2. Chapter 2

A thousand tiny daggers stab into my retinas the moment I wake up.

"Noo," I groan, closing my eyes and face-planting onto a hard surface. "Ow."

"Fuck," the surface mutters. "Why are you shouting?"

"Why are you?" I hiss, pushing myself upright and blinking a few times.

Slowly, my vision comes into focus. Dark sheets. A broad, hairy chest. A room that is most definitely not my own.

"Where am I?" I ask, trying to think past the pounding in my head.

"My place."

"And who the fuck—" Oh. "Teddy?"

The man snorts, rubbing his face. My eyes drag down his bare chest before I grab the sheet at his hips and tug, revealing…jeans. I frown.

"Did we fuck?" I ask, trying to piece my memories together. I remember being at the club. Drinking a lot. I remember Teddy, his hands on my body as we danced. I remember feeling really happy. But past that, it's all a blur.

"No, we didn't fuck," Teddy says, sitting up.

"Are you sure?" I ask, checking myself over and then looking around. I'm in briefs, and the rest of my clothes are on a chair in the corner of the room.

Teddy makes a sound that could be incredulity. "I don't fuck drunk men, Kipp. Not even you."

Not even me?What does that mean?

"Okay, but you were wasted, too," I point out. "So you might not remember. And fuck. Why is my voice so goddamn loud?"

Teddy huffs a laugh, running his hands through his hair. Christ, the man has nice arms. "You'd know if we fucked," he says simply.

My eyes skitter down to his crotch again. And yeah, I guess he has a point. The man is definitely packing, and considering my ass isn't remotely sore…

"I need water," I groan, rolling off the bed and nearly falling on my face.

"Bathroom is right through there," Teddy says, pointing to his en suite.

"Thanks," I mutter, walking that way on shaky legs. I close the door behind me and grab the counter, breathing for a second before turning on the tap. After ducking my head and drinking a few mouthfuls of water, I splash my face, hoping the wash of cold will bring some clarity. When something hard drags across my cheek, I pull my hand away. "What the…"

Oh, no. Oh, no, no, no.

"Teddy?" I call a little weakly.

His voice comes muffled through the door. "Yeah?"

"Do, uh… Do you actually remember last night?"

Teddy has his head cocked when I open the bathroom door. "Not much," he answers.

"Yeah," I say, swallowing. "I was afraid of that. Um, can I see your hand?"

His brow furrows, but he holds up his hands, palms facing me. A gold band glints on his left ring finger, something Teddy notices immediately. His right hand falls lax at his side as he stares at his left, his face turning uncharacteristically blank.

"So, uh," I say, huffing a slightly hysterical laugh as I hold up my own hand, gold ring included. I wiggle my fingers. "I guess congratulations are in order."

Teddy blinks.

"Yaaay?" I cheer meekly.

He opens his mouth, but a vibration cuts off whatever he was going to say. I head for my phone, grabbing it off my pile of clothes and cursing when I see the barrage of notifications onscreen. The call from Alex goes to voicemail. There are a few other missed calls, too, including one from…my brother?

I frown, and the screen lights with Alex's name again. This time, I answer.

"Hey," I say, going for casual.

"Hey?" he asks, voice high. "I've been calling you and Teddy all night. What the hell happened, sweets? Jason said he saw you two heading into a chapel, but no one could find either of you. Don't tell me what I think happened happened?"

"Um." I rub my neck, my ring catching on my skin again. I look at it, noticing Teddy doing the same to his. "I suppose I could lie."

"Oh my God," Alex hisses. "You two got married?"

Teddy's head lifts at that. I'm guessing he could hear Alex's ungodly screech.

"Alex, look," I say, my gut falling as Teddy gets up, tugging a shirt on over his head. He looks upset. "I'll have to call you back." Alex sputters something, but I end the call, dropping my phone on the chair. "Teddy?"

He turns to me, expression dimmed. It's not what I'm used to seeing on the man. He usually has a smile on his face, but not right now.

"I'm sorry," I tell him seriously.

A flicker of confusion flashes in his eyes. "What for?"

