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Prologue

Trip

"Scotch on the rocks," I told the bartender before turning back to the party Doing a quick sweep of the roo, streamers, paper bells and bird-shaped shit The confetti and chalasses were strewn across every surface It looked like cupid had walked in and puked on the place The lovey-dovey shit was for the birds

My eyes fell on Mace and Scarlett holding each other on the dance floor Scarlett looking up at Mace like he’d hung the stars and ift made just for him The way they ith each other et , I was happy for them There weren’t two people I kneho deserved to be as happy as those tere, but the thought of being with one person for the rest of my lifeback to the bar, I picked up ood bit of booze to get ht, to deal with all the sweet-cutesy crap

I scanned the roo quietly on her own in a corner, sed couple As somber as she looked, she was still a knock out, and she still wasn’t speaking to ht of stupid, drunken decisions and I’d royally screwed up years of carefully constructed friendship

I was an asshole, but I’d warned her I was In all fairness, I’d been upfront about e of a liquor-fueled situation Still, I felt like I’d screwed shit up Teen looked at one was her usual happy-go-lucky sweet smile

Mace and Scar broke away from their lip lock as Teeny stood up and made her way in my direction toward the bar My eyes instantly dropped to her swelling cleavage and rounded hips I’d never wanted to bang a chickOn one hand, I figured it was because she was in my life so much I mean, of course, I would want more; she ithout a doubt the best lay I’d had, not to irl On the other hand, perhaps I was just turning into a pussy

Mace’s voice behind ht or do so about it?" he asked as he clapped me on the shoulder, leaned over the bar and ordered a beer

My eyes still trained to Teeny’s short green dress The shoes she earingmy shoulders was the only answer I had for Mace I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do about the whole cockeyed situation

"You look really happy You’re one damn lucky bastard that woman said yes to your stupid ass," I told hih I still don’t understand why you’d wanna be all wifed-up"

"Happy doesn’t even scratch the surface; Scar’s everything I’ll ever need You’ll get it one day, little brother" His face went fro about Scar to a small smile "Probably the day you can put your dick away for five minutes and look at what’s in front of you," he answered looking toward an approaching Teeny

"Don’t you fuckin’ start too; you sound like Ma Teeny can’t stand me Besides, I like my dick outta my pants; it finds all kinds of fun shit to do"

"Who said I was talking about Teeny?" Mace s and took a step off to the side leaning against the bar facing the party No doubt looking for Scar-- those tere practically attached at the hip

I ordered another scotch and a vodka tonic, and pushed it in front of Teen as she stepped up to the bar She looked down at it and sniffed A look of disgust crossed her pretty face as she pushed the glass aside "Can I have a ginger ale please?" she asked the bartender

Sick of her testy attitude, I called her on it "What the fuck did I do to you?"

She turned toward h!"

"Oh, Princess, I haven’t even started on what I want to do to you," I told her, the honest answer leaving my mouth before my brain could filter it Her face crumpled and she turned and raced toward the restrooonna find out what her problem ith me if it killed me I downed the last of my drink and pushed off from the bar "Hold up, bud, I’ll ith you Scar’s takin’ too long"

With a nod, we both rabby aunties as ent

Theay, I came to an abrupt halt A er, protectiveness and soht

Scar’s voice drifted to ood for the baby, sweetie You need to tell him"

Teeny stood there, her back to us, Scarlett holding the tops of her araze, her eyes flicked around and a whispered, "Oh shit!" escaped her lips

Teeny spun around with an audible gasp, tears aze

WHAT THE FUCK!

I hesitated to move closer; annoyed she hadn’t felt like she could tellanyone but the dude who knocked her up; I’d already decide that he’d better step up and help her, or I’d beat the crap outta hi in so somebody else’s hands on her body, those lips around somebody else’s--I shook ht

I took a few big strides putting myself in front of her small frame and asked, "Whose is it?"