A narrow swathe of pine trees surrounding us, their branches intertwining to form a canopy overhead.
It’s a peaceful place.
Herplace.
And I’m going to ruin that too.
Boom!
Thunder rattles through the air, vibrates through my chest, my stomach. It even shakes the pine needles overhead. Clouds gather, clinging together, darkening the sky. A darkness that is split by a sudden flash of lightning.
Fat, wet drops of rain began plopping to the ground, darkening the dirt, splattering onto my head, my suit.
Her dress.
Laughter in the air—and it’s painful and beautiful all at once. Because the sound that so captivates me in this moment is also what has drawn me to this sweet, beautiful,innocentwoman against every single reservation that I had.
It’s not a sound I deserve to hear.
It’s a sound Iwon’thear.
Not ever again.
Not after this.
Briar laughs as the drops began gathering on her skin like glittering diamonds.
The officiant stops, closes the book in her hands, glancing at them then up at the clouds. “Should we stop?”
“No!” Briar says again, slipping one hand from mine and extending it, droplets splashing onto her thumb. “I love the rain!” she cries, tilting her head back, embracing the drops as they fall onto her hair, darkening the blond strands, straightening the curls, soaking the fabric of her dress.
A pause from the officiant. Then she reopens her book.
Briar’s eyes slide to mine, buoyant with joy. “This is perfect,” she whispers as thunder booms again.
As lightning cuts across the sky.
As rain continues to fall.
Isn’t it beautiful, Brooks? How the rain washes everything clean for a fresh start?
“Perfect,” she whispers again, her damp palm coming to mine, fingers wrapping tight again.
No.
It isn’t perfect.
It’s my nightmare…and it will soon be hers too.
Because I’m going to ruin everything.
Before I can say something, can find the strength to pull my fingers from hers, the officiant continues.
“Do you, Brooks Saxton, take this woman to be your lawfully wedded wife, to live together in matrimony, to love her, comfort her, honor and keep her in sickness and in health, in sorrow and in joy, to have and to hold, from this day forward, as long as you both shall?—”
“I don’t.”
The words are ripped from my soul.
