Page 166 of Be My Wife

Hair all frizzy and voluminous.

Brown skin glowing softly in the sunlight.

Eyes narrowing with hurt.

Back then, I’d been too up in my feelings to see it.

I interpreted everything my own way.

But she was confused.

Shocked even.

Maybe there’s another explanation for everything.

Even if there isn’t, I just want to hear her voice.

See her face.

One more time.

I have to see Elizabeth.

Excitement breaks through the rubble of my heart. A tiny green leaf springing past cement.

I fumble for my cell phone and start to dial her up when a hand falls on my shoulder. “Brogan!” a deep, welcoming voice says. “Is that you?”

A man who looks vaguely familiar stares at me, a giant grin on his dark face.

He sees my blank expression and offers his hand. “Oren. Novah’s fiancé.”

“Hey.”

Oren glances at the man beside him and introduces me. “This is Brogan Harrington.”

“We’ve met. Months ago.” The guy shakes my hand. “I work at Steel & Sons Law Firm.”

I nod.

Oren accepts his coffee. With three fingers, he waves to me. “I’ll see you at the wedding rehearsal tonight, right?” He backs away, his eyes flitting to his friend. “We should meet up some time, Daryl.”

“Definitely.” Daryl punches Oren’s fist and then grins at me. In a mischievous whisper, he says, “He’s got his hands full with Novah, right?”

I shrug and give my order to the barista. As I wait, my thoughts veer back to Elizabeth. I wonder if she’ll pick up my call? We didn’t exactly leave things on the best foot.

Daryl edges closer to me. “Novah comes from a pretty big family. Which cousin are you married to?”

I pretend not to have heard him. Grabbing my phone and hoping he’ll get the hint, I scroll to Elizabeth’s number.

Our last message fills my screen.

ME: We need to talk.

LIZ: On my way.

Daryl lets out an amused sigh. “Novah asked me to do a favor for one of them a few weeks ago.”

Still only half-listening, I scroll through my messages with Elizabeth.

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