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.”

turned to Tarquin and said, “Let’s go. Stop overthinking for now.

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

quite a shine 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

all the guts you

say. You don’t have a sister. You have no idea

continued back

we’re all here, as today’s birthday guy, let me just say thanks for coming out to celebrate

have a toast.”

glasses to honor

the table, Tarquin didn’t stand up. He simply clinked his glass on the table and knocked back his drink in

was supposed to be a sip turned into a

downing of glasses.

best of spirits, intercepted, “Why aim for Tarquin? Go toast with Booker. It’s his birthday, and you guys should be getting him hammered and throwing him into the arms of a lovely lady to

intent to shield Tarquin from more drinks and noting his sour mood, turned their attention to Booker instead.

crowd got rowdy, insisting that they would see Booker’s bachelorhood