Page 26 of Hot Mess Wedding

chapternine

IAN

Goddammit!

I broke her heart.

I know I did. Knowing it’s the right thing to do doesn’t make it any easier. I just hope when the time comes and I can explain everything to her, she’ll forgive me.

I stare at the bathroom door, but I know she locked it behind her. I heard the latch. Now she’s in the shower and I know I can’t bust in there because seeing her wet and naked will not help my resolve. I’m not making her mine until sheknowsshe’s mine forever. Until forever is all she sees when she looks at me.

I hear electronic lock release on the front door to the suite. I’m ready to tell housekeeping to come back, but it’s not the housekeeper. Instead Micah Stone walks into the room.

If he looked tired the last time I saw him, now he looks like tired ran him down on the highway. He’s dressed in his signature all black, which matches the circles under his eyes.

“Dude, I've been texting you, and you've been ignoring me.” His eyes scan the area, then he flops himself down on the sofa scrubbing a hand over his face as he tips his head back, eyes closed. “Did you find the ring or not?”

“What ring?” Cleary’s question comes from behind me. She’s fresh from the shower, her hair wrapped in a towel like a turban.

Thank God she’s wearing clothes. I’d have to beat in Micah’s face if he saw my girl naked.

He raises his head and gives her a once over.

She looks from me to the jackass reclining on the sofa. “What's going on?”

“Sweet baby, I need you to listen to me,” I say. I try to walk towards her, but she holds up her hands to stop me.

Her eyes narrow, then she points at my ex-friend. “You’re that singer guy. The one that’s always in the news for getting in bar fights and having a new woman every other day.”

He gives her a cocky grin. “Micah Stone. I’m Ian’s best friend.”

“Right,” she says and then she repeats his name slowly. “Micah Stone.”

I glare at him. “Oldest friend. Ex-friend.”

He smirks. “Sure.”

Then it’s like watching puzzle piece fall into just the right slot as Cleary figures out several events of the last two days. “That’s why the paparazzi was here,” she murmurs. She looks around the room, her gaze landing on the flowers, then shifting over to the veil, before she glances up at me then shakes her head. Her eyes drift closed for a second and she exhales slowly.

When she opens her eyes, tears glisten in her emerald eyes and I just want to pull her into my arms.

She digs into her pocket and pulls something out, then walks to Micah. She holds it out to him. “I know this probably cost you a lot of money, but it’s gaudy.” She drops the ring into his palm.

Fuck, I love her.

She steps into a pair of her shoes and starts shoving things into her big tote bag. Again, she glances at me. “Did you lie about everything? You just let me believe that we had gotten married while I was under the influence?”

“Whoa, dude, not cool” Micah says.

“You, shut the fuck up.” I jab a finger at Micah. “I wouldn’t even be in this mess if it weren’t for you.”

She points to herself. “I would be the mess in this scenario.” She shoulders her bag.

“Cleary, wait. I tried to tell you we hadn’t gotten married, but you weren't listening. You refused to believe me no matter what I said. Then we ran out of time because of your book signing.”

“Which you followed me to and pretended to be my husband there. Why? Why would you do that?” she asks, her voice so unbelievably hurt.

“You put on the ring. I had made a promise to Micah,” I say.

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