Page 55 of Always Mine

“I’m hot.”

“Well, these outfits aren’t very sexy but, if you think you’re hot you are.”

“No, temperature wise.”

Her mother came inside, wearing black. Why would she choose black for her daughter’s wedding? “It’s time to go, honey. Your father’s waiting outside the door.”

Annie picked up her bouquet of…roses, not carnations? Why?

The church was jam-packed as she processed down the aisle. But she didn’t know very many of the guests. She reached the altar and smiled at Diego. He wore a black tux but the bow was untied. He met her in the middle.

They took their vows. And he slid the wedding band on her.

After she slipped his on, she looked up into the eyes…Seth. She was marrying Seth! What happened to Diego? Oh, God, she’d married the wrong man.

* * *

Diego didn’t know how long he waited on the porch, but at one point, Annie got another visitor, carrying a big bouquet of Annie’s favorite flower.

“What the fuck are you doing here?” Diego spat out.

Seth Sanders gave him the evil eye. “I could ask you the same question. Haven’t you hurt her enough?”

“Annie wants me here.”

“Then you’d be inside with her. Diego, you have to let her go. This is all your fault.”

“Go to hell.”

“Well, she asked to see me so I’m going inside. I hope you’re not here when I come out.”

“Gonna beat me up?”

“Nah, all it would take is a blow to that shoulder. But I’m a pacifist. Too bad.”

Lucy came out again. “Seth!” She hugged him. “What a beautiful bouquet. Come on in. Annie’s awake now.” With a disgusted glance for Diego, Lucy let Annie’s former fiancé in. He didn’t blame her.

* * *

Annie woke with a start. “I married the wrong man.”

Her father came inside and rushed to the bed. “Daddy, I married the wrong man.”

“Honey, you must have had a bad dream. You’re not married to anyone.”

“I’m not?”

“No. Now take some deep breaths. You have a visitor.”

“Diego?”

“You said you didn’t want to see him. It’s Seth.”

Oh, no.

Her mom came inside carrying pink carnations in a vase. “Seth is here, Annie. Look what he brought you.”

“Seth came over on his own?”

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