Page 25 of Priceless

She snorted and looped her arm through mine, guiding me with her to the ceremony space and finding seats on Ellie’s side of the aisle. “We both know you’re healthier than I am. I’ll probably scare myself and have the heart attack.”

I laughed softly. Trinity’s diabetes wasn’t life threatening, but because she did take care of herself, she joked like it wasn’t. “Well, you can’t off yourself just yet,” I told her. “I’m gonna need you. And Isolde.”

“Are you finally going to tell us what the hell is going on with you? Because we’ve been patient, but I’ve had about enough of you clearly being miserable while also keeping us in the dark.”

Guilt crawled up my throat. Not because I felt like I’d been wrong for keeping things close to the chest, but because they had been asking, and I’d been pushing them away. They didn’t deserve that any more than I did.

“Will I tell you? Yes. Will I tell you right this second? No.”

She glared at me for a second. “Fair.”

Beautiful cello music floated through the air to start the ceremony, and everything was perfect. Ellie looked beautiful, and Isolde couldn’t take her eyes off Hawk or her pack when she glanced at them in the audience. My breath shuddered in my chest. She was so happy, and it was what I wanted.

And I wouldn’t have it.

Not until I got out of this marriage, had my freedom fully, and could actually focus on things like my love life.

If I’d ever have it at all.

“She looks so happy,” Rin said, echoing my thoughts.

“Yeah.” Hopefully my friend didn’t notice the way my voice strained.

It didn’t matter for long. In what seemed like no time at all, the three of us were on the dance floor, acting like we were still in college and none of us had cares in the world. Isolde’s pack watched from their table, and it really was incredible, seeing the way they watched her. But more, it was nice to let go and just… be. Enjoy myself for a little while.

My phone buzzed where I’d tucked it away against my skin to make sure it could be felt.

Laura

Get back here. Now.

“Shit.” The word slipped out of my mouth before I could stop it. The sun was already setting and it was later than I had realized. I did need to get back, because I wasn’t taking any chances. They would give me those fucking papers to sign, and nothing was going to stop that.

“You okay?” Isolde asked.

I smiled tightly. “I need to go. I’ll call you guys soon.”

“O, wait,” Rin said. “Give us something, please. Because you’re kind of freaking us out.”

Both of their faces held nothing but genuine concern, and again, the guilt nearly swallowed me. They deserved to know, even if this wasn’t the way I planned to tell them. The rest of it would have to wait.

Gathering my courage, I finally said it out loud. “I’m getting married.”

“What?” Isolde and Trinity said at the same time, voices rising above the music.

Isolde shook her head. “When?”

Trinity followed up. “To who?”

I stared at them, because for once, I didn’t actually have an answer for them. “I have no idea.”

That was the only thing I could say, and I couldn’t wait longer. So I turned and left my friends on the dance floor, hoping to hell they’d forgive me when they finally knew the truth.

“Where the fuck have you been?” Laura asked, following close on my heels as I entered my bedroom.

My patience was already thin, and my anxiety was high because of what we were about to do. “You might want to have your hearing checked. Or your memory. At this point, I’ve lost track of the times I told you I was at the wedding.”

Her hand came up so fast I braced for the impact of her slapping me, which never came. Ruby stepped into the room with a dress draped over her arm, and I didn’t know if she was the one who stopped it or my aunt’s own self-preservation. Couldn’t marry me off with a bright red handprint on my cheek.

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