“Left,” I finish for him.
“Yeah. I should have gotten rid of it. I almost did a few times, but I just couldn’t do it. I dug it out last night.”
“It’s perfect, Spencer. I love it so much.” I bite my tongue as words I don’t want to say to him yet almost follow.
“I’m glad. Shall we?”
“Yes.”
We’re both silent on the journey to the courthouse in the car that Spencer had ordered, both lost in the strange turn of events in the past twenty-four hours.
They’re expecting us when we arrive and after a short wait, I’m handed a bouquet that I’m told Spencer organized to have here for me before I’m being shown into the room where my soon-to-be husband is waiting for me.
He looks over at me the second the doors are pulled open and it’s like he’s seeing me for the first time once again.
“Hey,” I say once I join him at the front of the room.
“Fancy seeing you here,” he jokes.
The officiant gets to work and before I know it, we’ve exchanged rings that Spencer had also organized, and we’re being announced as husband and wife.
“You may kiss your bride.”
A wide smile spreads across my face thinking that he’s finally going to kiss me properly, but when he leans toward me all he does is press his lips to mine in a chaste kiss.
Disappointment floods me, and I start to wonder if I’d imagined his excitement about this in the past hour. Maybe I’ve been wrong, maybe all of this is just one-sided and I’ve just been blindsided by the romance in all this.
He pulls away from me and tears burn my eyes. Thankfully, he doesn’t look at me, so he doesn’t see them.
Instead, he thanks the officiant, takes my hand and together we walk back down the aisle as husband and wife.
The empty seats are a stark reminder of my reality.
I got swept away with the idea that I’m marrying my best friend, the only person who’s ever got me, the only one I’ve ever loved.
I forget about what’s really going on here. Spencer wanted a mail-order bride. He didn’t want me. He didn’t come looking for me. It’s just total luck that I was the one who arrived for him. I don’t even know his reasons for this.
I’m still arguing with myself as we step outside and find the car waiting for us.
“So what now?” I ask sadly after watching Spencer talk to the driver through the window. He waited until I got in so I couldn’t hear. That sure didn’t help the ball of dread that’s sitting heavy in my stomach.
With his eyes focused forward, he says words that make me want to curl up in a ball and sob. “Well, I had booked us for a private meal, but I don’t think that’s such a good idea.”
My lips part as if I’m going to respond. But I don’t. I can’t.
Pain rips through my chest at his distance, his obvious disinterest now we’ve made our vows, ripping me open.
I turn away from him, just the sight of him sitting there is too much to bear and I focus my attention on the passing town. A place I’ve longed to be back in for so long, but now, I fear my visit might be a fleeting one.Chapter EightGabriellaThe car pulls up outside the house, and to my surprise, after climbing from the car, Spencer puts his hand back inside to help me out.
I don’t take it, much to his annoyance, but my little bit of defiance after the last half an hour makes me feel better.
Marching past him, I walk to the front door, trying to make a point. It all comes crashing down when I have to stop to allow him to unlock it.
I step through silently, ready to run for the safety of my bedroom but his voice stops me.
“Gabriella.” I suck in a breath at the roughness to his voice. “I’m… I’m sorry.” My spine stiffens at his apology. So he knows he was being a dick then. “Please, turn around.”
I hesitate for a couple of seconds, but I soon do as I’m told. I’m powerless but to do so.
“Fuck,” he groans. His eyes finding mine before dropping down my body.
“What’s going on, Spencer?”
“I…” He lifts his hands to his hair and tugs. “I fucked up. But if I kissed you… really kissed you in that courthouse, then I’m not sure I’d have been able to stop.”
“Oh,” passes my lips as he closes the space between us. “You look so beautiful,” he says, cupping my cheek. “So much more so than any of my fantasies. And now, you’re all mine.”
“But—”
“I need to seal the deal, little mouse. It’s time to take this all the way.”
My lips part, although I’ve no idea what to say and my stomach clenches in desire.