Wedding Date (Dating #6) - Monica Murphy Page 0,76
father groans. “Jesus Christ.”
I rise to my feet, finding myself in Craig’s face. I’m a hair taller, but I don’t feel like it’s an advantage. Craig is the unpredictable one in this situation. God knows what he might do. “I’m in love with someone else.”
“But she told me that you’re in love with her,” he says, baring his teeth like he wants to take a bite out of me. “That you said so at the tuxedo fitting when you showed up late.”
If I weren’t so pissed, I’d laugh. This is some straight up bullshit right now. Confessions at the Men’s Wearhouse? More like Jess was the one confessing, not me. I won’t tell him that thought. What’s the point?
“I’m with Kelsey,” I tell him. “You saw her last night, right? I couldn’t keep my eyes or hands off of her. I’m in love with her. Not your bride.”
Craig just stares, and this close, I can see his eyes are bloodshot, and he appears—worried. I almost feel sorry for him.
Almost.
“I don’t know about this, man,” he mutters with a shake of his head.
“Know about what? Would you like to see who I’m texting?” I’m about to thrust my phone in his face when my phone dings. Another text from Kelsey.
Kelsey: Let’s compromise. You can rip my panties off.
Kelsey: With your teeth.
Followed by a bunch of winking emojis.
Nope. Can’t share that with Craig. I shove my phone back into my pocket.
“Nah. I believe you. I’d hang on to her too. That new girlfriend of yours is a total smoke show.” Craig collapses on the very loveseat I was sitting on, and I have no choice but to join him. Clearly he wants to keep talking.
“Uh, thanks,” I tell him when he doesn’t say anything. Just keeps sipping on that Bloody Mary he’s clutching.
“I just don’t know if I should marry Jess.”
His announcement strikes fear in my heart. Only because I don’t want to witness the aftermath of his declaration if he follows through.
“What are you talking about?” I lower my voice so no one else can hear us, and I wish like hell Rick were here. Craig listens to his brother, who can reason with him. A talent I’ve never been able to master.
“This entire wedding has been a pain in my ass since we started planning it. It’s cost us and our families a fortune. All for what—so I can prove to everyone I nabbed her? We haven’t been that happy lately either. We fight a lot. The sex has gotten totally boring.” Craig shakes his head. “I think I’m over her.”
“Come on. You can’t be over her. You’re marrying her. You want to put a ring on it,” I remind him, trying to talk in his language, though I’m pretty sure I sound like a complete moron.
“I guess I do, but I don’t know. It sucks. She nags my ass all the time. Always bossing me around and telling me what to do. I hate it,” he says morosely.
“The stress of the wedding has to be getting to her too.” I can’t believe I’m defending Jessica, when she’s the one who’s saying I came on to her instead of the truth. She came on to me. But I can’t tell Craig that. Not when we’re only minutes away from his wedding ceremony.
“You think so?” There’s a hopeful twinkle in Craig’s eyes, and I decide to continue that route.
“Definitely,” I say with a firm nod. “This kind of thing is stressful. This is the biggest day of your lives, and a lot goes into planning an event like this. More so on the brides most of the time.” I’m pretty positive Craig hasn’t done dick to help her.
“She says that all the time, how I never help her and she has so much to do. You’re probably right. God, I can’t wait for this shit to be over.” He takes a gulp from his drink, leaving a red rim along his top lip. He looks like a little kid. I can’t believe Jess is marrying this guy. “Where the hell is Rick anyway?”
“He went to pick up the stuff you left behind, remember?” I don’t know how he forgot it. Everything was bagged up together when Lindy the Men’s Wearhouse employee handed it over to me.
“Right. Right. I hope he gets back soon. Damn, I need to chill.” A ragged exhale leaves him, and he bounces his knee nervously. “Thanks, man.”