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Gemma: You’re not gonna like it. Hell, I fucking hate it.
Tyler: Just tell me, baby.
Gemma: He says he won’t sign the deed unless we consummate our marriage on the wedding night. If I do, he’ll sign it Monday morning, but if I don’t, he won’t sign until after our honeymoon.
The rage I feel nearly makes me burst a blood vessel. Gemma is mine, and the thought of him touching her makes me want to beat his fucking face in, but I understand what’s at stake here.
Tyler: I want to fucking kill him.
Gemma: I do too. I hate him so much. But I have two options—don’t do it and if he refuses to sign on Monday, I’ll threaten him with not going on the honeymoon and the aftermath of that would have rumors flying. He bragged all about how he’s taking me to Hawaii at the reception, so everyone is expecting us to go. However, the risk of that option is not knowing if that’d be enough to persuade him to sign before the plan with Eric is supposed to happen. Which means getting him out of town those two days would go to shit.
She’s right. If he doesn’t sign on Monday, the big reveal on Thursday will mean nothing. He’d still own the property, and this will all have been for nothing. The only benefit is that Gemma and I are married, but she’d lose her cottage. Robert’s a horrible excuse of a man, and I can’t wait to see the look on his stupid face when he realizes Gemma’s and his marriage isn’t legal. It’s the only thought that’s keeping me sane right now.
Tyler: What’s option two?
I hold my breath because I have a feeling I’m not gonna like it.
Gemma: Cry.
The urge to pull her into my arms weighs heavy on me, and I want to find Robert and bash his head in. What kind of sicko blackmails a woman into having sex with him? I try to calm down and am so happy Everleigh isn’t home to ask why I’m rage-pacing the living room.
Needing to get some fresh air, I grab Sassy and we go on a walk, but Gemma and I continue our conversation.
Tyler: What if there was a legitimate reason you couldn’t have sex that night where you could still persuade him into signing on Monday?
Gemma: What do you have in mind?
Tyler: Fireball?
Gemma: Fireball? So, get fucking smashed to the point of not being able to walk...which means the following day, I’d have too much of a hangover to have sex that night too. Hmm...I think that just might work.
Tyler: You could even tell him you think someone slipped something in your drink if he asks you why you got so drunk and use that as an excuse so he doesn’t try to get out of going on Monday.
Gemma: You know…that’s actually not a bad idea. Robert’s a dickhead, but he’s not a creep like that. He’d want me to be an active participant, but if I were too sick or passed out drunk, he’d be forced to wait until the honeymoon. It’s worth a shot! (Haha, get it? Shot!) WHY ARE YOU SO SMART?
I chuckle at her corny joke.
Tyler: We make a great team, baby.
Gemma: I miss you so much, hubby. Love you.
Tyler: I miss you too, wifey. Love you more. This will all be over soon. You’ve got this.
Gemma: I gotta go, but can you put a bottle of Fireball on my desk tomorrow? I’ll sneak it into my bag with my wedding shoes.
Tyler: I’ll make sure it happens, sweetheart.
Sassy is ecstatic when I take the corner and walk to the liquor store that’s close to the boutique. The owner loves dogs, and she nearly dies when she sees Sassy. I grab the biggest bottle of Fireball they sell and cross my fingers this works.
FIVE DAYS EARLIER
Today is the goddamn wedding.
Everleigh knocks on my door as I’m lying in bed staring at the ceiling when she walks in.
“Hey, bro.” She offers me a smile. “I’m gonna head out.” She and Katie are in the bridal party, and she’s leaving to go meet them at the venue.
I sit up and look at how pretty she is. “You look great, Ev.”
