Page 63 of The Forever Game

Crossing her arms, she swallows and pulls her shoulders back, like she’s preparing herself for some kind of verbal attack.

But all I can do is shake my head and murmur, “I can’t keep going like this.”

Her eyes dart to mine, her face the picture of devastation. I don’t know why those words popped out of me, but they’re true. I can’t. I can’t keep fighting with her over this fucking job. I can’t keep watching her walk away from me.

So, for once, I turn my back and walk away from her first.

Running to catch up with Asher’s car, I jump in the back seat.

“Where’s Mikayla?” Lani asks.

“She’s not coming. She has to work,” I mutter, clenching my jaw as she exchanges a worried frown with Asher.

Thankfully, they don’t say anything, and we drive to the reception in icy silence.

Fuck. I hate this so much.

The look on Mikayla’s face just before I walked away is killing me, but when I turn to see if she’s still standing by the hospital, she’s not. She’s gone. She will have jumped in her car and be heading back down to Denver by now.

Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!

Have I just lost my wife?

I think I might throw up and grit my teeth, having to concentrate hard around each corner as Asher heads to the reception.

The glade we decorated yesterday is now shimmering with lights, and wedding guests are milling around. We arrive in time to hear the cheer going up as Baxter and Tammy walk hand in hand into the forest area.

Tammy’s gushing about how amazing everything looks, hugging Baxter and jumping in excitement.

“This is perfect!”

“Boo, you are a queen.” Asher wraps his arm around Lani’s waist and pulls her close. “You made this happen for them, and I’m so fucking proud of you.”

She grins. “Thanks, baby.” Holding his face with her thumb and forefinger, she pulls him in for a kiss, and I step around them before I seriously do start hurling chunks.

Everyone’s asking how Caroline and the baby are. I listen to my friends give reports, then try to smile at people’s delighted laughter over the fact that Tammy and Baxter got married in the waiting room.

People don’t seem to mind that they missed it and are making the most of celebrating now.

But I can’t fucking celebrate.

Mick should be here.

She shouldn’t have chosen work over this.

She—

“Where’s Mikayla?” Rachel stands in front of me.

I glance up from the picnic table I’m perched on, letting out a derisive snort. “Where do you think?”

Her eyebrows dip, and she smooths her bridesmaid’s dress under her legs, taking a seat beside me. “What happened?”

“She got a call saying she had to be… I don’t even know where the fuck she is, but she’s gone there so she doesn’t lose her shitty job. Some contract bullshit, and this guy called Axel or something is insisting she be there or the sponsorship deal with fall through. I don’t know all the details.” I huff, working my jaw to the side and wondering why Rachel is suddenly glaring at me.

Fuck, she looks like she wants to slap me right now.

“What?”

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