Chapter 4 #2
I type out a caption: ‘what happens in Vegas can change your life’ and tag my social media account along with the one for the ranch. Just like that, I send it into the depths of the internet. It feels damn good to know the entire world just found out that I roped the baddest woman alive.
I pass the phone back to Angie and sink back into the cushions. “That oughta do it.”
Her eyes widen, and her jaw goes slack. “You didn’t.”
“I did.”
My cell lights up like the Fourth of July. I know who it’ll be before I even pick it up.
Girls, Hayes, and Neighs
Jaxon: Another one bites the dust. Congrats brother.
Ruby: Finally!
Olivia: Oh my god, we did it!
Angelina has been added to the group chat.
Callie: Yes! They’re officially outnumbered!
Jaxon: Not for long.
Liam has been added to the group chat.
Liam has left the group chat.
Jaxon: I know that was you Roo.
Ruby: Prove it.
“What is happening right now?” Angelina asks.
“Congratulations. You just learned what it’s like to become a Hayes.”
She picks a piece of lint off her leg and shrugs. “I don’t hate it.”
Ruby: Spill, Angie. We need the deets.
Angelina: Margaritas. So many margaritas.
Me: I was coerced.
Wilder: We left you alone for one day, and you’re bringing home another rescue.
Angelina: Did you just compare me to a horse?
Wilder: Sorry Ange. You know we love you.
My cell vibrates in my hand seconds before my mama’s face pops up on the screen. I stare at it like a grenade about to go off.
“What’s wrong?” Angie asks.
“You’re about to become a widow.”
I tap to answer the video call.
“Griffin Ryder Hayes, you have some explaining to do!”
Angie smirks and silently mouths the word, “Ryder.”
In a last-ditch effort to save myself, I slide next to Angie and extend my arm so she’s in the frame with me.
“Oh,” Mama says. “Hello, Angelina.”
Angie waves awkwardly. “Hi, Mrs. Hayes.”
“You’ll have to get used to calling me Evie or Mama now that we’re officially family. And speaking of family. I’d better be seeing the two of you at our next family dinner.”
“Newlyweds, Mama. We haven’t had time to ourselves yet.”
“Five p.m. Don’t be late.”
“But—”
Angie backhands me in the chest. “We’ll be there, Mrs.–”
Mama narrows her eyes at the screen.
“Evie,” she finishes.
“Thank you, Angelina. I can’t wait to see more pictures. You looked absolutely stunning.”
My eyes automatically stray to Angie’s image reflecting back at me. We’re a mismatched pair, the beauty to my beast, but somehow we still fit. “Most beautiful bride in the world,” I tell her.
“Don’t think you’re off the hook just because you gave me another daughter-in-law, Griffin Hayes.”
I can’t help but smile. “I wouldn’t dream of it.”
“Can’t believe two of my babies had the audacity to get married without me,” she mutters. “What did I do to deserve this?”
Angie rolls her lips together, but a quiet laugh bubbles out of her anyway. I run my hand down my face to hide my matching reaction.
A timer goes off on the other end of the line. Mama pulls on a pair of oven mitts and stares directly into the phone. “See you on Sunday.”
The unmistakable threat lingers as the screen goes black.
We crash back against the sofa and dissolve into fits of laughter. I roll my head to the side and stare at Angie’s profile as her brilliant smile takes over her face. She looks just like she did the night before. Radiant. Untamed. My laughter dies the second she catches me staring.
Our gazes lock as silence stretches between us.
I could lean in and kiss her. Does she want me to?
This was much easier when we were drunk and uninhibited.
Now, I’m caught between desire and indecision.
Sometimes I wish I didn’t have a goddamn conscience.
It’s the only thing holding me back from taking what I want.
I break the intense eye contact.
“Family dinner,” Angie says with a resigned sigh.
“Yup.” I stretch back and weave my fingers together behind my head. “It’s not too late to go on our honeymoon.”
“Honeymoon? What honeymoon? Did you pull that ponytail too tight, Griffin Hayes?”
“I don't know, but we could make one up. Avoid family dinner altogether.”
“Need I remind you that this is your fault?” She rolls her eyes and puts on a fake baritone. “Trust me, Angel.”
“You were the one who said she wanted revenge. Has Tyler texted you yet?”
She flips over her phone and stares at the screen, expression blank. “No. There’s nothing.”
My phone vibrates again, and this time it’s not the family group chat. I should’ve seen this coming, but I thought for sure he’d contact Angie first and try to get her back.
Tyler: Ancient history huh? You’re a real piece of shit, Griff.
Fuck.
I shouldn’t feel guilty for stealing his girl—she was mine before she ever belonged to him—but I can’t help the twinge of regret for throwing a lit match on our friendship.
How could we come back from this? If I’m honest, I’m not sure I want to.
Tyler’s been skating on thin ice ever since he went after Angie in the first place.
I watched them for years—witnessed the way he’d try to assert control over her, the way he’d try to make her feel small so he didn’t have to face his own shortcomings. To her credit, she never cowered, no matter how hard he pushed.
Angie peers down at the text lighting up my phone. “Ancient history? What does that mean?”
I cough to clear my throat. “Beats the hell outta me, but I think the plan is working.”
“You really want to pretend we’re in this for the long haul?”
“Who’s pretending? I said ‘til death do us part, Angel. If that’s not long haul, I don’t know what is. But if you want a do-over, I’ll promise ‘til death do us part and into the next life, too.”
She laughs it off like I told the world’s greatest joke, but the only thing I find remotely funny is that she thinks I’m joking at all. I’ve never been more serious.
“You’re actually insane,” she says.
I chuckle. “Me? You just promised we’d be at family dinner.”
She tosses the throw pillow at me before standing. “I could use a drink.”
“Make it two.”
As Angie disappears into the kitchen, I take the opportunity to respond to Tyler’s text message.
Me: Big words from the man who didn’t stick around.
Me: One of us had to be the better man. We both know it was always going to be me.
Tyler: Enjoy it while it lasts.