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“We’re supposed to get married tomorrow. All you had to do was keep your legs closed and your mouth shut.” Even in my inebriated state, I can see the rigid cords standing out in his neck and his hands fisted at his sides.
Jake takes a warning step toward Trent just as Ethan pushes himself forcibly off the bed.
Jake opens his mouth to respond to Trent, but Ethan speaks first. “Don’t talk to her like that,” he warns in a cold, furious tone. “She didn’t do anything wrong, but you certainly did. I saw you with that other woman. Liz knows what you did.”
Trent pauses as he weighs Ethan’s words. Then he looks away from him as though Ethan is nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
“Elizabeth, I suggest you come with me so that we can talk in private. This is a family matter,” he sneers as he pointedly looks at Jake and Ethan.
I hesitate, not wanting to go with Trent, but realizing that I have no choice if I’m to have a chance at saving our relationship.
As I move to go, Ethan puts his hand on my arm. “Don’t do this, Liz.” I see the compassion and sympathy on his face, causing my stride to falter as I hesitate. Indecision weighs heavily on me in that instant.
“Take your hand off my fiancée,” Trent warns, menace punching each syllable of each word. His hands are red from being fisted so tightly. I’m afraid he is leaning toward violence, though I’ve never believed him to be a violent person.
“Liz will choose what she wants to do,” Ethan warns, his teeth clenched. “She will decide, not you. I just hope she makes the right choice.”
Jake walks closer to where Ethan and I are standing, as though anticipating trouble. Up to this point, he hasn’t said anything. “I agree with my brother. Liz will decide whether or not to go with you.”
I look back and forth between the three men standing around me. I’m too stunned at the turn of events to know what to do. I wish my mind was working properly. I wish I hadn’t drunk so much alcohol. I don’t know what to do, but do I even have a choice?
Ethan walks over to the hotel room door and throws it open. He turns to Trent and says, “It’s time for you to leave. Liz will talk to you when she’s ready. You can either leave on your own, or my brother and I will be happy to help you out.”
Before I can speak up, Trent sneers at me. “You know what, Elizabeth? Forget it. I’m done with you. You can explain to your parents that I called off the wedding when I caught you in bed with another man.”
His harsh words break through my foggy brain, and I feel panic rising. I reach out a pleading hand to Trent. “Trent, no. I’m sorry. Nothing happened, but I shouldn’t have been in here with Ethan. Please, don’t back out of our wedding. I’m coming with you.”
I’m rushing toward him as I speak, but he holds up his hand to stop me.
“Don’t bother with any more excuses. We’re done,” he says with cold finality.
Trent turns and walks out the door, his shoulders stiff as he leaves. He doesn’t glance back even once.
I stand there and stare at the door in disbelief. We’re done? Just like that? For a moment, I feel a curious relief at the thought of not having to marry Trent. But that feeling fades away quickly when I realize this will destroy my parents.
I cross my arms over my chest and pull tightly. What have I done? I shake my head in denial. “No, no, no.”
Jake crosses over to me and puts his arm around my shoulders. “It’s going to be okay. I’ll go with you to explain to your parents.”
“I will, too,” Ethan says.
Ethan’s voice shakes me out of my thoughts.
“You!” I say accusingly, anger pouring through my body. “This is all your fault. Why did you bring me to your room?”
“I thought you should know your fiancé was cheating on you!” Ethan says with his hands raised in frustration.
“You thought wrong! You’ve ruined everything. What am I going to tell my parents? They will never forgive me for this.”
“This isn’t your fault, Liz, and it’s not mine either,” Ethan says soothingly. His calm tone only slightly begins to calm my panic. I know Ethan is correct, but I don’t want to admit it.
“You don’t get it. You don’t understand anything,” I say as I close my eyes and take a deep breath to stave off the tears.
“I understand that you’re being unreasonable. Marriage to that guy would have been the worst mistake of your life,” Ethan protests.
Jake gives me a side hug. “I think we all need just to take a minute, calm down, and talk this through,” he says.
I ignore Jake and put my focus back on Ethan. After all, Jake isn’t a part of this. Ethan is the one who brought me here. Ethan is the one who kicked Trent out of the room.
