Page 123 of The Road to Ruined

"What?"

"You're hurting my feelings."

Sighing, he turns and—finally—looks at me. "You're asking for too much from me, Teagan. You already broke me—don't make this harder than it already is."

"That's not what I'm trying to do. I love you."

"You need to stop saying that," he says.

"Why?"

"Because I don't fucking like it!" he snaps.

"Well, why the fuck not?!" I shout, tears stinging my eyes. "What you're doing…forme…that's love. You love me, too. And after today, we're never going to see each other again, and you'llmissme…forever. And you're going to wish that you'd told me and that you'd kissed me and touched me. You're going to movefrom one big, lifeless house that isn't a home to another, and you'll sit in the dark alone and think about all of the times you made me feel like this, and you're going to hate it."

He turns his gaze back to the water and folds his arms across his chest. "I don't feel and think about things the way you do, Teagan."

"No, you don't. Not at all. But Iknowhow you think and feel about me."

"I'm sure that makes you feel better, but you're wrong. You're running out of time, little monster. You better go. Try not to get fucking wasted; it's going to be harder to get you out of here if you're causing a scene or hacking someone to pieces."

I scoff and stare at him in disbelief. "See you later, Bone Saw."

I storm back inside, grab the garment bag and my purse, and leave, letting the door slam behind me.

It's not his fault,I tell myself as I move from my building on the far end of the resort back to the main building where Blake is staying.He didn't do this to himself, and maybe he's right—maybe I am asking too much. Don't let him make you make it worse. That's probably what he wants.

I walk around the back to the spot on the beach they've set up for the wedding, take out my phone, and wipe my eyes before sending Blakely a text.

ME Last chance to change your mind on the bows.

BLAKELY Do it.

When I finish, I snap a photo and send it to her.

ME Feel better or worse?

BLAKELY Better. It's much better.

I stop at a café downstairs, grab a sandwich and a coffee, and then head up to Blakely's room to get my hair, makeup, and nails done. Even though I'm a few minutes early, it looks like I'm the last one in the room. My mom, her future mother-in-law, and the bridal party are already there.

"You couldn't have put on a t-shirt for your sister?" my mom asks as the artist does her makeup, referring—again—to the scars on my chest.

"I wouldn't be able to get a t-shirt off without ruining my hair and makeup," I say. Remembering this is the last day I'll ever spend with them, I add, "Yours looks nice, by the way."

"She looks fine, Mom," Blakely says. "Teagan, you're after Sophie for hair."

"Okay," I say, sitting on the couch.

"Do you want some champagne?" Blakely asks, handing me a glass. I think about Sebastian's shitty comment and take it anyway.

"Thanks, but I feel like you shouldn't be serving me things today."

She shrugs. "I can't sit still. Are you okay? You look like you've been crying."

Sebastian's supposed to murder me later, right? I guess it won't hurt to tell the truth.

"Sebastian and I were fighting," I tell her. "He's here, by the way…is he still invited?"

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