AllFreeNovel
Share Us
And then he goes on. "I didn’t know that was going to happen,” he tells the crowd. “I met her at a wedding and asked her to dance because she’s so damned beautiful, and there was just…something about her. But then…I had to talk her into it. That’s never happened to me before.”
That gets a bunch of laughs.
He grins and nods. “I know. But from that moment, I couldn’t stop thinking about her. We danced, and then…she walked away. And I was done for. I saw her again at the next wedding, and I just had to have another chance. And then I found out how fucking amazing she is.” He looks around the room. “You don’t even know. She’s so incredible. And she’s willing to be here with me. With us. I just…” He shakes his head. “I can’t believe it. I love her so much.”
The crowd goes crazy cheering, applauding, and pounding on tables.
I swallow hard and look at Jonah. “Why…why is he doing this?”
Jonah doesn’t look anywhere near as shocked as I feel. "He needed to say this. He told me yesterday during our run that it's been trapped inside for so long, he’s been afraid he’s just going to blurt it out to you. I guess if he can’t say it to you, he had to at least say it to someone."
I blink. Then frown again. "He couldn't say it to me? But he could say it to an entire pub full of people he barely knows?”
“These are his people, Abi. They’re the ones who most need to know where his heart is.”
My frown deepens. “More than I do?” I ask.
Jonah nods. “They need to feel close to him long term. After you leave.”
My rib cage tightens. So these people get to see a side of Torin, hear genuine thoughts and feelings from him—even ones that are about me—because he knows they’re going to be here and support him and love him…even after I’m gone.
My stomach is in a knot. It feels so…wrong for him to be sharing something that’s clearly something he feels deeply with anyone else before me.
I want to be the one to know all his thoughts and feelings.
I want to be the one he shares everything with.
I want to be the one he knows will be there for him.
I want to be the one he tells how much he loves me.
"Yes!” Torin shouts. “I am madly in love with my wife!”
The crowd cheers, hoisting their drinks in the air.
"And we’re going to have a wedding!” Torin suddenly announces.
I gasp.
“We’re already married, but I want to pledge my love to her forever in front of all of you."
Okay that is definitely something we specifically said we were not going to do.
The pub burst into cheers, the sound of feet stomping and hands pounding on the tables again filling the air.
“And our marriage deserves a huge party!” Torin declares.
And I stand just staring with my mouth hanging open.
My husband, the man who promised to protect me from public spectacle and judgment and being the center of attention, has just announced his feelings for me to a bunch of people I don't know, including who knows how many people on the internet.
And promised them a wedding. A royal wedding that everyone will be excited to see.
I turn to Jonah. "I need to get out of here.”
“Okay,” is Jonah’s simple answer. He doesn’t look a bit surprised.
Well, at least I was willing to walk down to the pub even if I didn’t go inside.
