Page 73 of Tangled Vows

Without a second thought, I hopped in my SUV and raced to her mom’s house. It was a gamble. She might not even be there. As far as I knew, Christine was still in the hospital. It was possible Shayla was still at her bedside, but I was desperate enough to track her down there if I had to.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I found her car parked in the driveway. Pulling in behind it, I rushed up the front steps and knocked. Seconds later, the door swung open, and there was Shayla. She looked as beautiful as ever with her hair piled atop her head, her curves hidden beneath an oversized sweatshirt and leggings. Her eyes widened, and she gripped the door frame so tight, her knuckles blanched.

“Easton,” she breathed, “what are you doing here?”

“I just got back. You said we could talk when I got home, but you weren’t there.” She visibly swallowed, and guilt washed over her face. “And neither were your things.” She glanced away, and the ache in my chest multiplied.

“Can I come in?” I asked, my tone pleading. She nodded and stepped aside to allow me entrance. Shutting the door behind us, she turned to face me, her arms crossed over her chest protectively. I wanted to pull her into my arms and comfort her, but I suspected my touch wouldn’t be welcome.

“Shayla, I—” I began, but words failed me. I sucked in a deep breath to steel myself before I continued. “I realize how bad thislooks, but I promise you I didn't sleep with her. I would never cheat on you.” Her lips trembled, but she quickly schooled her expression and straightened her spine.

“I saw the pictures, Easton. You two had your hands all over each other,” she said, disgust written all over her face.

“It wasn’t like that.”

“What was it like then, huh? Because from where I’m standing, it looks like a woman you have a history with was touching you in ways only a lover has a right to.”

“What those pictures don’t show is me pushing her away.”

“Right,” she replied skeptically. “It looked like you were tryingreal hardto push her away when you had her tucked into your side with your hand on her back.”

“I was trying to get her away from the crowd so I could talk to her in private. I was afraid she would cause a scene when I turned her down, and I didn’t want to draw any unwanted attention to us.”

She let out a snort of derision. “That’s convenient.”

“It’s the truth! If I’d have known someone was going to snap a bunch of photos of us and try to make it look like something it wasn’t, I would’ve had it out with her right there in the middle of the bar. At least then everyone would’ve known I wasn’t trying to cheat on my wife.” She shivered, and her eyes fell closed briefly. When they opened again, that steely resolve was back in place. I was losing her, and nothing I could say would stop it.

“This might actually be for the best. It gives us an out. This fake marriage has always had an expiration. Now we can move up the timeline, and we won’t have to lie to everyone about why we split up.” She shrugged despite her voice cracking and her eyes misting over with tears.

Stunned, I stared down at her, my chest splitting open like she’d just taken a chisel to it. Her words cut through me, and Ifought to keep my feet planted firmly beneath me as my world tilted and swayed.

“That’s not at all what I want. You have to know I would never betray you. I promised you I’d honor my vows, and I meant it.”

She scoffed, but I saw the pain swirling like molten silver in her stormy gray eyes.

“Those vows didn’t mean anything. They were all for show.”

“They meant something to me. We’re married,” I declared, my tone laced with desperation and pleading.

“On paper? Sure, but this marriage is fake. It was never meant to last.”

I gritted my teeth and took a step toward her. I was about done with her diminishing our relationship. We were as real as it got. Fire lit my veins, and possessiveness spread through my chest. This was my wife, and I would make her see that we were the real deal, whether she wanted to admit it or not.

She retreated, and I followed until her back hit the door. I only stopped when I was inches away from her, and she had to tilt her face up to look at me.

“Stop saying this is fake,” I growled, unable to hide my irritation. “It’s never been fake to me,” I admitted, and her eyes widened in shock. Her throat bobbed with a heavy swallow. I took a chance and reached up to brush a stray tendril of hair from her face. Her breath hitched, and her chest rose and fell rapidly as I leaned into her. I braced my arm on the door beside her head.

“When have I given you a reason to doubt me since we’ve been married? When have I ever seemed like I didn’t want to be with you or made you feel like you weren’t enough for me?” I challenged. “This,” I said, motioning between us, “is real. It has been since day one.” I’d tried to show her in so many ways thatI cared for her, and I’d started to believe it had been enough. Apparently, I was dead wrong.

“I—” she began, her voice trembling. She dropped her gaze and shook her head. “I can’t do this. Every time I close my eyes, all I can see is her hands on your chest, looking up at you like you’re about to kiss. I don’t want to have to wonder every time you’re on the road if another woman is warming your bed.”

Realization slammed into me, and I stumbled back. She didn’t trust me, and it sounded like she never would. She thought I was still that cocky playboy she’d met at the bar all those months ago, when in reality, I was completely and irrevocably devoted to her. She was the love of my life. And somehow, I would prove it to her. I wouldn’t just let her quietly divorce me and move on with her life like we’d never happened, like she wasn’t the sun whose orbit I was desperately drawn to. I would fight for her. I would prove to her that I was all in. But right now, she was hurting. Her walls were too high to breach, but I’d knock them down brick by brick if I had to. I’d gotten through them before, and I could do it again.

I just needed time.

And possibly a miracle.

52

---