Chapter Twenty-Nine
Huxley
–Emmett: Where are you? I thought we were going to have our final Huxley-as-a-bachelor dinner?
–Me: Stuck at the airport.
–Grant: Maybe he thinks it’ll be boring?
–Noah: We can’t do strippers. I’m keeping my eyes faithful for Bobbi.
I snort. Normally, Noah’s absurdity would make me laugh, but right now, tension has me wound too tight.
–Sebastian: Huxley wouldn’t skip it for a lack of strippers.
–Griffin: The traffic in L.A. is shit today. Hux, can we order and start eating? I haven’t had lunch, and I’m ready to eat these goddamn plates.
–Noah: Jesus, eat the bread, you sociopath.
–Me: I’m in London. Heathrow.
–Nicholas: London?! What are you doing in London? The wedding is tomorrow!
–Me: I know.
Another set of group texts arrives, this time from my cousins.
–Bryce: Dude, you gonna get here?
–Ares: TFs are getting anxious.
Of course the elders are worried. They are terrified that I might not show after all. I’m that big of an asshole to them.
If the bride weren’t Grace, I might actually leave them hanging. But for reasons I don’t want to delve too deeply into, I don’t want to humiliate her like that in public. She and I didn’t have the best start, but she seemed sincere when she spoke of her mother, and I…
I let out a long breath, half affectionate, half exhausted. The plain fact is I wish she were here. If she didn’t take her job so seriously, I might’ve asked her to take some vacation days and come with me to London and shop while I was working. Hopefully, she splurged on facials and pedicures and…stuff. Amy and Lucie swear by that crap every time they’re stressed.
–Me: I’m in London.
–Ares: Doing what? London’s not that interesting.
–Bryce: No stripper is worth it, cuz!
–Josh: If you miss the wedding, your mother’s going to disembowel you. Unless Grandma gets there first.
My wrathful gaze swings to Madison, who’s already biting her lip. “Well?” I demand.
“I’m really sorry. But we can’t take off until we receive permission to land.”
“I don’t care what’s missing. I want the jet in the air or you’re going to put me on the next flight to Los Angeles that will ensure I arrive in time for the wedding.”
“I’m trying.”
“I don’t pay you to try. I pay you to accomplish your tasks.”
Madison’s snafu with the paperwork is infuriating. And shocking as well—she’s never failed me before. Regardless, it’s unacceptable. It’s her job to double-check all my flight schedules and paperwork to make sure my jet can take me wherever I need to be at whenever I need to go. If she’s no longer capable of doing her job, I can always get a new assistant. No one at the agency is irreplaceable.
My phone buzzes.
–Grace: Are you sure about having no dress rehearsal whatsoever?
Her annoyance is palpable. She thinks my being in London and unavailable is a sign that I’m snubbing her. But this trip was unavoidable. The 4D Agency is opening a new office in London, and my presence is needed to finalize the deal. Even in the digital age, some things have to be done in person.
On top of that, I hired Bryce to create a medical trust to pay for Grace’s mother’s care, and had to videoconference with him to go over the details during my little free time. But I wanted to get it done before I returned to the States.
Grace said she didn’t want to rely on me because she’s afraid I might change my mind or use it to control her. The idea is insulting, but then, we don’t have faith in each other yet. The trust will ensure that she isn’t taking the money for herself. Twenty-five grand a month is a lot for Nelson, and not sustainable indefinitely. The man likes to live lavishly, and he spends money as quickly as it comes in on his vacation homes, cars, clothes and watches. Mom often says he’s lucky that he’ll be able to do his own bankruptcy filing when it becomes necessary.
–Me: Right now, I’m stuck in London, so I can’t.
–Grace: Amazing Grace indeed. There might not even be a ceremony.
–Me: Don’t worry. I’ll be there.
–Grace: I’m warning you—I won’t be left at the altar. I’m going to marry the first bachelor I spot.
Jealousy sticks a flaming sword into my gut. Madison told me Grace invited her guy friend.
–Me: Like Adam?
–Grace: Yes. Or maybe your father.
–Me: Ugh. The image. And believe me, he’s not the marrying type.
–Grace: Well, he seems to care more about this wedding than you do. So he wouldn’t be a terrible backup if you don’t show.
I shake my head. Dad is already thrilled he got invited to the wedding. Madison apologized, saying it happened even though she warned Grace to not invite him. By the time Madison found out, it was too late.
Should’ve told Grace myself before leaving . That way she would have understood how detrimental inviting Dad to the ceremony would be. The man is going to make everything about himself. Jesus, even the sun revolves around him in his worldview.
Although I initially wanted him to attend just to embarrass my family, Grace deserves a dignified ceremony.
–Me: What did I say about filling your head with nonsense?
–Grace: Excuse me, but you aren’t back in the country yet! Is that nonsense? And don’t forget that YOU picked this date, not me! And YOU chose to go to London! How hard is it to get a flight back home? It isn’t like you’re in Siberia!
She sounds sort of cute and funny when she’s angry like this. Reminds me vaguely of an outraged hamster a high school girlfriend used to have. Every time you picked her up by the scruff, she would squeak and start waving her paws as though to hit you.
A reluctant smile tugs at my mouth.
–Me: I promise I’ll be there. Now stop stressing. It isn’t good for the baby.
I turn to Madison, because Grace has a good point. I shouldn’t have picked a date so close to my return date from my London trip. But Madison was worried that if the ceremony took place too late, Grace would show, which would limit her gown options.
This isn’t how I wanted to get married. I shouldn’t care about the desires of my unwanted bride. But taking away gown options from Grace when ultimately it takes two to create a baby made me approve the date. I want to continue to cling to my anger that she got pregnant on purpose, but she couldn’t have planned it. It was my condom and my sperm.
“I don’t care if I have to sit inside a lavatory,” I say to Madison. “You will get me on a flight to L.A. in the next hour or you’re fired.”