Page 50 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

“So, you were marrying him to make your dad happy?”

“Not completely. I mean, I am a people pleaser. But it wasn’t just because of my dad. It all kind of spiraled away from me. Drew ticked all the boxes,” she says with a shrug. “I didlikehim. I convinced myself I loved him.”

“You didn’t?”

“No.”

The word comes out with conviction. And it makes something buoy up inside me.

“Maybe it makes me sound crazy to say that when I was supposed to be marrying him today?—”

“It doesn’t.” I squeeze her hands.

“It makes mefeelcrazy,” she says. “Like, how could I not know how I felt before? Or how did I not have any signs he was cheating? I think I realized it the second you dragged him in there. I was so relieved. Disappointed and humiliated and angry, but relieved.”

“Sometimes I think we see what we want to see,” I say. “What we hope for.”

She nods. “I definitely saw something other than reality. Especially when I had my dad right there, encouraging and supporting my choice to marry him.” I frown, and she speaks quickly. “He didn’t push me. You have to understand—losing Mom so young made Dad a huge proponent of doing thingsnowandsoon. Before it’s too late. It’s why he and I take big trips in the off-seasons, why he’s been sky-diving and wants to climb Kilimanjaro. He even tried to convince me to swim with sharks in Australia.”

“You don’t want to have quality time with Jaws?” I ask.

“I’d like to keep my legs and arms, thank you very much.”

“Good choice.”

Amelia sighs and drops her forehead to my chest. “I can’t believe I’m talking to you about all this. In a bathroom stall, no less.”

“Overall, the ambience isn’t so bad.”

She giggles, lifting her head to look at me again. Without asking any kind of permission, my heart decides to kick into a higher gear.

“Thank you,” she whispers. “You’re a good listener.”

“The guys would be shocked to hear you say that. They’re always telling me to shut up.”

“Don’t shut up. I like what you have to say.”

“Good,” I say lightly. “Because you’re stuck with me.”

Her stomach chooses that moment to let out an unholy growl. She squeaks, yanking her hands away from mine and pressing them over her abdomen.

“How embarrassing,” she says, but she’s smiling. “I mean, we didn’t eat that long ago. Did we?”

“It’s been hours. The hotel restaurant was still open.”

“Are you hungry?” she asks.

“I’m always hungry. Now, come on,” I tell her, unlocking the stall door and stepping out. When I hold out my hand, she takes it with no hesitation. “Let’s get you fed, Mills.”

CHAPTER 10

Amelia

After a very briefmeal as the restaurant was closing, Van and I ride the elevator in silence up to our room.

Ouroneroom.

Though I started yawning heavily and almost fell asleep while eating my grilled shrimp salad, I am suddenly wide awake and tense. For the first time pretty much all day, aside from when he was listening to me in the bathroom, Van is quiet. Other than the crinkle of the plastic bags carrying all of our current worldly possessions, the elevator ride is painfully silent. I almost wish for terrible instrumental versions of pop songs to play through the speakers.

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