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“I love you too” He pulled her back toward his chest and for longlazy circles along her bared back and the feel of her war, and I’ what others think” She tilted her head back and s it was to tell theo”

He didn’t knohat to say, so he kept hiswords stay between theht, speak volumes

25

The wedding had been beautiful, but then again there was no doubt that it wouldn’t be Mary stood on the stone veranda at the country club where the reception was going on in full saiting for Alex, who’d gone to get theuests and… was thinking

She looked over her shoulder and saw Alex at the bar speaking with her father, both of thely—and thankfully—Alex and her faht away Maybe it had been the truth boht that had opened up their eyes to as going on around them, or maybe it was just that Alex was incredible

There caether so sea him here only to shock her family or the socialites, but because she loved hiether

Things had been strange and different between the at Mary with this expression that could only be one of shaenuine nonetheless Then there had been her father who’d s and that they loved her so much, that she was part of the family always

And then Margo had said nothing but cahtly her back had cracked, and it had been hard to breathe She’d whispered “sorry” as she cried silently, and although those tears could have been blamed on her nuptials, Mary knew the truth as she’d looked into her sister’s eyes

Margo had felt her words

And here they all were, the tension still there because a boo and it had rocked all of the with that was love and a bond that she kneould grow over time She hated that it had taken harsh words and broken hearts to create what she’d alanted with them, and she kneould take time, that it still wouldn’t be perfect, but this was a start

She turned back around and stared at the perfectlythe trails within the woods surrounding the property The night was clear, and the glow of thein a silvery hue

She smoothed her hands down the lilac-colored silk of her dress and felt a sincere smile tilt her lips She was… happy, and not just because she loved Alex and had his love in return, but because she actually saw that light at the end of the tunnel Finally

Mary walked to the gardens, the scent of the flowers that had bloohts that had been put up gave the entire place a very fairytale-like feel She reached out and touched one of the roses, the petals like silk

She felt so to feel Alex’s hands on her, his lips on the side of her neck, his body pressing her down on a mattress God, he lit her up and all she had to do was think about him

“Didn’t think it would be this easy” The deeply slurred words came from behind her and every part of Mary’s body tensed

She turned around but kept her composure, didn’t look afraid or startled as she stared into the eyes of Lance, as very clearly drunk His breath reeked like booze, his eyes were bloodshot, and he had an overall disheveled look His clothes rinkled, his hair h it all day And he looked like he hadn’t slept the last twenty-four hours

“You have a lot of balls co to do with you, and er welcome anywhere around us” He smiled, but it was sloppy, just like his appearance

He looked like shit, and she felt a sick thrill at that fact She’d never seen him look so bad, and the fact it was because of her had a sh there were hundreds of guestsaround, they were all up by the bar and dancefloor The gardens wereilluhts