Page 43 of The Fight

The ceremony continues, but it isn’t until my mom and Henry turn toward the guests that I give them my attention again. They’re preparing for their first kiss as husband and wife, but all of the weight I’ve been feeling doesn’t let me focus. It slams into me, and the finality of it all settles over me. I’m supposed to be smiling and celebrating with them, but I’m not. Instead, I turn back to Shay.

He’s watching me like no one else exists.

The kiss ends, and everyone begins to clap, but I barely hear it. I stand there frozen, letting Mom and Henry step down and move toward the doors. Everyone files in behind them like ants, but I stay rooted until everyone other than Shay is left.

I finally step down, too, and walk toward the exit, only stopping when I’m in front of Shay. I should be mad at him—angry—but I’m not. I don’t even know how to describe it, but all feels right again, being within his orbit.

“Blair—” he starts, but I cut him off.

Throwing my arms around his neck, I pull his face to mine and press our lips together. I relish the taste I’ve missed so much and finger his locks of hair.

“You almost broke a promise,” I mumble against his mouth.

His lips tip up with a smile. “Almost doesn’t count.”

I roll my eyes and push him away. “I really didn’t think you’d make it.”

He shrugs and shoves his hands into his pockets. “Well, I did. Unless you ask my dad. I swear the look he gave me when he was leaving said everything.”

I sigh and lean my hip against the pew. “Yeah. Not a great way to show up, considering how you left things.”

I let the statement hang between us. I know him leaving was best, but it doesn’t mean it hurt me any less. I think he knows that too.

“I’m sorry,” he says, reaching for my arm and pulling me back to him. “I should’ve… I don’t know, handled things better. I’m a hothead, what can I say?” He grins.

I shake my head. “Most fighters are.”

Shay tips his head. “What other fighters do you know?”

“Shut up,” I laugh. “I’m saying in general. Don’t get jealous.”

He buries his face into my neck. “I’ll always be jealous over you, Dollface.”

I clasp the back of his head and lean back. His lips feel so good on my skin I never want them to leave. “As much as I love hearing that, I think tonight, of all nights, we should really try and be good.”

“Good?” He snaps his head up and stands straight. “So I’m not getting laid?”

“Shut the fuck up,” I laugh again.

Finally, he releases me. “Okay, fine. I’ll be good. But if that’s how we’re playing it, I think we should head to the reception. Someone is bound to notice we aren’t there soon.”

I glance out the doors and see how empty the church foyer is. “Yeah, you’re right.”

“I’m going to head to the bathroom. Meet me outside?”

I flash him a smile. “I’ll be waiting.”

As I go to step away, he shrugs off his suit jacket and hands it to me. “There’s a breeze. Put this on.”

“Is there really a breeze, or is this some weird way to mark your territory?”

“I guess you’ll never know.” He winks, turning on his heel, and heads in the opposite direction of the doors.

Crossing the foyer, I step outside the church doors and laugh. There is no breeze to be felt, so I guess that answers my question. The tension that was building in my chest before starts to melt away, and I can’t help but take a deep breath. Shay’s here, and we’ll figure out what happens next together.

I unravel his jacket in my hands and start to wrap it around me, but something starts vibrating in his pocket. I frown, glancing around to see if he’s coming yet, but I don’t see him. When I pull the phone from his pocket, the screen lights up, revealing an unknown number.

The same number that’s been sending me those weird texts.

---