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Very true, but I wouldn’t concede that out loud. “Look, I didn’t decide this on a whim. I took an entire week to think about it. To look at it from every angle. There are more pros to this than cons.”
Dane’s brow knitted as he halted abruptly. “How can there possibly be pros to this? Why marry someone you don’t love?”
I glanced from him to Vienna as I said, “People do that sometimes, you know. They marry for other reasons, and they probably don’t expect feelings to develop. They likely think it will end in divorce—that may even be part of their agreement when they marry. But it turns out they’re wrong, and something good comes of that marriage. Those people would be hypocritical to judge me for this, wouldn’t they?”
My parents subtly exchanged a wary look.
I’d once overheard them talking about how their marriage had initially been one of convenience. Dane had needed to marry someone in order to have access to his trust fund and, since Vienna had owed him a favor, he’d requested that she help him. I hadn’t mentioned it to anybody else, though. Not even my siblings.
I skimmed my gaze over everyone. “I realize this isn’t the traditional reason to stand before a priest. But I’m tired of waiting for the things I want from life to happen—I don’t have to elaborate on what those are. This could all go tits-up and end up in divorce, sure. But any marriage can.”
“You’d have less chance of it happening if you and Dax were marrying for the right reason,” clipped Ollie, sinking onto the cushion beside his fiancée.
I shrugged. “Probably. But I’m still going to take that chance.”
Marleigh shot me a pleading look. “Addie—”
“No,” I snapped, my eyes darting from her to Ollie. “It’s easy for you two to sit there and lecture me on this. You have been together since you were teenagers. You’ve always known that you’d one day get to the point you’re at now. You haven’t spent years searching for it, hoping for it, failing over and over to make it happen. You didn’talmostmake it happen only to then unfairly lose it.”
Ollie rubbed at the corner of his eye. “If this is about Lake—”
“It’s about what I feel is best for me.” Again, I glanced at everyone. “Noneof you can possibly know what choice you’d make in my shoes, because you’ve never walked in them, so those of you lecturing me need to dismount your high fucking horses.”
Sighing, Ollie cut his gaze to Alicia. “Don’t you have anything to say about this? She wants tomarrythis guy. And don’t get me wrong, I respect Dax. But do you really think he’d be good for her?”
Idly stroking her fingers down one palm, Alicia pursed her lips. “Do you remember how the son of one of Dad’s colleagues used to get all up in my space at parties? You said he’d make a good partner for me; that I should give him a chance. I took your advice, and I quickly realized he was using me to get to Dad.”
Ollie awkwardly plucked at his collar.
Alicia placed her hands on her thighs. “Both Addie and Harri have had to deal with that kind of thing as well. You never did, because you’ve always had Marleigh. You can’t know how refreshing it is to be around someone who doesn’t need or want anything from you; who you can be sure is all aboutyou. Dax might not love Addie, but he wants herfor her.And I believe he’d treat her well, just as he did years ago.”
Appearing somewhat irritated that she’d made valid points, Ollie turned to Harri. “What’s your opinion on this?”
Harri tucked her joined hands between her thighs. “I know you’re hoping I’ll back you up, but I agree with Alicia. Plus, as Mom said, Addie’s always made good, solid decisions. If she thinks this is the best thing for her, who are we to tell her differently?”
“Couldn’t have worded it all better myself,” said Sabrina.
Tamara nodded. “I, too, am in agreement with Harri.”
Alicia dipped her chin. “As am I.”
Everyone else simply stared at me.
I inwardly sighed. “I’m not asking you all to approve. I’m not asking that you be happy for me. But I am asking that you don’t interfere.”
“Even if we worry that this is something you might later regret?” asked Dane, his tone clipped.
“Even then,” I replied. “You get to feel how you feel but, like it or not, it’s notyourfeelings or worries or opinions that are most relevant here. This ismylife. I wouldn’t tell any of you how to live yours, and you don’t get to tell me how to live mine. You definitely don’t get to shout at me.”
Dane rubbed his nape. “We shouldn’t have gone on the attack just now,” he relented.
Vienna nodded. “You caught us by surprise.”
I sniffed. “Well, you’ll just need to get over it, won’t you?”
Ollie let out a half-hearted chuckle. “You’re a hard-ass, Addie.”
Jutting out my chin, I went on, “I’ve made my decision—like it or don’t. But do not bother trying to make me go back on it. No amount of objections will do you any good.”
