Page 34 of The Man I Love

“Speak!” Tristan barked at his father. “If it’s so damned important, say what you came to say.” His eyes never left Samantha’s, as though asking her why she would do this to him.

“You have a baby brother,” his father began. “His name is Liam, and he has stage four acute lymphocytic leukemia.”

She didn’t think it was possible for Tristan to break any farther, but he did. His entire face crumbed before her very eyes, shattering into a thousand tiny shards until he was almost unrecognizable.

“What?” His voice was no more than a whisper when he turned back to his father.

“I need your help, son.”

“You need my help?” He almost laughed. “Youneed my help.” He sounded almost manic.

Samantha pressed her hand against her stomach, sure she was going to vomit.

“He needs a bone marrow transplant,” Mr. Montgomery continued. “Since Renee is pregnant, you’re his best chance.”

“Renee is pregnant?” His eyes met Samantha’s again. She thought he might cry. “What else are you keeping from me?”

A sound came from his throat. A cry, or laugh, or maybe some chaotic mixture of both. Her legs collapsed on the steps, and she reached for the banister to steady herself. “Tristan.”

He stepped toward his father. “Where were you when I needed you? Where wereyouwhen Ren needed you to walk her down the goddamned aisle?”

“I’d love nothing more than to tell you.”

Samantha pulled herself upright, both hands gripping the handrail as she began walking toward Tristan.

In a silent gesture, Tristan held up his hand, stopping her. “You knew about this and didn’t tell me?”

She wrapped her arms around her waist and shook her head. “I just…” Her mind went blank, and she couldn’t think of the right words. Not telling him had made so much sense last night, but now…

“I. Trusted. You.”

His words stripped her of life.

He looked toward the floor, then before she could think of something to say he was descending the steps to the gallery floor.

She stood in shock as she watched him disappear from sight, trying to process all that had happened—the confusion, the hurt, all the misunderstandings. Everyone was silent, as though the events of the last two minutes had left them all paralyzed. Then, the soft sound of a harp began to echo up the stairwell, and Sam realized the festivities of the evening had already begun.

She faced Mr. Montgomery, hurt and rage building in her chest. “I told you.” Her voice trembled. “You were supposed to stay out of sight. You were supposed to let me talk to him first!”

Margaret ran toward her. “It happened so fast. I—I didn’t know what to do.”

“Are you okay?” Peter asked, seeming to come from out of nowhere.

“What do you need? Tell us what to do,” Margaret demanded.

Her vision went blurry, and her world spun. “Zip me up?” she said, deadpan.Tell Mr. Covington to do the introduction without me.”

Peter began to protest, but she quickly shook her head. Nothing else mattered but Tristan. She grabbed the hem of her dress and ran down the steps.

“Tristan!” Her voice was stronger now, and she didn’t care about the hundred or more people who turned around to stare at her.

A sea of black suits and ball gowns surrounded her, blocking her every move, but somehow, she managed to push through the crowd. Fear clutched her throat, making it almost impossible to speak. “Did a man come out here?” she asked the security guard when she stepped outside. There was no snow on the ground, but white clouds of smoke replaced the space where her breath should be.

“I’ve seen many men tonight,” the security guard joked. “You'll have to be more specific.”

“Blond,” she said with impatience. “Tall, athletic build.” The panic in her voice must have been tangible because he suddenly stopped grinning.

“Yes,” he nodded. “Just a minute ago.”

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