The moment it was done, before the recessional, I asked Callie to cover for me and snuck out.
I found my way down to a room with wine barrels and sank onto the floor. I don’t have a watch, so I can’t know how much time has passed.
The dress shoes’ owner descends.
I thought I could handle seeing family and old friends. I didn’t expecthewould be here.
Making peace with your past is one thing. Sitting twenty feet from the man who assaulted you is a stretch.
When dark dress pants appear, followed by a belt and a pale blue shirt I personally picked out this morning, my chest eases.
The soft, yellow overhead light shines on Harrison’s hair as he emerges into the cellar.
“You came back.” My voice is rough.
He crosses the space between us and holds out something. “You left your phone in the car.”
My fingers close around it, the case cool and familiar.
“I ran into Whelan upstairs.”
Harrison’s fists clench at his sides. He shifts onto a barrel near where I’m sitting, easing back to stretch his legs. There’s a smudge of dirt on his pants, but if he’s uncomfortable, he doesn’t let on. “Why is the man who assaulted you at your brother’s wedding?”
I swallow hard. “Kian didn’t know. I blamed him still, which wasn’t fair.”
“What happened to you wasn’t fair.”
“But I can’t control that. Forgiving my brother… I can do that.”
Each breath is a little easier with him here.
“You didn’t tell me it was Whelan because I need him to get the venue approved?”
I nod. “I didn’t want you to lose the project over it.”
With a heavy sigh, he shifts off the barrel and eases himself onto the dusty floor next to me. He’s anything but relaxed, and he’s obviously trying to fight whatever dark instincts are inside him.
After a moment’s hesitation, I lean my head against his shoulder and breathe him in. “Did you kill him?”
“Not yet. Would you like to watch?”
My exhale is half laugh and half sob. He takes my phone and sets it on the floor, threading his fingers through mine.
We sit like that for minutes. Maybe longer.
Finally, the device buzzes with a message from Callie.
Callie: I don’t know if you found your phone, but I’m not sure how else to find you. Where are you? Are you okay?
Callie: I lost track of you when the aunts cornered me after the ceremony. Did you bail?
Callie: Kian was looking for you, and I wasn’t sure what to tell him.
Callie: I ran into Harrison, who’s looking for you too. Keep an eye out for the beautiful blond man who looks like he’s going to rain down hellfire.
My mouth twitches. I reluctantly pull my hand from Harrison’s to type back. He caresses my knee as if unwilling to stop touching me.
I don’t hate it.