Page 80 of Worth Risking It

“Me and Jack. We used to be in love once.”

“Yeah? What happened?”

“I don’t know,” she sighed. “I guess life got in the way. He started taking a more serious role in the family business, started rubbing elbows with politicians.”

My lids snapped wide, my pulse skipping. “Like Congressman Alberts?”

“Yeah, him, for one. I dunno, Wyatt. The babies started coming, business picked up, school started, and we fell into a rut.”

Pivoting on my heels, I pulled my jaw tight to rub at my chin, my bottom lip curling over the teeth. Just how long had Jack and Alberts been screwing around?

“Hey, can I ask you something?”

“Yeah.”

“Your daughter is dating Alberts’s son, right?”

“Mm hm.”

“How did that happen? How did they meet?”

“Jack and Alberts set them up on a blind date.” She snorted and sighed. “The already talk about how their kids are going to grow up one day and get married.”

I sneered at Jack from the distance, shaking my head. That son of a bitch. His daughter was only thirteen years old, and he was already planning her marriage so he could keep fucking his male lover in secrecy. What better reason for him and Alberts to always be around one another, if they were united by marriage?

That poor little girl had no idea, but her future was already planned because her daddy had the hots for a congressman. Even if she realized, as time went on, that she didn’t want to continue dating her boyfriend, she wouldn’t have a choice. Only thirteen, and she was sold.

“Wyatt?”

I coughed and tore my sight away from the bane of my existence right now. Balling my hand into a fist, I shoved it into my pocket, grinding my teeth.

“What?”

“I know it’s asking a lot, and I understand if you say no, but…since you aren’t going to Italy on the honeymoon, will you…I mean, can you…spend some time with me?”

Everything inside froze, my lungs ceasing and my heart sinking. Staring at the far wall without blinking, my muscles clenched around my bones.

“I just get so lonely here. I know you come out whenever you can, and you and Chazzy text me, but…it gets so dark and quiet here at night.”

My kitten’s laughter rang through the air, making the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. Facing the crowd at the other end of the expansive room, I writhed with jealousy as she smashed the cake in Milo’s face.

“Yeah, well, how about this?” he teased, shoving a piece into her cleavage.

She squealed, throwing her arms out right as he buried his face and wrapped his arms around her waist. Most everyone laughed, save for the Pampinella’s, who sneered with disgust.

Her fingers coating with icing, Chastity threw her head back again, her elbows on his shoulders while he swayed them around, eating the cake from her cleavage.

“Yeah, I’ll come stay with you a few days. What else do I have to do?”

She sighed and sniveled. “Thank you, thank you so much.”

“Mm hm. I gotta go. I’ll give you a call tomorrow to let you know when I’m coming.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

“Yeah.”

I tapped the screen and pocketed the phone. Milo stood upright, cake smeared over his lips and chin. Tucking a finger under hers, he lifted and kissed her lips, their happiness practically glowing around them like an orb.