Page 9 of Sweet Bred

Because if I have to accept that Juliet isn’t the woman I’ve been waiting my whole life for, then what does that mean?

Is this the universe telling me that I’m destined to be alone?

Fuck, that thought stings. Badly. I know I’ve lived plenty of life so far as a single man, but to think of passing the rest of my years without a companion by my side is a possibility I don’t want to consider.

Maybe it’s just not meant to be with her. There could be someone else.

But if that’s the case, then why do I feel the way I do? Why do I keep picturing Juliet as my wife, her belly big and round with our child?

None of this makes any sense. And I’m not going to figure it out right now.

“Can we change the subject?” I say. “Talk about something, anything, else?”

Reid considers my request. “Only if you promise us you aren’t going to do anything about these feelings of yours, Shaw. I don’t want you calling me up a few days from now and telling me you kissed her.”

It sounds so ridiculous, him saying that. In what world would I kiss an engaged woman?

“I promise there will be no admissions of kissing.”

“I smell a loophole,” Jake mumbles.

“I’m not going to kiss her,” I say forcefully. “Jesus. Satisfied?”

“That’s better,” Jake says, then frowns and dips his head closer to Ari to sniff her. “Okay, now I smell something else. Reid, you can have your kid back.”

Reid laughs as he stands up and lifts his daughter out of our brother’s arms. “C’mere, you little stinker.”

4

JULIET

I’m wearing the most beautiful dress I’ve ever worn in my life. Layers of cloud-like chiffon and smooth silk are kissing my curves, and a frothy veil spills over my shoulders. I should feel like a princess right now—or, at the very least, I should feel like a bride.

But all I feel is a huge knot in my stomach.

“Oh, Juliet,” says my mom, pressing a hand to her chest as she watches me walk out of the dressing room. “I know I’ve seen you in this dress before, but with the alterations, it’s even more stunning. What a lovely silhouette for your figure.”

I smile. “Thanks, Mom. It really is a gorgeous dress.”

She tilts her head questioningly. “Is something wrong with it? You don’t look as happy as I thought you would.”

“Nothing’s wrong with the dress. It’s perfect.”

“What is it, then?”

Despite myself, I feel my eyes well with tears. Damn it. I really, really don’t want to have a breakdown in the middle of this bridal shop. “Can I get changed back into my clothes first, and then we’ll talk?”

Ten minutes later, my mom and I are sitting at a coffee shop down the block. I haven’t touched the latte sitting in front of me, nor the scone my mom bought for us to share.

“Tell me what’s going on, honey,” my mom says, frowning at me with concern.

My stomach hurts even more than it did in the bridal shop. It feels like if I don’t tell her the truth, it’s going to keep getting worse and worse.

“I don’t think I can marry Eric,” I blurt out.

My mom blinks at me. “What are you talking about?”

“He’s a good guy. He has a lot of great qualities. But I don’t love him.”

---