"For dragging you into this. If we are married, it's my fault. You were just trying to keep me safe last night."

He shakes his head. "It's not your fault, Kipp."

"Do you remember what happened?"

"Well, no," he admits.

"Then it's likely my fault," I say, grabbing my pants and tugging them on. "If you haven't noticed, I'm a bit of a mess."

I'm also nearly thirty years old. Shouldn't I have my life figured out by now?

"Kipp," Teddy says gently.

This time, it's me shaking my head. "Don't defend me," I say, grabbing my shirt. "I went overboard last night, and I dragged you down with me."

I startle somewhat when warm fingers touch my chin. My gaze snaps up to Teddy, who looks a lot less surly than he did a minute ago.

"It took both of us to get married," he says. "If it's your fault, then it's mine, too. We'll figure it out, okay? I'm sure we can get the whole thing annulled. It'll be like it never happened."

"Yeah, okay," I mutter, not sure, for some reason, if that makes me feel better or worse.

Teddy gives my chin a squeeze before letting go. "I need to use the bathroom."

I nod as Teddy retreats into the en suite, and then I pick up my phone. "Who even lets people get married when they're that drunk?" I say loudly. "I mean, I was wearing a dick crown, for Christ's sake. That should have been a dead giveaway. Oh, hey, where is that thing? Hopefully, I didn't lose…"

My voice sputters out when I open my Instagram. There are two new pictures posted on my account from early this morning. In one, Teddy and I are practically falling over each other, my arm around his neck and his lips pressed to my blush-red—or maybe booze-red—cheek. We're standing in front of a chapel. I labeled it, simply, "Hubs." The next is a close-up of our joined hands, gold bands clearly visible. Below the picture is "We did it!"

"Fuuuck," I groan. Suddenly, my brother's phone call makes a lot more sense.

"What's wrong?" Teddy asks, emerging from the bathroom.

I swing my phone screen his way. "I don't think we can pretend it never happened."

I leave Teddy's apartment in a funk. I don't bother responding to my missed calls or messages. I simply grab a rideshare home and silently berate myself for being so utterly reckless. Twenty-nine and gearing up for my first divorce. Annulment. Whatever.

"I need to send him a gift basket for putting up with this crap," I mutter.

"Pardon?" my driver asks.

"Oh." I huff a humorless laugh. "My husband. He deserves the biggest apology basket ever. Which one do you think says ‘I'm sorry we got drunk and made major life decisions together'—muffins or fruit?"

The guy mumbles something I can't make out, and I slump in my seat, keeping my mouth shut for the rest of the drive. He drops me off in front of my building, and I head inside, eyes catching on my ring again as I stand at my door. My stomach rolls with something not entirely unpleasant, but I shake it off and turn the knob.

My roommate pounces before I've taken two steps. "Holy shit, did you seriously get married?"

I give Brodie a rueful smile. "Signs point to yes."

Although, technically, we've yet to find paperwork confirming it. But the rings and pictures are pretty damning.

"I didn't even know you were serious about someone," Brodie says, following me into the kitchen as I fill up a glass with water and chug it down. I'm fucking thirsty. "If I'd known, I would have talked to you sooner, but this is actually pretty great."

"Wait, what?" I ask, setting down my empty glass.

Brodie holds his hands together, giving me a big, pleading smile that has me more than a little concerned. "Well, Xavier and I have been getting serious, too."

"Yeah?"

My roommate and I aren't exactly close, even though we've lived together for over a year. We get along fine, but Brodie works the graveyard shift, whereas I have a typical nine-to-five office job. We rarely ever see each other, and the times we do, it's usually in passing. Frankly, I don't even know who Xavier is.

"Uh-huh," Brodie says. "And I was trying to figure out a way to ask if we could have the apartment. But now, I don't have to, right? What's your husband's name again?"

"Oh, uh, Teddy."

"Right," he says. "Well, I assume you're moving in with Teddy? Honestly, the timing is perfect. Win-win all around." He grins as my gut does a nosedive.

