Page 59 of Second Chance Husband

If there was no future here, I didn’t have to fall off into a precipice. And if there was a future, as long as I didn’t fall into the abyss without looking back, I would be safe.

Only I knew I was lying to myself.

“You look breathtaking.”

I looked over at August then and swallowed hard. He had put on his tie and suit jacket and looked as if he had not a care in the world.

My red hair fell in waves in the front and was tied up in the back, and it was as good as it was going to get.

I had chosen a soft lilac dress that should have clashed with my hair but hadn’t. It was just a dress. Because no matter what I wore, I would still wear his marks on my flesh. The marks I had begged for. So there lay the difference.

“You look handsome yourself. And you don’t look as if you just fucked me hard against the wall.”

“But I’ll know. And that’s all that matters.”

“And the wall will know. I’m sure they say if only walls could talk is a thing, but I’m glad they don’t. Let’s just keep that between ourselves.”

His gaze went to my mouth, and he shook his head.

My hand went to my lips, and I frowned. “What? Do I have lipstick on my teeth?”

“No, but your lips are swollen. So I’m pretty sure they’re going to figure out what happened.”

I rolled my eyes and grabbed my clutch before taking his outstretched hand.

“If they hadn’t noticed that my lips had been swollen last night after sucking your cock for a good twenty minutes, they’re not going to know now.”

“Oh, I’m pretty sure they knew.”

That made me nearly trip over my feet.

“What?”

“Because I looked so smug. And spent. Because you sure do know how to wring out a man.”

I was laughing as we opened the door, meeting the others in the hallway.

When everyone smiled at us, gazes curious, and yet so full of hope that it worried me, I told myself not to worry. After all, they told us that it was the hope that killed you, but maybe I just needed to trust.

Maybe he wouldn’t leave.

Maybe it would be okay.

And as we sat down at the wedding and watched August’s parents vow to love each other to eternity once again, he held my hand, and I squeezed back. He was the one who needed my strength, and I would be there.

The tableau of watching a couple who had broken the hearts of their children more than once wasn’t lost on me.

I wouldn’t tell myself that if they could fall in love again and trust again, I could as well.

Because that would be dishonest to everyone in this situation.

Especially to me.

“I have fought through Valhalla for you my darling, and I will fight through eternity to be by your side. The two of us against the world.”

August’s father began to wax poetic nonsense, as August’s mother cried happy tears, and I stole a look at the man that I loved.

His jaw was tight, and he held onto my hand in such a firm grip I knew he probably didn’t even realize he was doing it.

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