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It’s his mother calling.
Oh, God. Does she know?
I hear the shower turn off, and I yell from where I am. “Spencer, your mom is calling!”
He rushes out with a towel tied around his waist, and water beads run down his chest.
Dear. Lord.
That guy right there? That’s my husband.
For as much as this morning has brought pain—physically, given my hangover, as well as emotionally, given how we betrayed his brother’s trust—I’m also met with the realization that I’m married to Spencer Nash.
And that’s one hell of an interesting realization. I’m a wife. I have a husband. Thirty seconds ago—or last night, at any rate—I wasn’t even dating anybody.
Look at us now.
I watch his retreating back as he walks into the bathroom again, this time with his phone. “Hey, Mom.” He leaves the door open, and I can hear his end of the conversation. “He told you already? Jesus Christ. Give a guy a second to figure things out.” A pause as his mother most likely yells at him for what we’ve done, and my chest feels like a heavy weight is set on top of it.
We’ll figure this out…right?
Chapter 18: Spencer Nash
A Big Enough Screw Up to Warrant It
The Morning After the Wedding
The shower helped, but getting yelled at by my mother is sending me right back into hangover territory.
I grab the clothes I left on the floor and walk out of the bathroom so Grace can use it while I listen to my mother. I nod at Grace to go ahead to the bathroom as I perch on the edge of the bed.
“This is just so unlike you, Spencer! What were you thinking?”
“I wasn’t thinking,” I admit. “I was on a mix of tequila and Benadryl, and I guess it makes you do things you wouldn’t normally do.”
“So, what are you going to do?”
I clear my throat and go for the truth. “Gracie flew to Vegas to tell me that she figured out why Amelia had been cheating on me but was still pushing for a wedding. Apparently, whichever of Maggie’s grandchildren gets married first and stays married for a year will inherit the vineyard. Amelia figured she could con me into marriage and take me for all I’m worth after a year.”
“Oh, Spencer. I’m so sorry,” she says quietly.
“I guess I agreed to marry Grace so she would get the vineyard instead of her sister. And we were so messed up that we didn’t even realize what we were doing. You know I never would’ve thought to wear their wedding clothes if I was in my right mind, but she needed a dress, and there was one in the closet.” I shrug even though she can’t see me over the phone. It’s a horribly weak defense, but I can’t really change what’s already been done.
“So you just…took it?” she asks.
“Like I said, we were hopped up on a strange cocktail. She’s allergic to mustard, too.”
“Oh, honey,” she says, sympathy in her tone. “All that aside, are you going to stay married to her for a year?”
“I haven’t thought any of this through. I’m still too hungover to even believe this really happened, let alone figuring out how the hell I’m going to make it up to Grayson and Ava.”
“Yeah, that’s a tough one,” she agrees.
“Thanks,” I say dryly. “Now hit me with it. I know you have ideas.”
She laughs. “You know me well. It’s too late to get new attire for the bride and groom since they’re getting married in three days, but I’d start by getting them dry cleaned. You foot the bill, obviously. I’d also get something special for Ava to make the dress unique. A belt or something like that, maybe with a matching veil. And, of course, treat them to something special on the honeymoon. An excursion on you, dinner, or heck, pay for the whole thing. You got any connections to anyone famous you could get to their wedding last minute?”
An idea sparks in the back of my mind. “Actually, I met the guitarist for a band when I was in San Diego, and I think I remember Ava saying she’s a fan.”
