Page 174 of By His Vow

But it’s now also tainted.

With a sigh, I begin to pack up my things in preparation for leaving.

The crowd is still there. It seems like no one has forgotten the news or had anything else to distract them with.

My stomach knots just thinking about getting through it all.

I haven’t heard from Kingston all day. His silence is confirmation I don’t need that he did all this. That his romantic weekend was a setup and nothing else.

Did he even mean any of it?

I’m blinking back tears once again when a knock sounds on my door.

Attempting to swallow down the emotion bubbling up faster than I can control, I call, “Come in,” and wait to see who wants me.

It’s not him. I already know that. He wouldn’t have knocked. He wouldn’t have given me that courtesy.

“Hey,” a familiar voice says the second the door opens.

“Cory?” I gasp.

He hesitates a little before I urge him to come in.

“So…” he starts, his eyes running up and down the length of me. I’ve no idea what he’s looking for, or if he finds it, but his gaze finally locks on mine.

“So…” I echo, my stomach twisting up. I haven’t really spoken to him since our night out. Things have been too crazy. But now, staring into his eyes. I regret not making the effort.

He’s been a good friend to me. A very good friend.

“You’re marrying Kingston Callahan,” he blurts.

“Fuck, Cory,” I breathe, dragging my hair back from my face.

“I thought all those images circling last week were fake,” he admits. “I couldn’t believe that you, of all people, would fall for him.”

“Cory, that’s not?—”

“You’re wearing his ring, Tatum.”

Hurt flickers in his eyes, making me feel like the worst friend in the world.

“I know. Things have just been crazy since Dad died and?—”

He smiles softly before cutting me off.

“It’s okay, Tate. You don’t need to explain.”

“But—” He crosses the room and wraps me in his arms.

I almost shatter right then and there. Tears burn the backs of my eyes and make my nose itch, but I fight it.

I can’t lose my shit here, I just can’t. There are too many eyes on me.

I need to get home, lock myself away, and then I can deal with everything.

Home…

Do I even have one of those right now?

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