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I nod. “Good.”
The elevator chimes, then the doors slide open, revealing the lobby. Marie walks out first, glancing back and winking at me. “Enjoy the rest of your trip, Oliver.”
“You too,” I call back.
I continue into the hotel’s dining area, spotting Garrett immediately. He’s slumped over a mug of coffee at a table in the center of the room, looking about how I feel.
When the chair legs scrape the floor and announce my arrival he leans back, rubbing at both eyes with the palm of his hand. “Hey, man.”
“Hey.”
Garrett looks me up and down. “How was the rest of your night?”
“Uh, fine. Yours?”
“Still processing it, honestly.” I nod, becauseboydo I get that. Garrett swallows some coffee, then glances at me. “Sorry about unloading on you last night.”
“Don’t apologize. I’m always happy to listen.”
He sips more coffee. “I think this weekend was just what I needed. Evened things out, so to speak.”
“You slept with her?”
“Yeah.” Garrett exhales. “I needed to prove I could, I guess. And part of me feels guilty, but at least I got some good sex out of it. Sienna and I haven’t since… I forgot what fucking someone new was like.” He clears his throat. “Anyway, I feel better. I think she stole my watch though, because I can’t find it. At least Sienna’s not with me for the money. Her family has plenty, and we have an ironclad prenup.”
My hand freezes halfway to my water bottle. The rest of the guys are beginning to join us, chairs scraping on both sides, most of them wearing sunglasses and pained expressions.
I return the greetings aimed my way on autopilot.
My entire life, I’ve been wary of anyone wanting me for my money. I saw the rounds of negotiations between my father and Hanson Ellsworth as the details of Crew and Scarlett’s engagement were hammered out. The gossip rags reported extensively on how little Candace received after her marriage with my father ended, and how, of course, Arthur Kensington protected his assets. Of course,littleto a Kensington is a lot to anyone else. Last I knew, Candace was living in France, set up for life.
In my world, prenups are more important than how many carats the ring is. The reality is, most marriages end. It’s smart and responsible to prepare for that outcome, no matter what.
Smart and responsible are two adjectives most people would use to describe me. Also rich. I’m very, very rich.
And what did I do?
I got married without a prenup.
CHAPTERSEVEN
HANNAH
Asixth onesie gets unwrapped, prompting excited chatter all around me.
I take a sip of my mimosa, which is mostly orange juice. My body is still recovering from Friday night. From the amount of alcohol I drank and the shocking revelation Imarried Oliver Kensington.
Every romantic relationship I’ve ever been in, there’s always been something missing. Something holding me back. A lack of trust or a lack of passion or a lack of interest, who knows.
And then I get married in Vegas to a man I’d known for less than twelve hours. It’d be funny…if it wasn’t a serious commitment that could have disastrous implications.
Sitting and watching my sister-in-law open different versions of the same gift I got her—because I know onesies are a popular baby shower gift but didn’t think they’d bethispopular—feels a long way away from that Vegas hotel room.
But as Sunday afternoon creeps closer to Sunday night, it’s impossible to totally ignore what happened. I promised Oliver I would call him tomorrow, and I’ve never dreaded anything more.
I don’t understand how it happened. Me and him…married. Parts of that night are so clear and then others are a complete blur.
I remember talking to him in the hotel bar. The moment when I thought he was going to kiss me. And the moment hedidkiss me is permanently seared into my brain. We did shots in a bar. Rode the High Roller and marveled at the view of the city. After that, it starts to get fuzzier. But nowhere in my recollection is there anything wedding-related. No chapel or Elvis impersonator.