"The thing is…"

"Oh, and congratulations!" he practically shouts, coming in and wrapping his slender arms around my shoulders. He bounces a little, bringing me along for the ride. "I'm so happy for you."

I cough, my wince going unnoticed. "Thanks."

"This is so great. We're all going to be so happy," Brodie says.

"Yeah," I mumble. So happy.

I leave my apartment in a daze, a duffle bag over my shoulder. I feel a bit like a zombie as I walk down the sidewalktoward my car. Maybe I'm sleepwalking, and this is all just a dream.

When my phone vibrates, I stop and pull it free.

"Yeah?"

"Bro. Why didn't you tell anyone at the office you were getting married?" Jacob asks. "You know we would've all come to your wedding."

Fuck. My coworker must have seen the pictures, too. Has everyone?

"It was kind of a spur-of-the-moment thing," I say a little numbly.

"Well, congratulations. Pretty sure Carly is already planning a party, so get ready. Will I see you at work on Monday, or are you going on your honeymoon?"

"Um, I'll be at work," I mutter, rubbing my face.

"All right. See ya, man."

Jacob hangs up, and I look down at my phone. A text comes through from my brother, his simple message more ominous than the words warrant.

Vaughn: Mom and Dad aren't happy.

Shit. Motherfucking—

"Excuse me," someone says, walking around me on the sidewalk. I mutter an apology and head toward the parking garage.

Once inside my car, I slump forward, my head hitting the steering wheel with a thunk. I let myself wallow for a good long minute before dialing the one person who never fails to have my back.

"Kipp?"

"I fucked up, Nik."

Niko says something quietly, probably to Dixon, before addressing me. "I was about to call. I'm guessing this has to do with those pictures you posted?"

"Yeah," I say, throat clicking when I swallow.

"Did you two really get married?"

There's no judgment in my friend's tone, and that simple fact has my eyes pricking.

"Think so," I whisper.

He hums, a thoughtful sound. "Have you been fucking?"

Again, zero judgment.

"No," I say around a pained huff. "We barely talked before yesterday."

Sure, I've seen Teddy at Elite 8 events or at the club, Sublime, where the cast and crew hang out on Friday nights. Not the same club we were in yesterday for Cas and Jason's party. But we've crossed paths numerous times before. Yet we've never had so much as a full conversation prior to last night.

I don't know what changed.

"What are you going to do?" Niko asks.

"I don't know. Get an annulment, probably." I rub at the ache in my chest. "Tell me it's going to be okay, bro-friend."

Niko huffs a small laugh. "It will be. Teddy's a good guy. He'll help you get out of this."

"Yeah," I mumble. That should be a good thing, right? "Um… I might be out an apartment, too."

"What?" Niko asks, more alarmed this time.

I explain what happened with Brodie, to Niko's apparent frustration.

"Kipp," he groans. "Why didn't you speak up?"

I flounder. I might, possibly, maybe, have a little bit of a chronic people-pleaser problem. My response is a murmured, "I didn't know what to say."

Niko sighs, but it's not an unkind sound. "Come stay here."

"No," I say immediately. "I'm not going to crash with you and Dixon. I already have a plan."

"You do?" he asks.

"Yeah, I do. I'll be fine." Hopefully.

"Okay, but come here if your plans fall through," Niko says. "You're always welcome."

"Thanks, Nik," I say quietly.

"Always. Call me later?"

I agree, and, after hanging up, I blow out a long, long breath. Then I start my car.

Thirty minutes later, I'm walking back through the lobby of Teddy's apartment building, my hands overfull. The doorman lets me through, presumably having remembered me from this morning. Or earlier this morning. Juggling the items in my possession, I head up to the third floor and find the door I walked through only a few hours ago. Duffle heavy on my back, heart weighted with something I don't quite have a name for, I knock.

Teddy opens the door, his eyebrows nearly hitting his hairline. "Kipp?"

"Heyyy."

"What are you doing here?" he asks, expression shifting to concern as his gaze rakes over me. "And…why do you have so many muffins?"

I let the baskets in my hands fall to my sides. "I have a teeny tiny favor to ask."