Page 69 of Love Finds Home

“If you must.”

“Why do you want to marry me?”

He rolls his eyes, like I’m stupid. “Well, I guess because you look so good on paper. You come from a great family that has lots of money. They are well respected in the community. Your dad alone has contacts I just can’t get to on my own. It’s a bonus you’re a pretty good lay, even if I can’t stand to do it with the lights on.”

“Why do you do that? Is my family really worth attaching yourself to me?”

“Look, let’s face it. I’m all you’re ever going to get, Virginia,” he sneers. “No one else will look at you twice with your face and your fat and your failure as a woman to even be able to provide an heir. The fact I’m letting you be with me should win you over. Now let’s go before we’re late, and I expect to have a date when we get back to town.”

We make it to the door before he turns to face me, grabbing my chin in his fingers and forcing me to look at him. “And if the clown boy talks to you today without me at your side, you’ll regret it.”

Joker. He’s talking about Joker, who he hates the most. I’ve tried to ask him why he hates them all so much, and the answer he gave me was absurd. He said it was because ‘people shouldn’t like other people as much as you people do. It’s unhealthy to have that many people close to you. And when we get married, I’ll be the one person you’re close to and those people will become acquaintances only. People from your past, because I’m the only future you need.’ I mean, how do you respond to that? One of thosepeopleis my brother!

“I’m begging you not to make a scene today,” I finally say when we’re in the car. “For me. If you have any affection in your heart for me, please don’t make a scene.”

“Then don’t be a bitch,” he replies. “Don’t be stupid like you usually are. I’d really love it if you didn’t drink, because you become sloppy when you do. You think you can get away with things when there’s alcohol involved. You need something to make you feel less? I can find you something. Me.”

“Why are you here? Why did you come if you’re so fucking miserable?”

“Oh, going to grow a spine today, Ms. Thang? I’m here because it’s a family event and I’ll be your family soon. And there were some good contacts last night until your friends fucked it up. Imagine that.”

“Contacts for what? You’re a vice principal at a high school in a nowhere town in the middle of the mountains!”

“That doesn’t mean that’s all I’ll ever be!” he roars. “I have plans. And you can either get on board and let me do what I have to do or get out of my way. But you know as well as I do that you won’t find anyone else to put up with your…everything. You’re too much trouble and no one is ever going to love you.”

“When did you become so mean?”

He looks at me, gripping my thigh over the console, the contrite look in his eyes burning with sincerity. “I’m sorry, baby.Really. Weddings just make me jittery, and I’m so eager for ours. I didn’t mean it. Really.” He leans over and kisses my cheek. “You just hurt my feelings when you said you didn’t want to marry me today and I lashed out. I won’t do it again, promise.”

It’s like going through a fucking tornado with this man. One minute he hates me and treats me like shit and the next, he’s this guy. But he’s right, isn’t he? I am broken. And what man wants a woman who’s broken?

“What’s wrong?” Elle asks the minute she sees me at the ceremony location on the beach.

Keith squeezes my hand and I can feel his eyes bore into the side of my face. I wish he’d go find his seat and give me a minute to breathe.

“Nothing. Just nerves. It’s a big day for so many people!” I smile big, but Elle shoots a glance in Keith’s direction and nods her head.

“It is. I’m so sorry about last night,” she says to the both of us, “things got a little crazy.”

“Obviously.” Keith rolls his eyes. “There’s always drama when this group gets together.”

I nudge him with my elbow, and he squeezes my arm back. “Honey,” I smile at him, “why don’t you go sit with Dad? I’m sure Mom’s going nuts flitting around with last-minute things, and he’s all alone. I’m sure he’d love the company.”

“Huh. First bright idea you’ve had today, Virginia. See ya.”

I hear Elle sigh when he leaves us, and I turn to her. The look on her face is pained. Like she has something to say, but doesn’t want to say it. I’ve seen the look before on Trish and Lottie. I know what it means.

“Not today. Do not make today about me and my problems. They’re mine, and I’m dealing with them.”

“Fine,” she agrees, but her face says something completely different. “But we aren’t done with this.”

“Never thought we would be as much as I’d like to.”

“Aren’t we a pair?” she laughs, linking her arm with mine. “You’re withthatand I’ve got some crazy stalker determined to make me crazy.”

“And a former Army Ranger who all but declared you his last night in front of everyone.”

“No, he didn’t,” she shakes her head sadly. “The opposite, in fact.”

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