Page 80 of Beached Wedding

Fox managed a weak snort, but his shoulders were bunched defensively. His arms were crossed and his face was stiff as carved mahogany.

“Apology accepted,” I said tentatively. Please God let that be the only reason he was here.

“Just like that?” Shane’s smile flickered.

Fox didn’t move, but I felt his gaze transfer from Shane to me and penetrate like a laser.

“Of course. You didn’t have to come all this way. You could have called.” My heart was beginning to fatigue, it had been sustaining this raised pace for way too long. The butterflies inside me were turning to bees and beginning to swarm, making all of me feel as though I was vibrating. Was it possible to die of adrenaline poisoning? Because I think I was about to.

Shane’s head went back. “Giz a minute, Fox.” He jerked his head toward the door, inviting him to leave without looking at him.

Fox didn’t move.

After a charged second, Shane snapped him a hard look.

I kept my focus on Shane, but my voice shook. “You were right to call it off.”

“You don’t want to get married?” Shane’s arms crossed. He sounded more confounded than anything, which wasn’t a surprise. He was used to getting what he wanted, sometimes by working for it, more often by being good-natured and good looking.

“I already cancelled and got some of the money back. We can’t get married. And...” I was hugging myself so hard I could barely breathe. “I don’t want to.”

“Okay, but...” He jerked a shoulder. “Shouldn’t we talk about it?”

“Why?”

“Because...” He gave his wet hair a ruffle, then swiped his palm on the seat of his boardies.

This confrontation wasn’t loud or violent or hurtful, but it was doing a number on me. Standing up for myself always left me wondering if I had a right to do such a thing. I tried to ignore the anxiety and waved a trembling hand at Fox.

“One friend told you not to marry me and that was enough for you to call off our wedding. Now another one said you should marry me and here you are. Fox, do you want to weigh in with a fresh ‘Don’t bother?’ I’m pretty sure that’s all he needs.”

Fox’s shoulders were like mountains, his feet planted like a tap root.

“Do you want to marry him?” Fox asked me.

“No.” And he ought to know that. I glared at him, unable to believe he’d even have to ask, but I could see his faith in me was paper thin. Barely there at all.

I turned away so I wouldn’t reveal how deeply that cut.

“Ash, come on,” Shane muttered. “It was cold feet.”

I shook my head. “No. It was you listening to your gut. And I’ve had time to hear mine. We don’t love each other, Shane. Not the way we should.”

“That’s not true.” He took a few steps to come alongside me and sent an irritated glance toward Fox. “Come on, mate. Step outside or something. I can’t talk properly with you here.”

Still Fox didn’t move, not that I could see him because I had my back to him and my eyes were growing wet. Drawing a full breath was an effort. Ihatedhard conversations like this. It took me right back to my childhood when one heated argument with my sister had ruined our family. I crushed the sleeves of my robe in my fists.

“Fox kept us from making a huge mistake. I care for you, but we don’t have what it takes to make a life together.”

“How can you say that? We’re great together.”

“We weren’ttogether, Shane. Not really. We lived alongside each other. Adjacent. Not participating in each other’s lives.”

“We slept in the same bed. We drove to work and spent the day with each other.”

“I worked withFox. Half the time you sent me to visit your parents by myself. You never showed any interest in meeting my family.” I had made excuses for that. Things had happened fast and I had thought there would be lots of time for that after we were married.

“I talked to them over the tablet,” Shane grumbled. “They live on the other side of the planet, Ash. How was I supposed to get to know them?”

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