Page 47 of Four-ever Single

“This is so stupid,” she sobbed a little while later, lifting her arm to throw away her tissues in the trashcan beside us.

“It’s not stupid,” I assured her. “It’s okay to be upset about what happened.”

“Yeah, but nothing actually happened.” She leaned forward and turned to face me. “He didn’t attack me or anything, just creeped me out with what he said. But I should be used to it, it’s not like he’s the first guy to ever talk to me like that.”

“That doesn’t make it right. If anything, it just makes the list longer for me.”

“List? List of what?” she asked, tilting her head to study me.

“People whose asses I’m going to kick.”

Her head tipped back slightly as the most beautiful sound of laughter came floating out of her mouth.

“Thank you. I needed that.”

“You’re welcome, but I’m serious. I’m starting a list of asses to kick.”

“You don’t need to do that. It’ll be never-ending and just comes with the territory of what I chose to do with my life.”

I shook my head, trying not to let my anger get the best of me.

“No, Bella. Don’t give anyone an excuse to treat you like that because of what you do. If they don’t like it, that’s their problem. But they don’t get to run their mouth to you about it. That’s where I come in.”

“My knight in shining armor,” she said softly with a smile.

“You bet your ass. I’ll always protect you, Bella. No matter what. That’s what you do for the people you love.” The words were out of my mouth before I could think about it.

Her head whipped up as her eyes scanned my face, trying to read whether I was lying.

“I don’t regret saying it,” I assured her immediately. “And I would rather say it to you the first time while we’re by ourselves than to do it in front of everyone as we get married. I love you, Bella.”

Her face softened as tears filled her eyes. She smiled softly at me as if I just gave her the greatest gift ever.

“I love you too,” she replied, leaning over to kiss me.

I reached over and grabbed her, pulling her back against my chest where she belonged. While I was already planning to tell her how much I loved her when I said my vows, I was happy to have been able to tell her in private first. That way, she didn’t have to wonder whether it was sincere or just for show.

Twenty-Nine

Bella

It had been a few days since the encounter with the creep at Tipsy Taquito, but I couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was watching me. I’d been paranoid all week but tried to hide it the best I could. For all I knew, everyone just assumed I was a nervous bride getting ready to take the plunge into holy matrimony.

“You look weird,” Lia said, studying me over the top of her coffee cup before taking a sip.

“Gee, thanks.”

“You know what I mean. You’re beautiful—as always, but something is off. What’s going on.”

“Nothing,” I lied, lifting my cup and taking a drink.

“Bullshit. I know you better than anyone. Are you having second thoughts about the wedding? Did Jones do something that I need to go break his femur?”

“No, he didn’t do anything.”

“So then you’re having second thoughts about getting married,” she said matter-of-factly.

I shook my head because even though I was more bothered by what happened the other night with the creep, I couldn’t sit here and lie about not second-guessing this whole marriage thing.

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