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Owen
“Iwouldn’tgointhere if I were you.”
My shoulders stiffen as my hand pauses above the door handle.
“What are you doing here?” I demand. I turn to find Bryce leaning against a car outside the restaurant I’m about to go in. Tonight is the rehearsal dinner for Bellamy’s wedding. I was invited, of course, but Bellamy pleaded with me not to come. And yet, here I am ready to make a fool of myself to keep her from marrying Tobias.
“Matteo sent me to stop you from doing something stupid.”
I snort. Of course, Matteo is still sending Bryce to do his dirty work.
“Get out of here, I’m fine. Just going to get what’s mine.”
But deep down, I realize there’s nothing I can do to stop Bellamy. She doesn’t belong to me. Not anymore. The marriage deal was signed in blood years ago. That’s not the sort of thing people like us walk away from. Not without consequences, anyway.
Bryce shrugs. “I’ll be in the bar if you want to talk about it.”
Taking a deep breath, I turn to leave after he disappears. Me being here will only hurt Bellamy. But the restaurant door swings open and Mrs. Hunt, Tobias’s mom, steps out.
“Owen, you made it. Come in, come in. I was stepping out for some fresh air and here you are.”
I plaster a smile on my face and offer her my arm to escort her back into the dining room. “Lovely to see you again, Mrs. Hunt.”
The large tables are filled with familiar faces, and the alcohol is flowing freely. But I don’t care about any of them, I only have eyes for Bellamy. She sits at the table in the front of the room, but Tobias isn’t with her. Without thinking, I stroll to her table and sit down in the seat that is presumably his.
“What are you doing here?” Bellamy whispers, her eyes wide with fear. “Please don’t make a scene.”
I drape an arm casually across the back of her chair and flash her a bright smile. “What makes you think I would make a scene, love? I’ve come to wish you well and say hello to Tobias. He’s been trying to get in touch with me anyway. Where is he?”
She glares at me, and I glance down at her wrist. The bracelet is still there. I don’t fully understand why that gives me a small sense of satisfaction, but it does.
“He had to take a phone call,” she finally says.
Before I can respond, a woman I don’t recognize stands and someone hands her a microphone.
She gives a cheesy toast to Tobias and Bellamy, gushing about what a perfect couple they make, and even spouting some nonsense about how they were always meant to be together.
As the tipsy woman finishes, I find myself walking toward her, with Bellamy hissing at me as I go. I take the microphone, and the room falls silent as I lift it to speak. All eyes are on me, and a knot tightens in my stomach, but I push through it.
“Good evening, everyone,” I say, my voice echoing through the room. “I have something to say about Bellamy and Tobias that may surprise some of you.”
I glance around the room, noting the looks of confusion and curiosity on many faces. Ignoring them, I focus on Bellamy and look her directly in the eyes.
“Bellamy Harper is an incredible woman. She is beautiful and smart and strong—a force to be reckoned with in all aspects of her life. I’ve had the pleasure of spending a lot of time with her over the last few years, and I’m so proud of everything she’s accomplished. She is someone who knows what she wants and goes for it without hesitation or fear. She is inspiring and admirable in so many ways…and I love her deeply. More than any of you will ever understand.”
Gasps echo throughout the room as I confess my love for her, and I can feel Bellamy’s glare burning into me. I spy Tobias in the doorway of the private dining room, and I’m certain he’s heard my confession. I lift my glass his direction and continue.
“And it thrills me that she’s marrying our childhood best friend. Just because we’ve both been busy with our lives, doesn’t mean I don’t know him, and I know he’s going to be everything she needs in this life. Congratulations to both of you.”
I can almost feel the collective sigh of relief as I finish my toast in a respectable way.
Stalking toward the table, I can see on Bellamy’s face that she isn’t relieved at all. She’s pissed. But I match her glare as I loom over her, still gripping the microphone. It’s not what I wanted to say, but it’s what came out after seeing the look on her face. So I bend down and whisper what I really want to say in her ear.
“I’m begging you, Bellamy. You’re everything to me. Don’t do this.”
***
Tobias
