Page 124 of Runaway Bride and Prejudice

Coach snorts. “I highly doubt that.”

“Mills,” I start, but she shakes her head and keeps walking toward Coach with a look like,I’ve got this.

“If you’re going to be mad at him,” she says, her voice pitching higher as she lifts her chin, “you need to be mad at me.I’mthe one who said we should get married.”

There is a beat of silence in which Coach frowns, blinking at Amelia.

Then, he says, “Did you saymarried?”

Amelia shrinks a little. “Isn’t that why you’re mad—because Van and I got married in Florida?”

The guys heard me say it, but I’m not sure theybelievedit until this moment.

Coach’s face turns red first. Then, it turns an alarming shade of eggplant. It reminds me of nature shows I sometimes watch. Animals often have biological warning signs, like the way poison dart frogs are brightly colored as a way to say,Don’t eat me! Run away!

The color on Coach’s face is a very clear sign that anyone around him should probably run. Fast.

But no one moves.

Amelia glances at me, and I give my head a little shake. I can see the moment she realizes what happened.

That’s right, Mills—you just dropped the bomb on your dad.

She takes a tiny step back. “I, um …”

“You …” Coach sputters. “You got married? Tohim?” He jabs a finger in my general direction, but his gaze remains on Amelia, vacillating between anger and something worse—hurt.

It’s the same expression I see when I hazard a glance at my sisters. Callie’s jaw is clenched tight. Lex is already blinking back tears, and Greyson looks like she’s about to pass out.

All I told them was that Amelia left me. And why she left.

They called me stupid. They called her … some other things. Family will always take your side.

But now that they know what Ifailedto tell them—well. I’m not sure they’re on my side anymore.

Amelia doesn’t answer her father. She doesn’t need to. Her face—and I’m sure mine if he ever looked at me—confirms it.

It’s Parker who speaks next, clearly trying to cut through the tension. “Well, it looks like we’ve got a lot going on here.” She grabs Amelia’s arm and starts maneuvering her toward the door. “What I needed to say can probably wait?—”

Coach ignores Parker and steps toward Amelia.

“Of all the things you could have done,” he starts, and for a moment I set aside the fact that he’s my coach. I see the hurt on Amelia’s face, and I step between them. “Of all the thoughtless choices.”

Amelia flinches.

“Hey,” I say, then stop because I have zero plan here. But I don’t like the tone he’s using with Amelia, and I shift closer. Not quite touching her but apparently too close for Coach.

His eyes blaze. I remember seeing his fury when he found out about Douche the Groom cheating with his niece. That was bad.

This is … worse.

“Daddy—” she starts.

But she doesn’t get to finish. Because my sisters rush us both, Callie and Lex clearly torn between yelling at Amelia and yellingat me, and Grey like she’s trying to hug her—just as Dominik’s laughter rings out and Coach’s fist flies toward my face.

CHAPTER 25

Amelia

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