Page 83 of Lock 'em Down

Would I feel this way if I had told Leif about Levi’s emails?

I pull myself together enough to fix my hair and makeup for the wedding. I dress in a silk, floor-length, cerulean blue dress. I bought it because it reminded me of the color of Leif’s eyes.

Right now, even that realization unnerves me.

Am I trying too hard in our marriage? Is he?

I didn’t think so but…what the hell do I know? I’ve never done this before. I’ve never done anything remotely close to this.

I slide on my strappy sandals and clasp my clutch. I’m relieved the house is still empty so I can head over to the main cottage where the ceremony and reception are being held without anyone intercepting me.

When I arrive, I gasp. The cottage is beautiful. It’s decorated in the most gorgeous flowers I’ve ever seen. The back wall isn’t a wall at all but an open space that leads to the lake. Chairs are already set up, an aisle made down the center. People mill about, sipping on flutes of champagne. I spot a few familiar faces, including Coach Strauss. A string quartet plays off to the side. It’s almost like stepping back in time—a simpler, more peaceful era.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” a woman next to me asks.

“Gorgeous,” I agree. “I’ve never been here before.”

“It’s a pretty town,” she says.

“Yes. I’m Cami.” I hold out my hand.

She shakes it. “Melissa. Are you bride or groom?”

“Um. Groom,” I say since Leif is one of Chris’s groomsmen. “You?”

“Bride.” She smiles. She’s beautiful. With dark brown eyes, long black hair, and a perfect smile, she could be on the cover of a magazine. She wrinkles her nose and on her, even that looks cute. “Although the groom is a friend too. I used to date one of his groomsmen.” She laughs, as if that time in her life was memorable. Enjoyable.

“Really? Who?” I ask, certain she’s going to say Ray.

She bites the corner of her lip as her eyes focus on the dock.

I follow her line of sight and feel my heart leap into my throat.

The groom and groomsmen have taken their places. Chris looks happy and Leif looks…gorgeous. Sexy. Perfect.

It hits me like a punch to the throat.

I’m in love with my husband and he’s trying to convince himself to love me back. Otherwise, there’s no way he would have stayed with me after I confessed to him about Levi. No man would. In fact, that’s probably why he was distant. Why when I tried to talk to him about the space between us, he changed the subject. Part of him pulled away and added distance while the other part is trying to do the right thing.

The committed, dependable, upstanding man thing.

“Leif Bang,” the woman beside me breathes.

Shut the fuck up. I inhale sharply, glancing at her. But her gaze is still trained on my husband. My fingers curl into the silk at my sides.

Are you for real today, universe? I look up at the sky. Because this is getting a little fucking ridiculous.

I look at Leif and rock back on my heels when I note he’s staring right at me. His gaze shifts to my left and then back again, concern crossing his features.

Son of a bitch.

He dated—dated!—the smoke show standing next to me, looking at him like he’s her next snack.

I’m not good at relationships. That’s what he told me. I wrongly assumed he’d never had one—but did he have one with her?

“There you are!” Piper says, appearing on my left. “Feel better?”

“Much,” I croak, feeling like I want to die.

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