Page 74 of Aisle Be The Groom
“What if it doesn’t ruin our relationship?”
“How can it not? I’m still engaged to your son. We could have waited until I broke the news to him before we got together like this.”
“Are you saying you…regret this? Because people will talk regardless of whether we have waited.”
His body sagged against me. “Honestly, no. How can I regret the happiest moment of my life? Gray, you’re so sweet, and I can’t get enough of you. I’m shameless.”
“Good, because that’s how I’ll always be with you. For now and forever.”
His body went stiff in my arms. Then he rolled off me and sat up. “Forever?”
He sounded devastated. Was it the thought of spending forever with me? I frowned and sat up as well. “Ozzie, isn’t that what you want from us?”
“I do, but…” He stared over the lake, avoiding my eyes.
“But what? Did I have the wrong impression about what this means to you?” I gently took his hand in mine. “Ozzie, I’m asking my wife for a divorce because of you.”
Ozzie flicked his gaze to me. “What?”
“Yes, I am meeting her this weekend to make it official. I need to be with you, but I’m not going to do that while clinging to a hopeless marriage. It’s time to let that part of my life go and—”
“Oh, Gray!” Ozzie threw his arms around me in a tight hug. “I never thought you’d divorce her, and I didn’t want to ask. But I was so scared that you would expect me to be your mistress—mister—whatever it’s called. I’m not cut out for mistressing.”
I squeezed his hip. “Well, I don’t know about that. I think you have exactly what it takes to be a fine mistress, but that’s not what I want for us. My one serious relationship failed years ago. I don’t want that to happen to us, so I’m going to do whatever it takes to make us work.”
Ozzie took my face into his hands and pressed his lips to mine. Then he hugged me again and laughed. “Why are you willing to do all this for me?”
“Are you kidding me? Gotta make a decent man out of you before the world realizes just how much they’ve missed out by overlooking you.”
“People will say I’m with you for your money.”
“Good. Then they can watch me spend it all on you.”
“You’re so full of it.”
But was I? I hadn’t said a word I didn’t mean.
It took us half an hour to clear out the back of the truck and put clothes on, though I did enjoy the sight of Ozzie running naked along the lakeside first. I might have snapped a picture ortwo of him. How could I not? He was the most relaxed I’d seen him since he arrived in Bristlecone Springs.
I should take him to a nude beach. A nude resort at least so I could have him naked twenty-four seven.
We drove back in a much lighter mood than when we’d left, although Ozzie tensed up the closer we got. He typed away on his phone, frowning.
“Carter finally answered my text,” he said.
“Oh?”
“Said he lost his phone and needed a replacement.”
I grunted. How long did it take someone to get a replacement phone? Money would be the only object, and Carter wasn’t short on that. My stomach churned, and it felt like more than hunger. How could Carter be so carefree and unconcerned about his wedding? He acted strange. Was it possible he didn’t want to go through with the wedding? Why else would he behave with such a complete disregard for Ozzie? Even for him, that was cold. But why would he leave the wedding preparations to Ozzie if he didn’t want to get married?
“I told him he needs to get here so we can talk.” Ozzie breathed out deeply.
“What did he say?”
“Just a thumbs-up emoji. I guess that’s as good as I’m gonna get. I feel pathetic that I ignored all the warning signs about how he treated me.”
“You’re not pathetic. I don’t want to hear you’re calling yourself that. Understand?”
