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“Teaching Erik Mason a lesson he won’t forget anytime soon.”
I want to say something, but I am still coming to terms with what happened, and am not thinking straight. My eyes are on Philip as he murmurs something to Agatha.
He grew more mature. It is in the way he carries himself.
His dirty blond hair is slicked back and his blue eyes, which used to be so wild and carefree, are now serious and angry. Agatha never told me he was coming to my wedding. I hadn’t even invited him.
And yet, here he was. Swooping in, in the same manner he used to do when we were kids, taking charge of a situation, shielding me no matter the cost to himself.
“No.”
Everybody freezes and turn to look at me.
Good God, I went and married the man! What had I done?!
I stand up, my fists clenched at Philip’s raised brow.
“No. You can’t do this. Whatever you’re doing, just stop it.”
Philip smiles at me, a smile that I recognize, and I know in that very moment that I just lost this argument.
“It’s already done.”
The priest walks out, and Agatha follows him, leaving the two of us alone in the room.
Philip takes off his coat and slings it over the coat rack, then tucks his hands in his pockets, studying me.
“What did you do?” I ask, more quietly now. He doesn’t so much as blink.
“He fucked with a McCoy. That’s never a wise move.” I take a startled step back.
“I’m not part of your family, Philip. You didn’t have to—” He crosses the distance between us in two strides, until he is towering over me and I have to tilt my head back to look at him.
“You have always been part of our family, Charlotte.” His smirk is my undoing. “And now, it’s official.” I push against his chest in a spurt of anger.
“You can’t just marry me!” The words tear out of my throat, accusatory, as if I had not been part of this.
I hate how he stands there so cool and composed. Like my life hasn’t just shattered before his eyes. As if my fiancé hadn’t just humiliated me in front of hundreds of people today, and him.
At first I don’t feel the hot tears dripping down my cheeks, as I keep hitting his chest with my fists, my sobs broken.
“You can’t just—you can’t—”
My arms fall limp and I am surrounded by his warmth as he holds me to his chest, saying nothing, his chin resting on top of my head.
I just cry, my tears not stopping. My abused heart tearing itself into even more pieces as the events of today start solidifying in my mind
“I’m sorry,” I sob into his chest, “I’m so sorry.
” I don’t even know what I am apologizing for.
He draws me closer to himself, and I feel the press of his lips on top of my head, as he murmurs, “I’ve got you, now. You’re okay.”
I hate that his voice and those words give me comfort, but my body automatically relaxes in his embrace.
The tears dry out at some point, my heart raw and my body feeling heavy. I close my eyes and use one of the techniques from my childhood to compose myself. Clearing my head, I start breathing in and out slowly, bringing my heartbeat back to normal. It takes me a few minutes, but when I open my eyes, I feel more like myself and I nudge Philip to release me.
His eyes narrow at my calm expression, but he lets me take a few steps back.
