to smile in the midst of Jace’s antics.
“Why does Mrs. Claus always pray for a white Christmas?” Jace said, smugly, because he obviously thought this one was going to be a good one—even though his jokes rarely were.
“I don’t actually want to know the answer to that,” Matty drawled, his face looking pained.
“She’s married to a guy who only comes once a year.”
There was an elongated pause, and Jace scoffed. “You know, a white Christmas, like the color of cu—” Parker slapped another hand over Jace’s mouth, and Jace rolled his eyes. “Is anything not off-limits, Parkie-Poo?” he drawled.
Riley was the first to break, giggling like a madwoman as Jace wrapped an arm around her shoulders and beamed down at her. Matty looked vaguely traumatized, but I at least laughed for a second.
It wasn’t his worst joke.
Ugh. There was that pang again. I really needed to find a way to carve a hole in my chest and take out my heart because this amount of feeling was unacceptable.
The fun of the night continued until Casey leaned over and whispered, “Okay, spill. What’s up with you lately? And this time I’m requiring you answer the question.”
I froze, my glass hovering midair. “What do you mean?”
Casey rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You’ve been moping for days. Is it the whole holiday thing? Your sister’s wedding? Or is it something else…perhaps someone else, if we’re being technical?”
“It’s not…” I trailed off, glancing around to make sure the others were still wrapped up in their conversation about why Tennessee was going to win the national championship again this year. “It’s just that my sister’s fiancé…His best man might be someone I know.”
Her brows furrowed. “Someone you know?”
I took a long sip before answering. “My ex. ”
Casey’s confusion deepened, and she leaned forward. “Okay. And? You’re not the type to spiral over a guy. Did he cheat on you or something?”
“No.” I laughed bitterly. “He never would have. At least not back then…”
She blinked at me, her beautiful brain obviously still confused. “Okay?”
I threw back a peppermint schnapps-flavored shot that was basically Christmas in a cup. This was the part of Christmas I liked.
“Because my ex is Easton Maddox,” I blurted out once I’d gotten a little more of that liquid courage.
Casey blinked. Tilted her head.
“Wait…like…the barista from that coffee shop on Fifth?” she asked, brows furrowed in concentration.
I stared at her. “No. I’m pretty sure that guy’s name is just Maddox. And also, he spells latte with a y , so I’m insulted you think I would date him.”
Then her eyes went wide. Too wide.
“Okay, wait. No. There’s no way. But I’m just going to ask just in case… Do you mean movie star Easton Maddox?”
There it was. Her jaw dropped like someone had unhinged it. She looked like a cartoon character mid-fall. I cocked my head, vaguely impressed that eyes could even get that big.
She pointed at me with her drink, already sloshing. “Easton Maddox? As in Easton Maddox , the hottest young star in Hollywood right now? That Easton?”
I rolled my eyes. “No, Casey. I meant the Easton Maddox who sells Bibles out of the back of a van in Missouri.”
She ignored me completely, spiraling into open-mouthed disbelief.
I sank lower in my seat, miserable. “Yes, that Easton.”
Casey let out a screech that turned a few heads. “Natalie! What the hell? You dated Easton Maddox and never told me? Are you kidding me right now? ”
“Would you keep your voice down?” I hissed, glaring at her.
Parker was watching us like a hawk now, looking unamused that another man’s name had come out of her mouth.
“Go back to your conversation, QB,” I growled.
He smirked and kissed Casey’s shoulder possessively, as if to remind everyone in the bar that she was taken and he was still the hottest guy here.
Second-hottest if Easton had been here, obviously.
Ugh.
Casey leaned back in, still buzzing with shock and whisper-shouting. “How is that even possible? You dated Easton Maddox, and you’re just, what? Casually not talking about it? Is he the reason you don’t want to go home?”
“Obviously,” I said miserably. “What am I supposed to do if he’s there? Pretend everything’s fine? Pretend I didn’t break up with him and ruin everything?”
Casey tilted her head, considering me like I was some kind of puzzle.
“Okay, first of all, you didn’t ruin anything.
Second, you’re going to woman up, Natalie Skye Bennett.
You’re going to go to that wedding, looking like the hottie you are, and enjoy your sister’s day.
If Easton Maddox is there? Good. Let him see what he’s missing.
Make him feel all that hot movie-star regret. Let him eat his heart out.”
Parker coughed, his eyes now resembling a cartoon character as well. I was pretty sure Casey was about to get dragged away and taken on the nearest flat surface so that he could remind her of who she was with.
You’re welcome , Case .
I sighed. “He won’t regret it,” I muttered. “I broke it off. I thought I was doing the right thing. I did do the right thing.”
Casey’s expression softened. “Then maybe it’s time to find out if it’s still the right thing…”
I sighed. “Fine. I’ll go. But if I embarrass myself, I’m blaming you. ”
“Deal,” she said, grinning like the meddling best friend she absolutely was.
As the group around us laughed and toasted, I made a silent vow to myself. No matter what happened, I’d get through this wedding. Even if it meant facing the boy I’d once loved—and the man he’d become.