Some Like It Sizzling(2)

After another fifteen minutes had passed and Hal still hadn’t shown, Ashton hobbled to her feet. “I’m going to see if I can get ahold of Ty and check in with Chloe and Griffin. The cell service is terrible in the building, so they’re making calls in the vestibule.”

Jenna could only nod as Ashton waddled out of the room. Tears clogged her throat, but she didn’t want any to escape. Crying didn’t solve problems, so it was pointless. It also didn’t make you feel better, only made you look weak and vulnerable. So she held on to those tears with everything she had, which gave her something to concentrate on rather than the three strongest probabilities of the day.

Hal had gotten cold feet.

Hal had been in an accident and was lying unconscious, unable to contact her.

Hal was dead.

“Angel?”

Jenna jumped at the sound of her father’s voice. Ben Rawley stood in the doorway, worry etched on his face. She forced a smile as she watched him tug on his tuxedo jacket. He was far more comfortable on a construction site than in a ballroom, and Jenna couldn’t ever remember seeing him in a tuxedo before. Even at her brothers’ weddings, he’d just worn a suit. But he’d put on a tuxedo today, because he was the kind of father who’d do anything his only daughter asked.

“Should I”—he hesitated before continuing—“make some sort of announcement?”

“What kind of announcement?”

Her father smiled sadly. “Angel, the wedding was supposed to start nearly an hour and a half ago.” He held out his arms to comfort her, but she stepped back, conscious of wrinkling her dress.

“We don’t know what happened yet,” she said, folding her arms across her chest.

He sighed and nodded slowly. “Okay, we’ll wait.” He gestured toward the hallway. “Your brothers would like to see you. Can they come in?”

“No,” Jenna said sharply. Even though she loved her four older brothers, she knew what they would say. Some macho bullshit about how they’d find Hal and beat the crap out of him. She didn’t want to hear it, not when there was a chance he could still show up. “Please, Dad. I just want to be alo…”

Her voice trailed off as Ashton and Chloe returned to the room, the same grim expression on both their faces.

Jenna backed away, a hand over her racing heart. “Oh my God. Hal’s dead, isn’t he? What happened? Did he get hit by a car, walk in on a robbery? What?” Hysteria raised her voice at least an octave.

Her father reached her side, putting his arms around her, but she remained rigidly straight, unable to lean on him.

Chloe cleared her throat. “Griffin and I called every hospital in the city, and no one matching Hal’s description has been admitted.”

A wave of relief washed over her. “Thank God. Then why do you look like you’re about to tell me the world is going to end?”

Chloe looked at Ashton, who continued. “Ty called from your apartment. Jenna, Hal’s things are gone.”

Jenna blinked several times. “What?”

“His clothes, his laptop, even his toothbrush. All gone.”

Gone. Gone.

The word bounced around Jenna’s brain, and she grasped for the meaning. “Hal’s gone.” It wasn’t a question.

Tears filled Ashton’s eyes. “Yes. I’m so sorry, sweetie. He’s not coming.”

The bones in Jenna’s legs instantly melted, and she crumbled into a heap of silk on the ground. As multiple arms reached to comfort her, she could only think one thing.

My dress is ruined.

…

I need to get out of here. Jenna frantically fanned herself as she paced the bridal suite. Despite the cool, damp day, her body was overheated, and she couldn’t seem to get enough air in her lungs. Ashton, Chloe, and her father had gone to make the announcement that the wedding was off, and Jenna was stuck in the room until the crowd of people left. As anxious as she was to leave, the only way to the front door was down the stairs and through part of the main chapel. She was humiliated enough; she didn’t need to add a walk of shame.

But the longer she waited, the more desperate and agitated she became. Stepping to the window, she threw it open and sucked in the cool air, not caring that rain pelted her. When she finally heard the door open, her knees wobbled and she grabbed hold of the windowsill for support. Her momentary relief evaporated when she turned to see the frowns on Chloe’s and Ashton’s faces.

“Are there still guests down there?” Jenna asked.

“They’re standing around talking,” Chloe told her.

Jenna clamped her eyes shut as the pain, which had been centered in her chest, made its way to her skull. “About me, what I did to drive Hal away.” She wrung her hands together. “Please, I need to leave, one way or another.”