Page 135 of Hostile Love
My brows snap together, and I swallow hard. Matheus sinks into the seat beside me and lightly pinches my jaw, turning it towards him.
“It would be a shame to let all these flowers go to waste.” He stares into my eyes as Dante invites Tomás to recite his vows. “What if we got married today too?”
A wisp of panic catches me off guard. My stomach knots and my lungs tighten.
Weddings.
Babies.
Family.
Love.
Fuck, I’m completely overwhelmed.
“N-n-no,” I stammer. “We can’t hijack their wedding.”
Matheus dips into the side of my face and whispers in my ear, “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” I mumble, smiling tightly.
Slowly, he straightens, links our fingers, and strokes his thumb over mine—hypnotic and comforting.
While Tomás’ deep voice promises a lifetime of commitment and devotion, my pulse stutters and my mind spins.
39
MATHEUS
The newly married couple kiss under the flowery arch.
We clap, cheer, and whistle while André jumps to his feet and hugs the two of them.
There’s a lot of noise for such a small group of people. All of it coming from us. But not Dani.
She looks distant and a little too hasty to take her hand back now we’re standing.
“Here!” India tosses a few pouches at us. “Throw confetti at them.”
As the newlyweds walk past us, we chuck fistfuls of tiny petals, littering the floor and catching in their hair.
Although Dani takes part, I get the feeling she’s just going through motions. Maybe she’d rather be anywhere else other than here?
Well, that hurts.
Rather than hang around to talk to my siblings, I grab her wrist and pull her outside, dodging Tomás on my way past.
“What’s wrong?” Dani demands.
“You tell me?”
“What do you mean?”
I don’t answer until after we’ve descended a wooden staircase together, rejoined the thick humidity, and took a covered walkway taking us deeper into the jungle. The earthy atmosphere sticks to my skin and clings to my shirt.
I like it here, but fuck, I like it better when I’m indoors with cool air conditioning.
My pulse is thundering in my ears and the crazy fucking insects won’t shut up. Yanking my tie, I stretch the muscles in my neck.
