Page 60 of Reluctantly Married

The minute the words were out, her invisible walls went up. She shuttered her feelings and withdrew from him. He’d scared her away.

He was an idiot.

He raked his hand through his hair again. There wasn’t anything else to do. He’d spilled it all, and he couldn’t take it back. Now she would run from him, and he’d be left standing with nothing but a sham of a marriage.

He crossed the room and flopped down on the couch.

There’d be no sleeping tonight.

Megan awoke with a start. She clutched the fabric of her T-shirt. It wasn’t a dream. Adam had said he loved her, for real. That he wasn’t pretending.

And she had rejected him.

Her heart hammered in her chest so loud she thought the neighbors would hear. What had she done? Why had she refused to tell him how she felt?

There was no reason she couldn’t pursue her career and stay with Adam. Why had she been so stupid?

She flopped back on her bed and stared at the ceiling. Thoughts of Adam swirled through her mind. His face when he’d found out he would have to sing in front of people. The way he had held her when she was terrified on the climbing wall. His kiss yesterday.

How could she leave him? She loved him. Megan let that sink into her head. She’d been in love with him this whole time. She’d just been pushing those feelings away.

Why? Because she’d thought he was in this to trick her. So everyone would laugh at her for believing the stupid Doctor Lemon. And then the contract with ABC had come around and she’d thought he was just doing it for the hundred thousand dollars.

A surge of emotion swelled. But he had said it was real. And the way he’d said it, he was serious. She believed him. And she loved him back.

She swallowed the golf-ball sized lump in her throat. She had to tell him. She couldn’t let him think she’d been pretending this whole time.

A thrill of excitement shivered through her. She would do it. Now. She had to.

On shaking legs, she walked to the door and opened it. A blanket lay on the couch, folded neatly beside a pillow. She peeked around the corner, but the bathroom was empty.

And that was when she noticed the note.

23

Megan rushed over to thetable and picked up the small folded piece of paper. Her vision blurred as she read the words.

I’m sorry, Megan. I can’t go through with this. I will contact a lawyer for an annulment. I’m sorry if this hurts your chances to further your career. I won’t say anything to anyone. Hopefully they won’t find out. —Adam

She rushed to the closet and threw open the doors. His clothes were gone. He’d left. She sunk to the floor and grabbed her head.

No.

This couldn’t mean the marriage was over. Not now. Not before she had the chance to tell him. She’d been so stupid. How could she have let him go?

Her chest tightened, and she blinked away the tears. She had to make this right. She’d hurt him so terribly. Senselessly. Why had she been so selfish?

Her hands shook as she brushed the moisture from her face. She could fix this. She had to. Shaking, she stood and crossed the room to pick up her cell phone. It was cold and heavy in her hands. She dialed his number and listened to it ring. No answer.

She hung up and dialed again. Still nothing. Was he blocking her calls? Of course. He didn’t want to talk to her. What did she expect? He had basically put his heart out on a line for her. And she’d smashed it.

If he wouldn’t take her calls, then the only thing left to do was go home and talk to him in person.

The noises of the airport were making Adam’s head pound. He hadn’t slept at all last night. His wedding night. He drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. This was not how he planned to spend his honeymoon.

He’d been hoping the time alone with Megan would be enough to show her how he really felt. The plan had been to ease her into the idea of them staying married. He’d really screwed that up. Handled it like a fool.

He expelled another breath. Maybe this was for the best. Megan didn’t love him. Even if they’d had a wonderful honeymoon together, that wouldn’t have changed her feelings for him. If she didn’t have those feelings now, nothing he could do would force it upon her.

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