Page 21 of Breaking
Troy had stiffened, his shoulders squaring. "Watch your mouth, Grant."
Grant smirked, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. "Relax. It's just amusing, that's all. Married off to a nobody. Mom is thrilled. Well, dad has done his best with the prenup. We are just looking out for you."
Jenna's grip on her champagne flute had tightened, her nails pressing into her palm. It was only sparkling water, but she could have used some alcohol at this point.
Troy's voice had been dangerously low. "Jenna is my wife. You don't have to like her, but you will respect her."
Grant chuckled. "Respect? That's rich. You think a wedding band changes anything? You'll wake up one day and realize you traded the life you could've had for a fleeting whim."
Jenna always knew how Troy’s family felt about her, but this was a punch to the gut.
Troy had taken a deep breath, his fingers flexing at his sides. "I don't need your approval, Grant. I don't need anyone's. This is my life."
Grant had tilted his head, regarding him with mild amusement. "Then I hope you're ready for it. Because from where I'm standing, you just made the biggest mistake of your life."
Jenna had turned away before she could hear Troy's response, blinking back the sting in her eyes.
Later, as the reception dragged on, Troy had found her, gripping her hand tightly as though anchoring himself.
"You look beautiful," he'd said hesitantly, as if the words were unfamiliar on his tongue. Then, with a bashful expression, he had added, "This is going to be a learning process for me too."
Jenna had held on to those words.
The sound of approaching footsteps muffled by the sand dragged her from the past. She looked up just as Troy jogged toward her, the sun at his back, casting his tall, muscular frame in an almost golden light. He was tanned from the Greek sun, his dark hair tousled, his white linen shirt unbuttoned just enough to reveal the defined lines of his chest. He looked relaxed, fit, and-damn it-delicious.
With a careless ease, he flopped down beside her, stretching his legs out in front of him as he let out a long breath. "Max still trying to dig his way to China?"
Jenna smirked. "I think he's decided to build an empire first. You should see his architectural prowess."
Troy chuckled, shaking his head. "Takes after his mother."
Before Jenna could respond, Max came toddling over, his little feet kicking up sand as he clutched a smooth pebble in his tiny hand. He held it out proudly. "Dada! Look!"
Troy took it with exaggerated reverence, turning it over in his palm. "Wow, bud. This is a top-tier pebble. You have an eye for quality."
Max beamed, then giggled as Troy ruffled his hair before scampering back to his grand construction project.
Jenna leaned back on her hands, looking out at the water. "It's nice here. Peaceful."
She could feel Troy's intense hazel gaze almost like a finger trailing her skin. After days in the sun, her skin had turned the shade of clotted cream. She looked dazzling in the scarlet bikini, with her long blonde hair and slender limbs.
Troy exhaled slowly. "Yeah... You might be right about moving away from Brighton."
She turned to him, surprised. "What?"
He shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck. "Mack and I have been looking at places in Manchester. Mack is there and office space is cheaper. It makes sense. Sooooo.... I found this semi-detached... Thought you might like it."
Jenna stared at him, stunned. He was considering it-seriously considering it. A move, a fresh start. Away from the suffocating presence of his family, away from the cold disapproval that had overshadowed so much of their early years. She had been begging to move. A burst of joy, sudden and unexpected filled her chest.
Without thinking, she threw her arms around him. "I love you, love you love you so much" she whispered, burying her face against his shoulder.
Troy stiffened slightly before his arms came around her, holding her close. "Yeah, yeah," he murmured, pulling at her golden braid. And then "Love you too, sweetheart"
There was a quiet warmth in his tone.
As the sun began to dip toward the horizon, Jenna gazed out at the endless expanse of sea, the sky a riot of pink and orange hues. For the first time in a long while, the future felt like a promise rather than an uncertainty. And for now, that was enough.
Chapter 20
