I gathered all my strength and smiled at him, “Yeah, not a big deal. Totally. Thanks for coming to see me sing tonight.” I grabbed my stuff and then hugged him tightly. I bit my lip to keep my sobs in. Soon I could let them out but not just yet. Not in front of him. “Okay, I gotta go.” I kissed his cheek, probably for the last time, and let him go. I grabbed my guitar and got the hell out of there.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Two days before the wedding I arranged for Kent's bachelor party. I took being the undercover best man very seriously. I planned everything and paid for it all too. I wanted to make it the best since I’d all but raped him a few nights ago. I owed him at least this much.

The limo parked in front of Kent's mom's house and honked to draw him outside. The music, bass heavy rap, was vibrating the limo and the surrounding houses. I was with the other two groomsmen, all of us with our top halves sticking out of the top of the limo, beers in hand.

Kent had no idea. And it showed on his face when he opened the front door and eyeballed the limo. A neighbor came out on her porch to see what the noise was. "Sorry, Mrs. Sharp! I guess it's my bachelor party since I'm getting married in a few days. When they bring me back, I'll make sure the music is down!" Kent called to the neighbor lady as he ran out to the limo and climbed in.

"Wooo!!!! KENT! KENT! KENT!!" We were cheering for him and disappeared into the limo when it started to pull away from the curb.

I grabbed a beer and opened it, holding it out to Kent. "For you, Bachelor!"

Mike, Kent's freshman roommate turned good friend, shared Kent's love of video games and they spent lots of time trying to best each other that first year of college. He sat back and lifted his bottle. "You lucky bastard. Jen is one sexy lady. And a tiger in the bed, I hear. Whew."

Kent blushed as he took the beer and held it up. "Thanks, guys. I had no idea. This was a pleasant surprise."

Mike grinned. "The surprises are just beginning."

I rolled my eyes at Mike. "Don't give it away, dude."

Kent raised his eyebrow and looked around the limo with a smile before he turned the beer up.

I was dressed up for the occasion in a black pencil dress, the skirt ending just above the knee. My hair was curled loosely, a red flower in my hair to match the red piping that accentuated my tiny waist. I sat back after raising my beer with Kent and took a sip, pressing my knees together to keep from flashing everyone.