Page 105 of Ruined Vows

I was supposed to have another week.

Another week of gazing at her even if I couldn’t touch her. Another week of listening to her laughing voice when she’s catching up with friends or muttering curse words under her breath as she works on her dissertation. Another week of inhaling her—her shampoo and bodywash after a long day when it’s intermingled with the scent that is justher.

It’s not supposed to be over yet.

But as the police lights whirl, taking Phillip away, the harsh reality settles like a stone deep in my stomach.

She doesn’t need me anymore.

“So,” she says, coming to stand beside me, looking in the same direction I am. “That’s that, I guess.”

“That’s that.”

And then she suddenly spins toward me. “You were planning to keep working until the wedding, right?”

I frown at her. What does she mean by that?

“I was,” I say slowly.

She smiles brightly. “Great, so I’ve got you for another week.”

My chest feels lighter at the thought of not immediately losing her.You’re still losing her, you dumb bastard. Rip off the goddamned band aid already.

So I shake my head. “Stalker’s been caught. No reason for that.”

“What if there was a reason?”

I shake my head, not following.

But her eyes are bright, and she’s talking a mile a minute. “Because I was thinking for my last week of freedom that I would take a road trip. Yeah.” She nods to herself as if she’s saying things just as they occur to her. “And it’s not safe driving west through parts of Texas. A woman all by myself.”

I narrow my eyes at her. “Then take your fiancé.”

“Yeah…” Her eyebrows furrow for just a second, and then she nods decisively as if just coming to a final decision. “I’m not marrying him.”

“What?” I cough out.

“I’m not marrying him. I think I’ve known for a while, but I just wasn’t brave enough to say it out loud.”

“Are you gonna let him in on this bit of news?”

She just smiles big at me. “In a week, once we’re back. First, I want to go on a road trip. Or maybe I’ll call him while we’re away.”

“So you’re just gonnaRunaway Bridethis whole thing?”

“Oh god, yes.” She grins. “That sounds amazing.”

“And you want me to come?”

“Well, of course.” She flashes her eyelashes up at me. “Horror movie rules. You don’t let the redhead go on a road trip alone. What if I pick up a sadistic, serial-killing hitchhiker out of the goodness of my heart?” Then she snorts. “Besides, I’m sure Drew will be living it up this week. He won’t even miss me.”

“Is that why you really want me along? As a distraction fromDrew?”

“Please.” She rolls her eyes. “You’ve seen us together. There’s no chemistry. It’s a negative spark zone.”

Maybe not chemistry… but it’ssomething. “You were high school sweethearts.”

“No we weren’t,” she snaps. Then breathes out, her head tilting sideways. “Look, if you come on the road trip with me, I swear I’ll tell you everything, along with any other thing on Earth you want to hear about. We can play twenty questions.” Then she pulls back a little. “But only if you want to.”

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