Page 10 of The Growly Outcast’s Promise

five

Annabelle

I’m married.

To Greyson Freaking Hendricks.

This is not how I thought this day would go when I woke up this morning. I had completely expected to be in a friendly, but loveless and mutually beneficial marriage of convenience. I can’t even be mad at Devon for bailing on me. Hell, I’m proud of him for standing up to his parents.

If I didn’t have people relying on me to secure the inheritance, then none of today would have even been necessary. But I did have people relying on me. Namely my niece and my nephew.

I would have died before I let Lizzie marry that piece of shit who fathered her kids.

We’re currently on the drive back from Corpus to Houston.

He has already pulled off his tie and his sport coat, both of which have been tossed into the extended cab behind us.

His stomach growls loudly inside the truck. “Do you mind if I drive through somewhere and get something to eat?” he asks.

“Of course not. What’s the matter, Grey? Did the roasted beet salad with goat cheese medallions not fill you up?”

“That dainty shit wouldn’t satisfy a child let alone a growing boy like myself.”

As if on cue, my own stomach rumbles with hunger.

He laughs. “Why don’t people serve brisket at a wedding? We’re in Texas for fuck’s sake.”

“Well, at your own wedding you can serve whatever you want,” I say.

“Darlin’, today was my wedding. Remember?” He smiles at me, and it’s so genuine it kinda breaks my heart a little.

“Brisket,” I say as a way of distraction. “Oh my gosh, can you imagine Grandmother’s face if I was eating with my hands? At my wedding reception?”

My phone buzzes with incoming texts from my sister.

LIZZIE: Girl!!!

LIZZIE: I need all of the details. All of them!

ME: What are you even talking about?

LIZZIE: Don’t play stupid with me.

LIZZIE: You and your new HUSBAND were late coming into the reception.

Oh, shit. I was waiting for her to say something. Frankly I was a little surprised she didn’t call me out at the reception. After my new husband finger banged me in the dressing room. Where he had to cover my mouth so my grandmother wouldn’t hear my moans from the other side of the door. My cheeks heat and I’m glad it’s dark outside. He doesn’t need to see me blushing. That will make it very easy for him to figure out what I’m thinking about over here.

ME: Just a little trouble with my shapewear.

LIZZIE: Do not lie to me. I know a post O glow when I see one.

ME: How can you possibly know that?!

LIZZIE: Ha! I knew it!

LIZZIE: Details. You owe me for dealing with Grandmother.

LIZZIE: I thought her head might actually split in half when she came back into the restaurant after going to find you.