Page 117 of For the Promise

“I shouldn’t have said we can get an annulment in front of my family.”

She scowls. “In front of your family?”

“I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“You think you hurt me because you spoke in front of your family?” She shakes her head. “Leave. Just go.”

“I’m not going anywhere until we figure this out.”

“What is there to figure out? I love you, but you want an annulment. There’s nothing to figure out.”

My heart stops beating. “You love me?”

She rolls her eyes. “Duh. I realized I loved you when you went along with my crazy idea to prank your brothers. Although.” Her nose wrinkles. “I knew I was falling in love with you before then. Probably from the moment you rushed me to the courthouse to marry me to stop Alan from stealing my money.”

Warmth spreads through me at her words. All is not lost. I reach for her but she bats my hands away.

“Don’t touch me, Jaxon.”

I cringe at her use of my given name instead of her nickname for me.

“Petal—”

“Don’t call me Petal. I’m not your petal. I’m not your anything. You want an annulment, remember?”

“I’m an idiot.”

“If you expect me to disagree with you, you’re going to be waiting a long time.”

I’d smile at her sass, but I’m afraid she’ll throw me in the ocean if I do.

“I don’t expect you to agree with me. I expect you’ll disagree with me often in the future.”

She frowns. “Future. What future? We’re getting an annulment, remember?”

“I don’t want an annulment. I love you. I want you to be my wife.”

Her mouth drops open. “You love me? You have a weird way of showing it.”

This time, when I reach for her, she allows me to take her hands. “I love you but I was afraid.”

“Of me?” She lifts her eyebrows. “I’ve never been accused of being scary before. Except for the time I dressed up as Jason, but it was Halloween and my friends dared me.”

“I’m not afraid of you. I was afraid you’d leave me.”

“Where was I…” She trails off and swears underneath her breath. “I’m an idiot. I should have realized.”

I squeeze her hands. “How were you supposed to realize when I didn’t?”

“Because I have more social skills than a sea cucumber.”

I frown. “I have social skills.”

“Jaxon, my nerd boy, I love you with all my heart, but social skills and personal awareness are not in your wheelhouse.”

“You love me with all your heart?”

“I do. And I know you. It all makes sense now. Why you’ve never invited me to your house. Why you ignored me for the past two days. Why you asked for an annulment. You were afraid to fall too deeply in love with me because you have abandonment issues.”

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