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“You’re still young, Alice. You’ll have time to figure everything out.”
“Do you?” she asks, as I guide her around the dance floor. She was right, she has two left feet, which I happen to find adorable as hell. It just means I have a reason to hold her closer, to show her where we might go. “I mean, you’re older than me, Aiden. I don’t want to be holding you back ––”
I kiss her. Needing to shut her up. The idea of her ever holding me back is insane. When I pull away, I shake my head and tell her the truth. “Alice, I can’t imagine you ever holding me back. You’ve opened me up, you’ve made me believe in love again. I’m in no rush for anything, except getting a ring on your finger.”
Her eyes widen. “I thought I was just your make-believe bride?”
“For now, but we’ll see about that. You know I love you, and being your make-believe anything isn’t gonna be enough for very long.”
Alice bites her bottom lip shaking your head in disbelief. “How did I get so lucky to find you?”
“If I remember correctly, it took you nearly drowning for us to meet.”
This gets her laughing again, and then someone comes on stage with a microphone, telling everyone to head outside so we can wish the bride and groom off.
Alice and I follow the crowd, and everyone is given sparklers, and they light up the night with hundreds of glittering wands.
The crowd parts for Alice’s sister and her husband. The pair rush through us, toward a white limousine. Everyone claps and smiles, and for a family wedding, I’m surprised at how undramatic this one has turned out to be.
Anna stops and gives Alice a kiss and tells her she loves her.
I watch, knowing that in a good moment, a lot can be swept under the carpet.
As they drive away, some guests return to the reception, and others leave. Alice and I go to the bar to get a drink, and when we get there, we’re greeted by her father and Peter Gunheight.
Alice looks at them, clearly annoyed, muttering under her breath to me, “Sorry, baby.”
I just shrug it off, I can handle these two men.
“Aiden?” Alice’s dad says to me. “We need to have a word with you.” His voice is tough, stern.
“Dad, can we just wait ––” Alice starts but her dad cuts her off.
“No. This can’t wait. Peter here told me you two were engaged.” Dad’s eyes are fiery and I run my hand over my beard glancing at Alice who just rolls her eyes.
“Peter, that is my business, okay? You don’t need to run off and tell my dad things that are none of your concern.”
Peter crosses his arms smugly. “Well, it is my concern. I care about you Alice, I always have. I’m going to end up with you.”
“I’m not a prize you can just claim. I’m a woman. And I happen to be in love with Aiden.”
“So, it’s true?” her father asks, steely-eyed. “You’re engaged to this man?”
I step in “There was a miss––”
“Aiden, you don’t need to justify anything to them,” Alice says. “It’s none of your business, Peter. So please, leave well enough alone. It’s my sister’s wedding,” she says. “Please don’t make this about anything else.”
“We waited until she left before we confronted your supposedly ‘fiancé’,” Peter hisses. His use of air quotes really pisses me the fuck off.
“Alice, you may say you’re in love with this man,” her father says, looking me up and down with disdain. “But you don’t know anything about him.”
“I know enough, Dad,” Alice says. Her determination makes me so damn proud of her. She may have seen herself as weak and small before, but Alice has found her voice and it makes me swell up with love for her.
“No, Alice, I don’t think you do,” Peter scoffs. “He is just using you. And probably wants your money.”
“Did your fiancé tell you he was married?” her father asks.
My face goes white, my heart constricts. No fucking away.
“Married?” Alice asks confused. She looks over at me. “What is he ––” she shakes her head. “Aiden?”
“Yes, technically, but I swear it’s not – –”
Peter pulls up his phone. “His marriage to Sheila Morgan took place in Juneau, Alaska two years ago. And they are still married, according to last year’s tax turns.”
“That’s fucking bullshit ––”
“Sheila?” Alice asks. “The Sheila I met?”
“Yeah, the Sheila you met, I’m not keeping anything from you. She’s my ex.”
“Your ex what?” Alice asks. Her father and Peter are watching everything we say with concentration.
“My ex-wife. At least soon to be ––”
“Soon to be?” Alice’s mouth falls open in shock. “Aiden, you’re married?”
“Alice ––” I reach for her but she has already stepped away, covering her face in shock.
“I trusted you. I loved you.”
