Page 12 of Married to Lies

I’d only found out yesterday, but knowing she was with child made me even more worried for a medical event. My muscles tensed like I was on the offensive line in college all over again, but there was no one coming to tackle me, no quarterback behind me to defend. My energy simply pooled in my muscles, itching to be used.

Their conversation seemed to be over because Rei helped Glamma down the steps and toward the gravel lot in front of the house, then Fletcher and Bryce flanked Jada. Her arms were around their shoulders as they assisted her down the platform. I hadn’t noticed it earlier, but she looked ashen compared to her earlier glow.

The best man stepped to the microphone, a smirk on his face. “They’re extra excited to hit the honeymoon suite,” he said, earning a gasp from one of the older women in attendance. “Just kidding. Turns out the baby’s a major cockblocker slash attention whore.”

“Hayes!” Bryce’s dad barked, going up to the platform.

In front of me, Simon’s shoulders shook with laughter.

Before the Madigan father could reach the mic, Hayes continued, “The happy couple, and soon-to-be parents, have requested that we enjoy our meal and the DJ. I, personally, will be enjoying the open bar.”

His dad shoved him out of the way while Hayes’s face glinted with glee. “I apologize for my son,” the old man said. “Before we head for dinner, let’s all say a prayer for Jada and the baby. Pastor?”

We bowed our heads while the pastor said a prayer of safety, and then everyone was dismissed to the tent.

Aaric fidgeted beside me, chewing at the inside of his cheek like he sometimes did. “Should we go to the hospital?” he asked. “Be there for Bryce?”

On the other side, Cruz made a face. “Please no. Childbirth freaks me out.”

Aaric gave Cruz an incredulous look. “We’re not asking you to catch the baby or anything.”

I sighed. “If Bryce wanted us there, he would have asked us to be there.” I pushed up from my chair, following the small crowd of murmuring guests toward the tent.

Aaric and Cruz fell behind me, still discussing the pros and cons of going to the city to help Bryce and Jada. Their voices blurred in with the rest of the murmuring and faded into background noise.

A chill settled over me as we walked, starting in my fingers and working to my spine. There were no heaters between the ceremony space and the tent, but that might not have been the only reason. Rei was with Jada on the way to the hospital.

“Quentin,” an older, raspy voice said from behind me.

I turned to see Simon shuffling to catch up. Slowing my step, I nodded to acknowledge him.

“That was quite the ordeal,” he said with a chuckle.

“No kidding,” I murmured.

“And finding out Jada was pregnant yesterday at the rehearsal dinner...” A worried look crossed his face. “I hope Jude’s not absent because he leaked the news before he was supposed to. Although the failed hostile takeover would be another good reason for Bryce to ask him to leave...”

“He told everyone he was sick,” I said, though now that Simon mentioned it, I wasn’t so sure.

Simon shook his head. “Do you know what’s happened between them?”

Things had been tense between Bryce and Jude since Jude proposed the vote of no confidence for whatever harebrained reason. “Jude won’t tell me or the others why he proposed that vote. We’ve asked.”

Simon’s lips rolled together, his ultra-short, white facial hair catching the light with the movement. “That quarterly retreat can’t come soon enough.”

My jaw clenched tighter. The only reason we had a retreat two weeks from now was because of Simon’s list of demands. I hated that he got to live his life—what was left of it—by his own will while we were making life-altering decisions and taking unnecessary trips at the mercy of his whims.

“It’s been tense around here since you shared your news,” I said pointedly. “Some people don’t do well under this kind of pressure.”

Simon arched a brow. “Pressure makes diamonds.”

I shook my head at him. “We’re not stone. We’re men, and we can break.”

He gave a noncommittal “hmm,” then excused himself to the trailer hauled in for bathrooms.

Walking into the tent with music playing over the speakers, my mind was caught somewhere between concern for Jada, frustration with Simon, and disappointment that my plan with Rei hadn’t worked.

I reached into my pocket with cold hands, crumpling the sticky note in my palm. I’d have to find another way.