Page 80 of The Fool

“No,” I say before sipping my tea, savoring that first warm caffeine hit.

“No?” he repeats, looking genuinely confused.

“No, you don’t get to tell me you miss me after you worked so hard to destroy me.”

“Bea, please, you have no idea –"

“I have three mouthfuls left, Dean,” I level with him, “what the hell is it that you want to say?”

“I need you to not come to the wedding,” he says, staring at his lap.

“I would love to bypass your happy day, believe me, but if I don’t come, my parents will be even more disappointed in me than they already are. That’s thanks to you and Emma, by the way.”

“I know and I thank you for keeping parts of our story quiet. Lord knows I don’t deserve your discretion.”

“I didn’t do it for you or Emma,” I snap, “I did it for me, for my parents, and for Ben. I did nothing to make it easy for you both.”

“Ok, ok, I get it,” he flusters.

“Why don’t you want me there? Out of interest,” I ask him with genuine curiosity in my voice. “You know I’m not going to say anything, I would have done so by now.”

“Because I can’t stop thinking about you,” he says with a whimper in his voice, shocking me to silence and with a pair of gaping wide eyes. “Seeing you the other week has only made it worse. So, you see, I can’t have you there when I’m supposed to be marrying your sister.”

“Funny, you didn’t think fucking my sister when you were supposed to be with me was such a problem, Dean,” I reply with a sad sigh, to which he throws his hands over his face to avoid looking at me. “I’d love to help you out…actually, that’s a lie. I don’t want to help you, but I also don’t want to go to your wedding. Either way, I’m not endangering my relationship with my parents for your sake.”

“Beatrice, you have no idea how sorry I am,” he sighs through his hands. “I was young and stupid.”

“It’s too late to apologize, Dean,” I tell him truthfully. “Though, you could learn from your mistakes. If another woman is making you feel so uncomfortable, perhaps you should be talking to your fiancée before you marry her.”

I pull back from the table and begin walking away, sighing over his need to get at me, even after everything. This shouldn’t be any of my business anymore, I walked away and left them pretty much unscathed, so why is he trying to place even more crap on my shoulders?

“I’ve never stopped loving you, Beatrice, never!”

His words only make me feel a rage I haven’t felt since I caught them together. After a moment’s pause for thought, I stalk back to the table, lean down so I’m face-to-face, and practically snarl at him.

“Love? Don’t use big words you don’t understand, Dean!”

Chapter 26

Nate

Staring at my cell, I brace myself to make a call I would normally look forward to. However, when you have to deliver bad news that’s going to make the recipient feel disappointed in you, it’s not exactly a welcome conversation. After everything that’s transpired over the last few days, I’m going to have to cancel on Bea. The very last thing I want to do is leave her to attend her sister’s wedding alone, but if I go now, I would effectively be turning my back on my family when they need me most.

“Hello, is everything alright?” my girl answers, sounding fully awake and worried. It’s past midnight after all.

“Hey, baby, what are you still doing up?” I begin, trying to sound light and cheerful if only to try and set her mind at ease while I procrastinate.

“Nate, it’s the day before the wedding from hell, did you really think I’d be sleeping soundly?”

“No, I guess not,” I reply sadly.

“Nate, what’s wrong?” she asks with concern in her voice.

“God, baby, I don’t even know where to begin,” I tell her truthfully. “Some stuff has gone down with my family, to do with Helena, and I can’t –"

“You’re not coming tomorrow, are you?” she says with disappointment thick in her voice.Shit, I’m the worst!

“Bea, I would be there in a shot, but I can’t leave my sister at the moment. Be honest, how much are you regretting being with me right now?”

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