Page 102 of On the Rocks

Anthony chuckled. “You clearly have no idea the amount of shit he’s in.”

That earned a gasp, and a flurry of whispers began again.

My poor father stood there like he’d seen a ghost.

“I’ll help,” Noah said, shaking the men off him as he readjusted his tuxedo jacket and tie. He stepped toward me, reaching out for my hands, and when I placed them in his, he squeezed tight. “I don’t care how long it takes or what we have to do to settle it, we’ll handle it without you,” he said, eyes hard on Anthony. “But, let me make this crystal clear. There is no way I’m letting the woman I love marry a monster — especially not to pay a debt that was never hers to begin with.”

A collective sigh rang out, and I swore I heard some girl cry out her injustice that Noah Becker was in love with someone who wasn’t her.

I smiled at that.

“This has gone on long enough,” my father said, standing between me and Anthony once more. “The debt ismine, andIwill pay it. If you haven’t noticed, I have a house and cars and plenty of equity to figure out my own solution.” He swallowed, turning to face me then. “I’m just sorry I ever put you through this, Ruby Grace. I’m sorry I didn’t step up sooner.”

My heart squeezed, and I nodded in thanks. It was a wound I knew wouldn’t heal for a long, long time.

But my father showed up for me in that church.

And for that, I was thankful.

Anthony growled, launching his fist into the side of a pew before he pointed one finger straight at me. “This is ridiculous. Get your ass back to that altar.Now.”

Noah’s face hardened as he turned, guarding me from Anthony. “What aren’t you getting here, buddy?” he asked. “It’s over. And you can leave now.”

“Excuse me?” Anthony stepped into Noah’s space, but not before my father laid a hand hard on his chest.

“You heard him, son,” he said. “I think you should leave now, before you do something you regret.”

Anthony’s mouth popped open, and he watched my father incredulously before turning to me, and then to my mother. He pointed at her next. “You’re really going to let this happen?”

Everyone looked at Mom, then — who was pale, her eyes wide as a doe’s, lips trembling. I waited for her to cry, or yell at me, or scream for everyone to look away so they could start the whole ceremony over. I waited for her to kick into crisis mode, to say it was all one big show, that it was a joke.Haha, we got you!

Instead, she swallowed, pulled her shoulders back, and lifted her chin up high as she stared directly at Anthony. “I don’t think my husband stuttered when he said it’s time for you to leave.”

A few whistles rang out at that, some laughter and some clapping, and Mom fought back a smirk as Anthony’s mouth fell open wider.

“No,” he shook his head, running to the men holding the cameras. “No, no, no. Turn them off. Cut the tapes. Turn themoff.” He was spiraling, raking his hands back through his full head of hair as he shook his head. “My father… he’ll kill me… he’ll disown me… I can’t…”

And suddenly, it all made sense.

The man who had gotten down on one knee and asked for my hand in marriage was under pressure from hisownfather. Did he even want to be in politics at all? Or washejust a pawn in his father’s game, the way he wanted me to be one in his?

His father wasn’t even there, on his son’s wedding day. That told me more than words how important he was in his life.

Just like he wanted me to play a part, that’s what he wanted Anthony to do, too.

My heart ached for him, for the man I thought I knew, for the friend I’d found in him over the year we’d spent together. I stepped forward, wanting to comfort him, but the instinct died as soon as he leveled his cold, hard eyes on me again.

He shook his head, a disgusted look on his face. “After all I did for you, all Icouldhave done for you… you ungrateful bi—”

The curse didn’t even leave his mouth before Noah got his chance to return the favor from Anthony’s sucker punch earlier. His fist landed hard against Anthony’s eye, busting it open as he flew backward, the crowd gasping in horror again.

“Sorry, your warnings are up,” Noah said, shaking out his hand. “Now, if you won’t leave, then we will.” He turned to me, then, offering his arm out for me with a smirk. “I’ve got your getaway car parked out front. What’dya say, Ruby Grace? Want to give this town something to talk about?”

My heart swelled in my chest, and I stepped forward, threading my arm through his as I leaned up and pressed my lips to his.

“Bonnie and Clyde,” I whispered.

“Except a way better ending,” he replied, and then he kissed me again — this time to the tune of four-hundred clapping hands and a frenzy of cheers.