Page 125 of The Road to Ruined

I stifle a laugh, looking around to make sure no one is watching before snatching it from his hand.

"Youcannotput that in there," I whisper.

"Why not?" he asks. "You think it's funny."

Using one of the candlesticks Blakely hates, I light the paper on fire, watching it burn down to my fingertips before letting it fall to the sand. "I don't think that's the kind of thing she will want to be reminded of on her wedding anniversary."

I let it burn until there's nothing left but smoldering embers and then stomp it out with my heels. When I look up, he's staring at my dress.

"You don't like it," I say.

He places his hand on my waist and runs his fingers over one of the embroidered flowers. "That's not true. That's not what I was thinking."

"I don't want to know what you were thinking—"

"I was just thinking that it doesn't look like something you'd pick for yourself. And you deserve to have everything that you want. But you look beautiful, Teagan—just as beautiful as the first time I saw you."

I cock my head to the side, narrowing my eyes at him. The first time that he saw me, I was covered in blood in a filthy men's restroom.

"I know what I said. I know when it was," he adds.

"Teagan, you two can come sit now," my mom says. "Nice to see you, Sebastian. Thanks for coming."

"Thanks for having me," he says. "Everything looks great."

When she turns around, I shake my head at the killer beside me.

"Wait," I say as he starts to follow.

I quickly scribble onto one of those scraps of parchment,I hope you get everything you want. Love, Teagan.

I stuff it in the bottle, and we rush to our seats as everyone takes their places. A pianist plays "You Are In Love" by Taylor Swift, and everyone stands, waiting for Blakely to walk down the aisle onto the beach in a lace gown.

My parents and her bridesmaids cry as she makes her way to the altar; my mom reaches for me and clasps my hand in hers.

When she reaches Austin and we sit, Sebastian places his arm around my shoulders.

"How does the room look?" I whisper. "Did you take a picture?"

He leans into me, kissing my neck before whispering into my ear, "Convincing while not entirely obvious—nothing over the top. Got rid of the De Rossi cum sheets, too. And no, I didn't take a picture."

"Can I see it?"

"No, you'll mess it up," he says. "I already put your stuff in the car."

"I think it will be a relief for them…that it's over. Don't you think?"

He hesitates before answering. "Yeah, sure."

"I've been a burden to them. They can move on with their lives."

"I think maybe they'll stop seeing it that way," he says into my neck. "I think they'll miss you."

My mom nudges me, giving me a side-eyed glare, and I shut the fuck up.

The ceremony itself is short, followed by a reception under the same open-air tent where we had the rehearsal dinner last night. Luckily, for me, enough people canceled on Blake and Austin last minute that it wasn't an issue seating Sebastian. I catch looks from both of my parents as he speaks that seem to saynow why couldn't you have met a guy like this six months ago?I think he did more talking than anyone at the table, and I just sat there…in awe of him.

Wondering how he plays the part so well and what he would be like if things had been different. Would he have been a rockstar, too, or just a regular guy? Was the killer in him more inherent than even he believes, and would this have always been his fate? Would all three of them have been a lot more innocent than they are now?

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