Page 85 of Be My Bride

Since I met Hansley in Vegas, it’s been a never-ending rollercoaster ride. Nothing has gone according to plan and I’m losing my freaking mind.

I need…

I don’t even know.

Just… not this.

Hansley gets up from the bed.

I hear him heading my way and stiffen immediately. “Don’t touch me.”

“Come here.”

“No.” I roughly shove my clothes aside. It’s a mindless task. I’m not looking for anything in there. I just know I can’t look at him.

I can’t see his dark brown eyes and know that he’s not seeing me.

I can’t kiss his lips and know that he’d prefer to be kissing someone else.

My heart can’t take that.

It just isn’t strong enough.

Hansley gets down on one knee. His stare fixes on my face for a really long time. I wonder if he’ll pick me up and cart me to the bed like he promised, but he doesn’t.

A rough sigh rumbles through his chest. He scrapes the heel of his hand against his cheek and the stubble makes a light sound as it scratches against his flesh. “Shar was my best friend.”

“So I heard.” Blindly, I pull the cover over the suitcase and zip it up.

“We never saw each other that way.”

“Your mom has a different opinion.” That came out as an accusation.

I really didn’t mean for it to sound that bitter. He has every right to like someone else.

He has every damn right.

Why am I acting this crazy? Why can’t I stop?

“I never…” Hansley’s voice gets quiet. “I never told her. She was dying and—I didn’t have the courage.”

I turn slowly. “Why didn’t you tell her how you felt?”

“I couldn’t.” He blows out a breath. Glances up.

The moment his brown eyes fall into mine, I jolt back.

Raw, pulsing pain.

That’s all I see.

Hansley’s in front of me, letting all his walls down.

There’s no wise-cracking.

No practiced smiles.

No BSing.

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