Page 60 of Fade (Fighting Fate)

His gaze turned incredulous. “Jesus Christ, Amy. You’re only twenty! What’s the fucking rush?” He shook his head. “Seriously, I thought you were smarter than this.”

“Seth . . . ” I said softly. I tried to keep the tears from coming, but I felt the sting in my eyes regardless. “Daniel’s being deployed.”

Seth recoiled. I watched the shock come over him before he pieced it all together. “When?”

I swallowed. “On the fourth.”

Deep concern replaced the shock as he studied me. “Where?”

Panic pierced my gut. “Syria.”

His gaze swung out the window. “Fuck.”

After a few moments, he turned to look at me. “Is that why he asked you?”

“No. He asked me before he found out, but . . . ” I paused, unsure how he was going to take the news. “I told him I wanted to get married before he left.”

Seth’s eyes widened. “You want to get married in

the next two weeks?”

My mind flashed to Daniel, and I felt my resolve harden. “Next Sunday.”

Seth stared at me for a few more heartbeats before throwing himself back in his chair and huffing up at the ceiling. “Amy . . . ” he said, his tone a little exasperated. “This is ridiculous. You know that, right? I mean, I understand why you want to do it, but you’re both so young. You haven’t even lived together yet. How do you know you won’t feel like killing each other after a few weeks?”

I felt myself pale at his words, sucking in a sharp breath as the pain twisted my gut.

“Fuck,” Seth muttered. “I’m sorry, Aims. I didn’t mean it like that.”

I shook my head, trying to convey to him I was okay.

“I just think you’re rushing things for the wrong reasons. Why not wait until he gets back?”

I gazed at him, trying to form the words that would explain what I was feeling. I needed him to understand. “Seth . . . I don’t need another father. I already have one, who would probably tell me the same thing and then some.” I swallowed down the rising emotion. “This is the first big decision I’ve made for myself. Please . . . ” I whispered. “I need you to trust me. I need you to believe in me—believe that I know what’s best for my own life. Please.”

Seth blinked at me, his own eyes growing a little shiny. Reaching out, he covered my hand with his, his gaze falling to the gesture as he swallowed.

His gaze was filled with sorrow when he finally looked up at me. “I’m sorry, Aims. I’m so sorry . . . ”

My throat was too thick to say anything, but I smiled to let him know he was forgiven.

“If you really do love Daniel that much, then I trust you. I’m here for you. Whatever you need.”

I smiled through watery eyes. “Will you give me away?”

His eyes widened a bit, like it was something he’d never thought about before, and to be honest, he probably never had. Why should he have? It wasn’t like our parents were dead.

A smirk broke through his surprise, and he laughed a little. “I’m starting to think no one actually owns you to give you away in the first place, Shorty, but I’d be honored in any case.”

Finally, my body relaxed, and I let out a relieved laugh. “You better damn well believe it.”

Seth shook his head, still laughing. “Does that man of yours have any idea what he’s getting himself into?”

At the mention of Daniel, my gut twisted with panic. The smile left my face, and my gaze begged Seth for help. “I’m so scared, Seth,” I whispered. “I’ve never felt so scared in my life. It’s like something’s taken a grip on my insides and is squeezing the life out of me. It hurts so much I can’t breathe . . . ”

His face fell at my distress. “Aw, Aims . . . ” he said, pushing up out of his chair and coming around to pull me into his arms. “Don’t look at me like that. It makes me feel so fucking helpless.” I sucked in a shaky breath against his chest. “Shit,” he muttered, squeezing me harder. “It’ll all work out. You asked me to trust you, now you have to trust that what you and Daniel have is big enough to beat all the odds.”

He pulled back, his hands gripping my upper arms as he demanded my attention.

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