Hitched & Hitched Again: A Comedy of Marital Mayhem

09:45

Chapter 76

She was telling him that she would stake her life on every word she said, claiming responsibility with the utmost sincerity.

Could it be that he had misunderstood her all along?

But how could he explain away the accusations of bullying a young lady? Who else had he bullied, if not her?

Tarquin’s expression darkened as he contemplated. He hadn’t mistreated her. He had his reasons for detaining her, and he conducted himself with integrity.

“What’s on your mind now?” Keaton nudged him.

Tarquin snapped out of his reverie, took a hard drag on his cigarette, and fell silent.

“Keaton, where did you and Tarquin run off to? Come on back, everyone’s here. We’re just waiting on you two,” Booker called out to summon them.

“Okay,” Keaton replied, “we’ll be there in a sec.”

said, “Let’s go. Stop overthinking for now. The birthday boy is

out his cigarette in the ashtray, and followed Keaton to the private room.

to that girl. If you plan on doing anything to her in the future, you’d better be discreet, or my sister will make a scene. She won’t confront you directly, but she’ll take it

all the guts you have, huh?”

easy for you to say. You don’t have a sister. You have no idea how devastating an older sister can be to her little brother!”

eyes and continued back

greeted them cheerfully, “The prodigal sons return! Now that we’re all here, as today’s birthday guy, let me just say thanks for coming out to celebrate with me.

have a toast.”

raised their glasses to honor Booker’s

up. He simply clinked his glass on the table and

others, taken aback, followed suit. What was supposed to be a sip turned

downing of glasses.

with Booker. It’s his birthday, and you guys should be getting him hammered and throwing him into the arms of a

Keaton’s intent to shield Tarquin from more drinks and noting his sour mood, turned their attention to Booker

Booker’s bachelorhood ended that night, accompanied by raucous