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I was impressed with Morgan.
She'd actually kept the bachelorette night simple.She did make me promise her a full all-out party in Vegas after the merger was done, but there was no way I could handle that now.We went to dinner and then to seeSix.God, it was so good.And she'd even resurrected some of my old friends who had been thrilled to get the announcement.She wanted to throw me a reception later, which was so beautiful.
See, you have people who love you.
I was happily buzzing from the few drinks I'd had.And when Gavin dropped me off, he made it a point to walk me to the elevator.I kicked off my shoes, padding through the foyer."Is my husband-to-be here?"
Micah had made a point to tell me that he wasn't going to be home tonight and to feel free to shag all over the penthouse, so maybe I was going to do that.Yes, it was bad luck to see the bride before the wedding, but honestly, who even did that anymore?It wasn’t like we were having the most traditional wedding in the world.
The light was on in the kitchen, and I turned to search the living room for Atticus, but he wasn't there.I eventually found him in the study.The lights were low, and he'd poured himself a drink as he stared at the computer monitor."There you are," I said with a smile.
The light in the room glinted off the sapphire bracelet Clarissa had loaned me for tomorrow as my something old, borrowed, and blue.
"Did you have a good night?"
"Yeah.Shocker, Morgan actually listened and kept her promise.Sixwas fantastic."
He gave me our secret smile.
"Are you okay?You seem tired.Please tell me you actually enjoyed your bachelor party a little."
He swallowed hard and nodded."You know, like Micah said, just the lads and some drinks."
"Okay, then why aren't you tipsier?"I nodded at his glass that looked untouched.
He lifted a dark brow.“Are you trying to get me tipsy?”
I sauntered over to him, moved his chair back, and planted myself onto his lap.“I would very much like for my husband-to-be to kiss me.”
He swallowed hard for a moment, and then his hand slid up my arm, over my shoulder, and onto the nape of my neck before plunging into my hair.He held me steady.When he leaned forward, what I thought would be a slow, lingering kiss was harsh and desperate.His hand at my hip tightened like he was holding on for dear life.When he dragged his lips off mine, he panted, dropping his forehead to mine.
“Gwen,” he whispered harshly.
“Hey, what’s the matter?”
He swallowed hard.And then he released me, easing me off his lap to my feet.“I need to talk to you about something.”
“Okay.You look serious.What’s the matter?”
“We’re not going to get married tomorrow.”
I blinked at him, unable to process the words that had just tumbled out of his mouth.“What?”
“The wedding is off.”
Suddenly, my world spun.The steady bedrock that I’d just felt in his kiss wavered, tumbling as the world tilted with tiny tremors and earthquakes.“I—I don’t understand.”
“There’s nothing to understand.It’s not going to work, you and me.”
“What are you talking about, Atticus?You said?—"
He swallowed hard and scrubbed a hand over his face before pushing to his feet.
I backed up automatically as he reached for me.“No, you said that you were choosing me.That we—" I couldn’t finish.My words broke off in a sob.
Get yourself together.
But I couldn’t.Something deep inside me cracked."You said that you were choosing me regardless of the merger.You said that.You chased me down and you said that."
