Page 31 of Mr. Swoony

I hear Henry starting to argue with Merrick behind me.

“Let her go,” Conor growls.

“Okay, bud, how about we go outside to get some air?” Rowan comes over and says.

“Fuck no.” Conor dodges Rowan’s grip and pushes Tristan to the side.

Tristan’s shoulder hits the wall, and when he recovers, he eyes Conor as though he’s going to kill him with his bare hands. He focuses on where Conor now has my wrist, inspecting it.

I wiggle out of Conor’s hold. “I’m fine. You need to go,” I say softly.

“I’m not going anywhere until we talk.” He turns to me, blocking out Tristan. “Talk to me.”

“This isn’t the time.” I shake my head.

“You don’t want to marry this asshole. He only cares about himself.”

Kyleigh breaks into our little circle. “Let’s go, Conor. We’ll go outside and let them get this all get sorted out.”

Tristan stomps toward us and raises his fist, but when Conor ducks, Tristan’s punch lands on Kyleigh’s cheek.

“You’re a dead man!” Rowan tackles Tristan.

Merrick breaks from Henry, trying to pull Rowan off Tristan while Conor grabs the back of Merrick’s jacket. Soon, all the groomsmen and the Falcons are in a brawl in the middle of the church’s entryway.

“Are you okay?” I ask Kyleigh, who is holding her cheek.

“Yeah, but I think I saw stars for a second there.”

“Okay, I think I got the moms handled.” Jade steps through the doors to the sanctuary and takes in the scene, her gaze zipping around the room. “What the hell did I miss?” She finds Kyleigh and me and rushes over to us. “Did you get hit?”

A few other guests enter the foyer, presumably hearing the fighting. It’s hard to miss with all the cursing, punches, and expensive items falling to the floor.

As Jade takes care of Kyleigh, I slink away to the bridal suite, toss everything in my bag, and leave through the back door. I stop at the curb, still hearing all the yelling going on in the church, and close my eyes. I need somewhere to go and a way to get there.

Henry’s restored vintage car pulls up along the curb, and Jade leans over from the driver’s seat. “Get in.”

I open the door and see Kyleigh in the back, still holding her cheek.

Climbing in, I look at the church and say, “Go.”

I didn’t think today would go as planned, but I’ve made a huge mess. All because I put everyone else’s needs ahead of my own. No more.

Thirteen

Conor

When the fights are finally broken up, I look around the room but can’t find Eloise.

I run outside just in time to see Henry’s car drive away with the skirt of Eloise’s white dress hanging out the passenger window.

“She’s gone.” I push a hand through my hair.

“In my fucking car.” Henry pulls out his phone and steps away from everyone.

I sit on the concrete steps of the church, blood dripping from my nose.

Tweetie argues with the chipmunks, and Rowan tells Henry to tell Kyleigh that she needs to put ice on her cheek.

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