Page 62 of Deadline for Love

His sudden change in voice, which sounded furious, really shocked me and I averted my gaze.

“You want to get played again?”

Shame washed over me at his declaration, but he wasn't done yet.

“Bella, look at me!”

But I didn’t. I couldn’t.

“Do you even know this guy? You couldn't even invite the people who care about you? Do we mean nothing to you?”

His voice quivered, which made me look at him.

“I know it seems fast, but with everything going on, it was the only way.’’

“I don’t care about that! I care about you, Bella, the rest doesn't matter! I can’t believe you would do something so stupid. Should we review the experience of you sulking around after your ex? You have shitty taste in men, Bella. I can't believe you'd do this.”

I couldn't believe he was using my past against me. “I can judge what is good for me and what is not just fine,” I finally said in a firm voice, but he just clicked his tongue.

“Who did you marry?”

“Nathan Blake, you've met him…”

“The guy who was here with Justin and Amara?” He rolled his eyes and sighed loudly, “Why? Because he's attractive?”

“No. He’s a good person, and he’s been there for me when I’ve needed him.”

He slapped his forehead. “So, if someone is nice to you, you just run off and marry them, huh?”

“Fernando, that’s not true, and you know it! Nathan is a good man, and I feel safe around him.” My voice shook in the aftermath of my anxiety.

“A good man? How do you know that? How long have you known him? Can you say that? Bella, I really can’t believe it!”

I loved Fernando as if he were my little brother, and hearing his words broke my heart.

“Don’t come crying again when you get your heart broken; I’m tired of cleaning up your messes.”

My eyes burned with tears as a fat lump formed in my mouth, and I couldn’t speak at all. Fernando was the one who supported me through my breakup. But that he would be the one to say such words against me was like a stab in my heart.

He saw the hurt in my eyes and got up and came to my side, then wrapped his arms around my shoulders and kissed my temple. “I’m sorry, Bella, I didn’t mean to say that. I don’t know what came over me. Please don’t be sad.”

I allowed his hug and closed my eyes to stop my tears from escaping. “I accept your apology,” I whispered.

He cradled me in his arms for a long moment and left a little more space between us to peer at me.

“I’m just worried about you, Bella; I don’t want to see you go through that again. You mean a lot to me. You deserve to be happy and have a good life.”

His words comforted me, but I understood his feelings, so I didn’t really have the right to be upset.

“Thank you,” was all I could come up with.

“You know that we would have had a hell of a time if you had told us. Can you imagine how drunk Maria would have gotten? It would have been hilarious.”

The idea he had just given me brought a bitter smile to my lips. If it had been a real marriage, I’m sure we would have celebrated, but it wasn’t...

“I’m not in the mood for a party,” I finally said, leaning back in my chair. “And I’m glad I married Nathan, I feel safer not being alone. Someone rang my doorbell at night and has been leaving me creepy messages, so I’m glad to be out of my apartment.”

“And moving in with a strange man makes you feel better? What if it was him who did all this?”

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