Page 3 of Sundown Somewhere

“Hux…I…” He holds up his hands, half in surrender, half as if to say, “I don’t know.”

“You what?”

I step in closer, ready to rip those arms right off him, but then I see it. I see the tinge of green in his skin and the flex in his jowls like he’s trying to stop himself from pitching up his breakfast. What I don’t know is if that’s the aftereffects of one too many Party Modes from last night, or something else.

“I’m sorry, Hux.”

Sorry? Sorry for what?

“Where is he?” I repeat.

“He just left.”

Left. He just left…

Now it’s my turn to be sick. Jeff just left. The groom just left his own wedding.

What. The. Actual. Fuck.

“What do you mean he left?”

This doesn’t make sense. He was here? Why didn’t they say? Why didn’t he come in?

Ryan shakes his head, his expression morphing into something I can’t name. Something I can’t place. A mix of regret and not understanding.

“He didn’t even get out of the car. Just handed me this.” He holds out an envelope, Dolly’s name scribbled across the front. “Then he took off.”

I take the envelope, my hand trembling and stomach plummeting. Whatever that look is on Ryan’s face, I get it now. I still can’t name it, but I feel it—the realization and knowledge of what this means and what I have to do—and I wish that I didn’t.

And suddenly, I want to throw up too.

“Tell me what you need me to do,” Ryan continues. He throws a thumb over his shoulder, gesturing to the library where he and the other groomsmen were hanging out waiting on the ceremony. “Jeremy’s still trying to call him. But, if he’s not answering his own brother, then…”

“What kind of piece of shit does this, Ryan?” I exclaim, unable to hold it back.

“Look, I know there’s no love lost between you two, but he is a good guy, promise.”

I scoff. Now is not the time to convince me of that. Not when he’s about to shatter the dreams of the best girl I know. And right now, she’s my priority.

“I need to go talk to Dolly.” Sucking in as deep a breath as I can, I fight back the urge to punch him on behalf of his best friend. It’s not Ryan’s fault, but he’d be a damn good proxy. “We need to get these guests out, and the reception torn down, with as little drama as possible.”

Which is something easier said than done. Hickory Hills is a small town, and one that loves its gossip. And one of the ringleaders of the rumor mill is Dolly’s great-aunt, Hattie Burch. Although maybe we’ll get lucky since she’s family that she won’t feel the need to talk about it publicly.

Doubtful. But one can hope.

“Tell me what you need. We’ll do whatever.”

Damn right you will…

“I’ll send one of my brothers out.”

There are times that being a Hayes in Hickory Hills is almost a burden. When you’re the direct descendant of Augustus Hayes—who along with his brother, Llewellyn, kept this town on the map by providing guns to the Confederate Army during the Civil War and subsequently founded Hayes Industries, the Fortune 500 company that your family still operates—life comes with a lot of expectations and responsibility. Especially when you and your six siblings are now the executive branch of said company that covers a wide range of industries.

But in moments like this, it’s a blessing. Because it means you have five brothers and a baby sister who are ready and willing to do whatever is needed. Plus the resources to make it happen.

I turn to go, holding up the envelope. “I need to go talk to the bride.”

I don’t bother saying anything else, but simply walk back inside, letting the heavy door slam behind me. Gus, Margeaux, and Milo are still standing in the vestibule, now joined by Milo’s girlfriend, Brenna, the four of them wide-eyed with anticipation. No one speaks as I walk past, unspoken questions floating through the air.