Without a Hitch(97)

That rhymes.” A hiccup hits and hurts my chest.

“Take it anyway. At least until you can have something made on your own. Just in case.” She grins like she knows something I don’t. It makes me frown, and with a massive hangover looming, my head aches at the slightest movement.

“Fine.”

She shoves it into my hand, and I slip it into the pocket of my baby trackies.

Because yes, I’m still wearing them. Turns out, Tilly was right to buy them in multiple colors. I’m also wearing another T-shirt. This one says Calm AF, and it makes me chuckle. Only Tilly would put me in such things and teach me to enjoy it.

The ring box spins one more time and lands at an angle, begging me to open the royal blue velvet box. When I do, I can’t take my eyes off the way the ring sparkles and shines. In the center is a large, princess-cut diamond surrounded by a thin ring of pavé diamonds, almost like they’re holding up the center stone out of sheer will. Just like Tilly. The pavé diamonds continue around the slim band. As the light hits it, rainbows shoot off in every direction like beautiful sparkling fairies. It’s magical.

Tilly is fucking magical.

“JESUS. What the hell are you wearing?” Colton claps me on the back as he pulls me in for a hug.

Before I know what’s happening, I get passed around to a bunch of his clones. The only one that gives me any breathing room is his younger brother, Ashton.

“Baby trackies.” Glancing around the room, I notice the house is surprisingly homey for my charismatic friend. There are a ton of people I don’t recognize, but no sign of my Tilly. Turning back to Colton, I stretch out a pain in my side. I’m probably bruised in more than one place from my fall in the bathroom.

“Please tell me you brought a suit, or I might have to kill you.” I hold up a garment bag, and Colton takes it from me. “Today has to be perfect, Loch. Everything.” I’m craning my neck to see around him when he finally faces me fully. “Are you hungover?”

“Soon on my way to being, yes. Technically, I’m probably still buzzed.”

“You look like shit.”

“Stop worrying about me. It’s your big day, right?”

Colton takes me by the arm and leads me into an unoccupied corner. “Are you okay?”

“Truthfully?”

Concern crinkles his eyes. Colton Westbrook isn’t known as a serious guy, but I think he would probably walk through fire for me right now. “Always. You know that. What’s up?” He crosses his big arms over his even bigger chest and gives me his full attention.

“I haven’t slept in three days. I’ve consumed my body weight in beer and chewy candy, but I’m here. For you. I’m not okay. But I will be. I fucked up, and I’m going to fix it. I’m out as soon as the ceremony is over though. I have to make something right.”

“You’ve got it bad. Who’s the girl?”

Just then, I catch sight of Tilly. She enters without noticing me and heads straight for a door at the end of the hall. When the door opens, she holds up a box I know well, and I forget how to breathe.

Clearblue. A pregnancy test just like the one Christine used.

My brain attempts the calculations. When the fuck was Tyler’s wedding? Two months ago? More?

What about Audra’s? I can’t focus. My vision narrows, and I sway on my feet.

“Loch? Oh, shit. Are you going to pass out? Come on, dude! I fought with my brothers over making you the best man. Don’t let me down now!”

“I—I…” I can’t swallow. I can’t move. With unblinking eyes, I turn back to Colton. Was this all a trap? Is she like Christine after all?

“Lochlan,” Colton’s harsh voice causes everyone in the room to turn, including Tilly, who goes ashen.

“I won’t let you down,” I force out. “I just need a few minutes. I’ll be ready in time. I promise.”

He searches my eyes and finally nods. Glancing around, he catches Tilly staring at us. “Oh, Tilly.

Good. You’re here. Can you take Lochlan to the lodge so he can change and get something to eat?”

She’s shaking her head no, panic clearly visible as she shoves the now concealed package into the hand reaching through the doorway, but Colton doesn’t see her. No one appears to see her.

“Thanks, Till.” Colton bumps my shoulder. “Thanks for being here, man. I appreciate it.”

I’m left gaping at Tilly, whose entire body shakes as she steps closer. We don’t speak as I pick up my suit and follow her out the door. My mind is whirling with activity it can’t comprehend.

She leads me down a dirt path, and the lack of sleep must be catching up to me because as she floats through the tall trees with birds chirping overhead, she looks like fucking Snow White.

When we reach a clearing, I can’t hold it in anymore. “Is it mine?”

She stops but doesn’t turn around to face me. In the span of three seconds, my entire world shifts.

I’m transported back to the day Christine told me she was pregnant. The fear. The apprehension I felt.

The pure joy. But standing here, staring at the back of Tilly’s head, I realize the only joy I felt was for a child that didn’t even exist. All the negative feelings associated with that fake pregnancy were because of Christine.