Page 69

Do you notice the soft smile she’s trying to keep at bay? I do too. Be honest, you knew he was going to try something, didn’t you? I think my mom did too. “I can.”
Agustin’s mom approaches, her hands on mine, concern etched in her dark eyes. “Ophelia, what’s going on?”
“Everything’s fine,” Mom tells her, hooking her arm inside hers. “Let’s give them all some space to figure it out.”
Mom leads her away and I seek out Agustin. He’s no longer beside me. While the wedding breaks apart and guests shuffle away, the confusion of the last ten minutes begins to settle down. I glance over my shoulder to see Agustin walking toward Roan who is handcuffed next to Tiller near two security guards. I’m not at all surprised by Agustin’s reaction right then either. As soon as he’s in front of Roan, he punches him.
It surprises the hell out of me because I would have never pegged him for being the violent type.
In all actuality, Roan had to know that was coming when he decided to ride his dirt bike through my wedding, but then again, this is Roan, and he clearly doesn’t thinkanythingthrough.
Tiller is actually the one to ram his shoulder into Agustin and away from Roan, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing?” his words pushed through clenched teeth.
You wouldn’t think Tiller would defend Roan, but then again, their brotherly bond runs deeper than even I understand.
Agustin lifts his chin to Roan. “He knows what I’m doing.”
The hit clearly stuns Roan. Maybe he hadn’t been expecting it like I thought. It does catch him off guard and my dad catches him before he falls to the ground. “That’s enough, Agustin.”
“You’re defending his actions?” Agustin spits, as if he can’t believe my dad would defend Roan.
Dad gives him an apological shrug. “I work for him.”
Roan’s jaw clenches, blood dripping from his nose and lip. As I expect, he squares his shoulders as if he’s letting him know he won’t get another chance to hit him, regardless of him being handcuffed. I’m actually surprised he didn’t headbutt Agustin. He steps toward Agustin, peering down at him. He’s taller and I don’t think I ever noticed that he is until now. Roan lifts his chin, glowering at Agustin and then me in the distance. I see his mouth move around the words “I love her.” That’s not all he says, but I can’t make it out with the commotion around me.
Agustin leans in, whispers something to Roan, and then walks back to me.
I watch his every move, the look of devastation on his face knowing he’s lost me, the anger he tries so hard to mask, the love, it’s all there and I hate that I didn’t say something sooner. Tears flow harder and by the time he’s standing before me again, my voice shakes around the words, “I’m sorry, Agustin. I truly am.”
I don’t say “I can’t marry you,” or “I’m in love with another man.”
No, I start with I’m sorry, because I am, and he needs to know that I didn’t go into this wanting to hurt him. I went into it knowing he loved me with all his heart. With us, there was no hurt, no lies, no hiding. He was my friend when I didn’t think I had anyone. He loves me.
But that girl he loves, she doesn’t exist here. She’s back in New York, sitting in cafés and discussing art she doesn’t understand. She’s drinking coffee and pretending to find Middle Eastern history interesting. That girl, she can’t marry him because her heart was promised to another man long before she had a say in it.
Agustin smiles softly, kisses me on the cheek. His lips part and my pulse quickens, waiting on his words.
Nothing.
He walks away toward the cottage with his hands in his pockets. He doesn’t say anything. Not a single word.
I glance over my shoulder; my mom’s beside me still. My dad, he’s talking to the police and Roan, Tiller, and Camden are nowhere in sight, their dirt bikes lined up next to the altar where I had just been standing.
Mom wraps her arm around my shoulders. “Are you okay, honey?”
I don’t, nor can I, answer her. I can’t because while I knew I couldn’t marry Agustin, the devastation that I just broke his heart hits me. How could I have done that to him? He didn’t deserve any of this. It doesn’t even dawn on me that Roan Sawyer just destroyed the wedding.
I can’t leave it like this though. I can’t let Agustin hurt like this. I follow him to the cottage. He’s standing by the fireplace, staring out the window. He turns his head when the door shuts and I gasp at the sight of him, broken, sad, destroyed… all because of me.
“I’m so sorry,” I cry, rushing over to him. “I didn’t think he’d do that.”
I expect him to push me away, but he doesn’t. He reaches for me, holds me close to him. My palms find his chest through his jacket. His heart’s beating fast, his breathing the same. “You love him,” he says, as if that should be my answer.
“I do… and I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you sooner.” My throat tightens. “I didn’t know how.”
His thumb strokes my cheekbone. “I wish you would have. I wouldn’t have stood in your way. I want you to be happy.”
“You deserve better than me.”