Page 33 of Be My Wife

Again.

Just like that.

My thoughts veer to my first wedding.

That day, I sweated bullets. Jumped with excitement. Shook with nerves.

That day, I had tons of people in the church, eager to share in the festivities.

That day, Lana wore an extravagant wedding gown with a long train and sparkling jewels. A European artist did her makeup. Her shoes? Custom-made.

We’d had fourteen groomsmen and fourteen bridesmaids. All decked out in tailored tuxes and expensive dresses.

We had a huge reception at one of the oldest estates this side of the country.

A mountain of wedding gifts.

An entire article written in Page Six.

But none of it had mattered to me.

Not one guest, or bridesmaid or a stitch of Lana’s fifteen-thousand-dollar dress.

All I’d cared about was starting our life together.

Making a family.

Enjoying a love that would endure forever.

Forever turned out to be a lot shorter than I thought.

Elizabeth makes a sound that’s part-sigh, part-huff.

I glance over.

Watch her.

Today’s wedding was less exciting, less expensive, less well-attended, but the steadiness in my heart is its own reassurance. I don’t miss the big church or the fancy wedding dress or the loud reception.

I don’t miss love.

This marriage with Elizabeth is… something else. I promised to never hurt her and, though she promised the same, I know she can never hurt me.

She won’t have a single opportunity to.

Because I’ll never let her that close.

A phone buzzes.

I reach for my pocket, but Elizabeth stops me. “It’s mine.”

Easing back, I continue my scan of the city roaring past my window.

In the background, I hear Elizabeth’s voice—softer and more restrained than I’ve heard her speak before. “Yes, Novah. Yes. Tomorrow? Sure. I’ll do that. Of course I’m bringing him. You have no idea how much trouble I went through to—” She pauses. Glances at me.

I meet her gaze.

“He’ll be there, okay? So stop bothering me. I’ll see you tomorrow.” Elizabeth roughly ends the call and stuffs the phone in her purse.

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