Page 3 of Loose End

I’m rooted to this spot and Poppy is no better, hovering by my side, crushing my fingers in a death grip.

With a string of curses, Mark jumps back, his dick now fully exposed and glistening with wetness from Paul’s mouth. He makes no attempt to tuck himself back into his pants, he just keeps backing up until his body is plastered to the back of the closet.

The man on his knees gets up slowly and turns to face me. My stomach drops and twists in a knot so tight bile creeps up the back of my throat.

“June…” Paul takes a step toward me, but I take one back, pulling Poppy with me.

I need to get away from him. Away from the lies. Away from the man I thought he was and a step closer to the front door.

“June bug, please…”

“No.” I chop the air with a shaky hand, effectively cutting him off. “Don’t you dare try to placate me right now. I know all the lines. It’s not what it looks like. It’s not you, it’s me. We don’t have time for bullshit.” My voice raises several octaves. “We’re supposed to be getting married any minute.” I take a deep breath and Poppy gives my hand a squeeze. “How long has this been going on?”

Paul glances back to Mark who’s all zipped up, but his eyes are still wide and he blanches at my question.

“Two years.” Paul sighs, buttoning his top button and tightening his tie.

I want to be surprised at the situation. I want to yell. I want to throw a fit that would rival that of a three-year-old in the Target toy aisle.

But I can’t.

First, because I’m a lady and all my friends and family are a very short distance away. And two, while this news is certainly shocking, especially on my wedding day, it makes a lot of things click into place. It’s not that Paul isn’t excitable, he’s just not excited by me.

I’m so stupid.

How did I not notice this sooner?

No wonder he was hardly ever in the mood for sex. It would explain all his trips with the boys. And the many times he insisted on going out by himself when his friends got together. He always told me the girlfriends were staying at home and I’d justmake it weird.

Holy cannoli, I dated a man who liked other men for almost four years and had no idea.None.

“I didn’t know how to tell you.” Paul’s voice cracks as he extends a hand toward me before dropping it and letting it fall to his side. “I didn’t know how to tell anyone about this. About me.”

I take another step back, the tulle winding around my ankles, reminding me that I’m supposed to be walking down the aisle and getting married any minute now.

Or at least I was.

Paul glances down at my dress, taking in the giant glittery skirt, the beaded corset and finally the actual crown on my head. “You look beautiful, June bug.” He brushes a hand through the slick strands of his hair before his gaze volleys between Poppy and I. “Can we…can we talk about this later? We have almost four hundred people waiting for us inside.”

A small laugh escapes my lips.

Four hundred people.Four hundred people. Is he really suggesting what I think he is?

Before I can ask him what exactly he thinks I’m going to be doing, Poppy drops my hand, jumping between us. Her hands arefirmly planted on her hips and I don’t need to see her to know she’s staring him down with everything she’s got. “Four hundred people, huh? Well, you know what? That doesn’t sound like it’s June’s problem anymore.”

Paul leans to the side and looks at me over Poppy’s shoulder. “June?”

I haven’t even begun to wrap my head around this whole situation. But Poppy’s right; this wedding is no longer my problem. It’s time for Paul to put on his big boy pants and come clean to everyone.

And me? Well, I need a big fat drink.

“I’m very sorry, Paul. Maybe we can talk about all this in a few days after I've had time to process,” I wave my hands around the two of them, “this development. Just tell me—was any of it real?”

His shoulders slump and his gaze falls to the floor. “I’m sorry.”

And there’s the final nail in the coffin. The last four years of my life have been nothing but a facade. My chest heaves as I struggle to take a breath and…I just can’t stand here any longer.

Poppy yanks on my arm as I take a step back.

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