“I guess,” Heath conceded. “But I’m kind of glad I don’t have to worry about in-laws. She comes to me unencumbered. So, congratulate me, gentlemen.”
They did, though at least one of the guys seemed fairly disgusted with Heath.
“I have to go,” Heath said suddenly.
Before I could move, he was almost on top of me. When he saw me, he winced. “Tim.”
“Heath. I couldn’t help but overhear your little convo with your buddies. Areyougoing to tell Nat all of those things, or do you want me to do it?”
He swiped a hand over his face. “Look, don’t make trouble for me. Natalie fucking hates you. She’s told me that she only tolerates you because she loves your parents and sisters. She thinks you stare at her like a lovesick puppy.”
I felt sick. Did she really say those things? Or was he lying? “I don’t believe you.”
“That doesn’t matter to me.” He tossed the rest of his drink back. “It doesn’t matter anyway. After tonight, I’ll make sure she’s never alone with you again.” He held up his empty glass and shook it a bit. “I’m headed to the bar. Can I get you anything? I hear people who’ve lost someone they love often feel the need to drink a lot. Might as well get started on that, brother.”
He slapped me on the back and hurried off.
Probably because if I slapped him on the back, it would throw him right into one of the walls.
I had to get to Natalie before he proposed. Because it didn’t take a genius to figure out that’s what he was planning on doing tonight.
***
I had looked everywhere for Natalie but couldn’t find her. I was standing by the bar, scanning all entrances to the room. I knew I’d see her eventually.
And then I saw her.
She walked in the room shortly after Blair entered with some guy who was most definitely not her husband.
Almost immediately, Nat’s eyes found me. For just a moment, it was like just the two of us were in the room. I’d experienced this feeling with her before. It was like time slowed down, the noise faded, everything besides Natalie grew blurry. We were back in our private bubble.
She looked stunning. Her blue gown made her eyes seem even brighter than usual, and the fitted material showed off her figure to its very best advantage. I would give just about anything to be the one who got to take that dress off her tonight.
The look she was giving me as she walked my way wasn’t helping things. I was hard as a fucking pipe and so glad my jacket gave me some camouflage. I didn’t want to traumatize any little old ladies tonight.
I set down my glass and started walking towards her. I would take her somewhere, kiss the hell out of her, tell her about Heath, tell her I loved her, and then spend all weekend in bed with her. We’d make up for lost time. We’d…
“Ladies and gentlemen…”
Record scratch. The bubble around Nat and me popped. I didn’t listen to a word Heath said, I just tried to keep willing Natalie over to me.
And then he said her name, inviting her to go to the front of the room with him.
Fuck. He was about to do it. In front of all these people like a douche so she wouldn’t say no.
This… wasn’t good.
I watched helplessly while Heath got down on one knee, flipped open a Cartier box to show off a ring that probably cost more than I made in a year, and proposed.
To my girl.
TomyNatalie.
To the woman who would’ve been mine more than a year ago if I’d just done what everyone had told me to do and gotten help years before I actually had. If I just hadn’t broken her heart and crushed her self-esteem and then told her it was her own fault.
I caught her eye and mouthed, “Say no.”
But there was something on her face that was giving me an awful pit in my stomach. Her lips parted, and I knew I had to get out of there. I was going to be sick. I couldn’t stand to watch her agree to marry that bastard.
