Page 118 of Insta Bride
“Look, you can stay here, no probs. But make sure if you’re kicking him to the curb, it’s for the right reasons.”
“We’ve got less than two weeks until the commitment ceremony.”
“Damn it, Elena, I thought you were smarter than that.” Hunter looked to my friends who nodded their betrayal. I was supposed to be their friend. I was the one humiliated and dumped. “You legally married a guy you barely knew. Most marriages take a while to bed down, but most of the time, the couples at least know each other. Liv and I had known each other for years.”
“And you ran away together after what, two weeks?”
“We needed to sort our shit out without friends and families second guessing us. By the time we came back, we were ready to make it legal.”
“Not everyone gets that lucky.”
“You met Kye unconventionally. You married him before getting to know him. Other than the social media crap and Maddox, is there one good reason you guys can’t go the distance?”
“We fight, all the time.”
“How’s the making up?” Olivia joined us, hugging without judgement. “Is it silence at fifty paces, or fifty shades of honeymooning.”
“Ewe, images I don’t need to see,” Hunter groaned, kissing the top of my head before turning to leave. “Elena, for what its worth, I think the guy’s never had the feels before and it’s scaring the shit out of him. He doesn’t know how to keep you and doesn’t want to lose you. It seems like your whole relationship is based on pushing each other’s buttons. Push his and see which way he goes. My money is on him saying three little words that he never saw coming.”
“Night, Hunter.”
Hunter and Olivia disappeared while my other friends crash tackled me to the sofa, laughing about the quiet girl being the only one to tame a horn-dog tiger.
“That’s not even a thing.”
“Is he a horn-dog?”
“Well, yes.”
“Is he a tiger in the sack?”
“I’ve received and given my fair share of scratches.”
“Then, you need to get back in the game.” Olivia announced, returning to the room only to dodge a flying cushion.
“You’ve got, what two weeks of fame and fortune left?”
“Yes, but—”
“Well, how’s this for an idea.” Olivia shot Jess and Tash evil looks—even if they wanted to save me, she’d shut them down. “Ask for two weeks leave effective immediately.”
“Why would I do that?”
“Because you’re going to be sleeping all day and partying all night. We’re going to make sure that you’re seen at every night club, every dance party, every product launch party, you’re going to accept every invitation. Wherever it’s happening, you’re going to be there—looking sexy and single. Kye will shit himself.”
“But—” I moaned.
“Unless, of course, you want me to set up a double date with Maddox?” Olivia pressed for a reaction and got it.
“No,” I almost screamed. “I can’t believe he even gave Kye the ultimatum. Who does that?”
“Someone who doesn’t want to keep his job. Hunter has a friend who has a friend, who has connections at Softli. Apparently, they’re not making a statement yet, but his employment is under review.”
“Maddox threw away his career for me?” I tried to feel sympathy, but no. Maddox had done worse than cheat on me—he’d wanted me to be publicly humiliated.
“Maddox threw his career away for his own purposes. He’s still friends with Mitch.” A name I never thought Olivia would utter. Mitch was her ex-fiancé—caught with more than his pants down on what should have been their wedding day. And the reason my nickname of Lena became too close to Olivia’s ex-bridesmaid, Lina, to utter.
“What did Mitch say, and how do you know?”