Page 40 (1/2)

"Thanks"

I fidgeted sos never start on tiuy in the front row, for that matter

"I know" But I didn’t sound convinced even to myself

We waited First fivethe croeren’t politely quiet anymore People were annoyed at the lateness, and I couldn’t bla perhaps it was

But that was a ridiculous notion In the eyes of the pack, Lucas and I were already married There was no reason for hiht than hu wouldn’t keep us fro

And make e to do so so cruel, I was sure of it He tended to be reclusive when it ca deal of the wedding was proof enough it mattered to him

And I knew I

When you love so

I felt a pang, thinking of the way Desmond had walked out How he hadn’t been able to look ata sign he’d loved h?

I blinked back tears

A woman in the front row had pulled out her cell phone and was co loudly to the party on the other end that she had never in her life been forced to wait over thirtyat ten at night was already a ridiculous request, and blah, blah, blah

I glared at her, letting her know her conversation could be heard perfectly well

She hung up

I was about to ask the guy with the watch for the ti filled the roouests up to the door, expectingparty to walk through at any second I sh the doors

It was Des I noticed, aside fro Instead of a tux, he earing a leather jacket over a plain white T-shirt and a pair of dark denireat, but that wasn’t the point

"Des anyone’s gaze, least of allhim close the distance between us He stopped in front of round, so I had to look down at hi on?" I didn’t ask why he was here He was invited He was the best h, why he wasn’t dressed appropriately

"Can we talk?" He held out a hand, ignoring the glares he was getting from the crowd

"Is this really the best time?"

"Secret, will you come with me, please?"

"No" I turnedIf Lucas came in and I was off with Desmond? No I couldn’t do that This day was too important, and I wouldn’t be the one to fuck it up

"I don’t want to do this here" His hand was still out, and the room was so quiet I could have heard a pin drop

"You had plenty of chances to talk to hting against the wave of tears threatening to be unleashed at any lance cut from the door back to hi in his eyes, a pain I’d only seen once or twice before, and always because of so Lucas had done that I didn’t understand The e cere fell

"What is it?"

"Come with me"

I shook my head "Just tellhis head so he could whisper without being heard He couldn’t hide the face he ot nearer Apparently being close to me was still physically difficult for hilanced over his shoulder Three hundred guests stared back with hed and scrubbed his face with both hands, pushing his dark hair off his forehead and taking a big breath before he spoke again

"Lucas isn’t coasp escaped from the collectedabout?" I frowned "Of course he’s co at the open ballroo atlike everyone else My shoulders drooped, and the bouquet suddenly felt so, so heavy init over and over I "

"I’m sorry"

Mercedes put a hand on my shoulder, but I couldn’t look at her If I saw even an ounce of the pity that showed on Des was up Mercedes was , I would have to accept it

I didn’t want to accept it