Page 118 of Leave

But he was also my top priority, and right now, he needed to be somewhere other than here. This wasn’t the time to be combative.

Nolan’s dad dismissed me, and as he continued comforting his wife, I returned to the men’s room.

There, Nolan was cleaning up his face. His nose had stopped bleeding, so that was a plus. There’d probably be some bruising below his left eye tomorrow, but that couldn’t be helped.

I looked him up and down. “Are you okay?”

Nolan gestured dismissively before tossing some wet paper towels in the trash. “Hurts, but I’m good.”

“Say so if you’re not?”

“I will.”

I didn’t know if he was lying. All I could do was keep an eye on him and watch for any concussion symptoms.

Nolan leaned against the sink again and looked at me, fatigue dominating the hurt in his expression. “So what now?”

“Right now, we’re going to get out of here,” I whispered. “Go back to the hotel and catch our breath while the smoke clears.”

I didn’t know if Nolan even heard me. He just handed me the car keys and, without a word, followed me out to the parking lot.

Chapter 30

Nolan

With a gun to my head, I couldn’t have recalled anything between the church and our hotel. Riley could’ve driven us past a field full of purple cows, down a crowd-lined parade route, and under a UFO, but I wouldn’t have remembered. Nothing registered.

One minute, I was dropping into the passenger seat of the rental car.

The next, we were in the bed we’d shared last night, lying in silence as I rested my head on his shoulder and he stroked my hair.

I replayed the scene at the church over and over in my head like a combat flashback. Sometimes it was so surreal, I wondered if I’d imagined the whole thing. But the throbbing in my face was always there to remind me that, no, I hadn’t imagined it.

One minute, I’d been trying to collect myself enough to walk down the aisle—again—with Leanne.

The next, blood was trickling out of my nose and my whole family was in shambles.

And now…

Now we were here. And I didn’t know what to do next. Of all the ways I’d imagined my secret coming to light, I’d never thought it would play out like it had. Guilt, shame, anger, humiliation—those were the only feelings I could name, but they sure as fuck weren’t the only ones banging around inside my pounding head and ping-ponging off my aching ribs.

After we’d been in this bed for God only knew how long, Riley gently broke the silence. “I’d ask if you’re okay, but… I’m pretty sure I know the answer.”

I closed my eyes. “I’m better now that we’re here instead of there.” As my own words replayed in my head, I sighed. “And… also worse.”

“I bet,” he whispered, running his fingers through my short hair. “I’m sorry it went down like that.”

Wincing, I rolled onto my back and gazed up at the ceiling. “I just ruined my brother’s wedding. And now my other brother hates me.” I scrubbed a hand over my face. “Pretty sure they both do right now.”

“I doubt that.” Riley slid up next to me and rested a hand on my stomach. “Everyone’s in shock right now. But once the dust settles…” He didn’t finish that. Maybe he expected me to do the math. Maybe even he couldn’t convince himself things would be better than they were right now.

I closed my eyes and sighed. At least he was still here. For now. I wouldn’t be in the least bit surprised if we got back to Okinawa and he announced he was moving out of the apartment.

I didn’t know what I’d do without him. Same thing I did whenever anyone inevitably bailed on me—move the fuck on.

He was here now, though.

I went back and forth between wanting to get the hell back to Okinawa and dragging my feet. I needed to get away fromRedmond and all the people and memories here. I needed to leave just like I had the instant I’d graduated high school.

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