Page 39 of Cross My Heart

I find my place card at the table for immediate family. Right next to Tyler. So I’ll be next to him for the rest of the night—great. Sitting down, I look over at Scarlett’s parents, who are already smiling at me. We make small talk for a while until the bride and groom grace us with their presence once more. We sit down and eat the dinner that the servers bring us, and it’s all very fancy. Very Scarlett. So fucking extra it makes me want to roll my eyes. But I don’t. I just eat my meal in silence—until Tyler’s hand grips my inner thigh and he looks at me. Really looks at me. His eyes are red-rimmed and puffy, and his lips are redder than normal, which usually happens after he’s been crying.

“What’s wrong?” I ask him, leaning in to whisper in his ear.

Tyler turns his face toward me and leans in to whisper in my ear. “You know what’s wrong,” he says, then takes a deep breath. “I made a mistake—a huge mistake. I’m so sorry.”

I pull away and look into his eyes with a frown on my face. “Why are you sorry?”

“Because I fucked up. Big time. And I can’t take it back,” he whispers. “I know I hurt you?—”

“It’s fine,” I say with finality. “Don’t feel guilty.”

“I don’t feel guilty—” he huffs. “I’m sad that I went through with it.”

“Baby—” Scarlett sing songs. “What do you think of the decorations?”

Of course Scar interrupts the moment, and Tyler dutifully answers her, telling her how beautiful everything is. And it’s not a lie, it’s gorgeous here. But then he excuses himself to use the bathroom, and Scarlett moves seats to take his place next to me.

“I’m sorry…” Scarlett says to me, but she doesn’t look sorry at all. There’s not a smile on her face, but the apology doesn’t reach her eyes. I tense, waiting for what she has to say. “I know I stole Tyler away from you. If I hadn’t proposed…I know he wouldn’t have.”

I smile tightly, trying to act normal in front of her family. “So why do it then?”

“Because I want him.” Scarlett shrugs, and I narrow my eyes on her. “The same way you want him.”

“I doubt that.”

“I’ve wanted him just as long, Noah,” she snaps softly, keeping her voice down. “You were just too stupid to see it.”

“Well, congratulations.” I raise my glass of champagne toward her and take a drink. “He’s all yours now.”

“That he is.” Scarlett raises her glass too, clinking it with mine and taking a long gulp.

“Just know he’s only marrying you because I told him to.” I shrug. “I told him I wouldn’t be with him, even after he begged me. So really, you’re second best. Enjoy my scraps.”

Scarlett huffs, her nostrils flaring. “Fuck you.”

“You too, baby girl.” I grin.

Tyler comes up to us, looking down at us. His gaze flits from me to Scarlett and back, and I make eye contact with him. It seems to do the trick, and he asks her to move. She obliges, although I can tell she was expecting him to take her seat, and once he’s next to me again he looks over at me and leans in.

“What was that about?”

“You,” I answer honestly. “She’s just rubbing this in my face.”

I shrug, and he narrows his eyes. He looks angry, but faces forward, nostrils flaring. I can tell he’s restraining himself but now is not the time to call her out on her bullshit, so he pastes a fake smile on his face and eats his food.

And I’m just here.

Hopelessly in love with him regardless of everything else. Regardless of him being a married man. Regardless of how much I fucked this up.

Man, did I fuck this up.

Chapter 20

TYLER

25 YEARS OLD

The music plays in the background as we finish dinner, and if I remember the itinerary correctly, we’re supposed to have our first dance soon. My body tenses automatically when Scarlett places a hand on my arm, and I don’t dare look at her for fear that she’ll see the regret in my eyes. How am I supposed to smile when I just made the biggest?—

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