Page 70 of Between the Stars

I send Jace one last text message:I’m getting married tomorrow, and if you love me, you’ll say something. You’ll show up and beg me, one last time, choose me. And I will, because it’s always been you.

CHAPTER28

Leather and Lace

ABBI

I’m looking for an excuse.

I stareat my reflection in the mirror. What am I doing? How’d I get this far into an engagement when I know deep down, I can’t go through with this.

My situation is frustrating and no matter how much I justify it I know I won’t be happy if I go through with this. I’ve ran all the outcomes in my head. One by one. And not one of them do I have to go through with the wedding. But what would it mean for my family if I walk away?

As I stand there in my wedding gown, crying, Josie takes my face in her hands. “Think about this, girl. Is he really the one?”

I swallow over the tears but don’t say anything.

“Take it from someone who knows firsthand. Before they bite, they bark. Before they hit, they punch the wall beside your head.” Her sincere eyes search mine. “You have to know when to say I’m not going to risk it.”

I don’t know the entire story as to why Josie left New York and then Australia a month later. It had something to do with the drummer, but I’m beginning to think there might have been more to the story.

“I don’t know what to do,” I cry, my head on her shoulder, wishing it was her brother holding me. “I’m… pregnant, and it’s not his. And if I don’t marry him, his dad with sell off my parents’ company and they’ll have nothing left!”

She stares at me, as if she can’t decide what she wants to react to. The fact that I’m pregnant, or that the Hemington Family own me and my family. Or maybe she’s not worried about any of that. I have no clue. I can barely breathe.

She draws in a breath. “What?”

“Hemington Holding’s bought Lockett Plumbing in December. My dad only owns 25 percent of his own company now.”

“That’s not your problem, Abbi.” Josie frowns, her lips in a hard, flat line. “He’s a grown man and his business dealings are not your problem.”

“If I don’t marry Griff, they’ll sell the company and his remaining shares won’t be worth anything.”

“He’ll still own 25 percent.”

“He’ll lose it eventually. It’s how these companies work.”

“Okay, but still, none of that has to do with you.”

She’s right, it doesn’t, but it also doesn’t make my decision any easier.

Josie gasps and pulls back to stare at me. “Abbi, we can work all that out. What we can’t work out is you going through with this wedding.”

“I’m scared.”

“To say something?”

“Yes. I don’t know… how to,” I cry, hating that when it comes to Griff, I can’t stand up for myself.

Josie wraps her arms around me, cradling the back of my head as I cry into her shoulder. “Is this Jace’s baby?”

I nod as she rubs my back. “It has to be.”

“Does he know?”

“No.” You can’t miss the dejection in my voice. “He doesn’t even answer my text messages or phone calls.”

Just as I’m about to say something, Griff’s mom walks in with his cousin. “Where’s my pretty little daughter-to-be?” Georgia asks, glowing with excitement. “Oh, honey, we need to fix your makeup.”

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