But, then again, what if he had said something? I’m not sure I could even look at Greg right now without breaking down.
“Lilly.” The way Greg said my name wasn’t pained as I hoped it would be. It had a lightness to it that made it seem like he was happy to see me. That he was hopeful in whatever was going to come out of his mouth next.
He was standing right behind me, but I didn’t turn around. I was frozen in place. He had made his way over to me, and I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t hear him. I was still standing, but I couldn’t sit down without being forced to see him.
“Turn around.” His voice was soft and coaxing.
“No.” It was the same kind of response I had to Jack when he tried to tell me what to do earlier. What was it with these Moran men trying to rule my life when they had no right to?
“Fine.” I heard him move behind me, but was thankful when he decided not to walk around me to stand in front of me.
“I wanted to tell you this to your face, but I guess I’ll have to do with your back.” I huffed in annoyance that Greg was still there, trying to get my attention. “Lilly, I’m sorry.”
“Excuse me?” I turned around slowly then, my words coming out slowly as I tried not to think of ways to kill the man who was standing in front of me. In a black suit and tie?! Why the hell he is was wearing that on this mountain, I had no idea.
The moment I was fully turned around, his eyes didn’t go to the change in my hair but to my right nipple, which had peeked out of my jacket again. I let it stay there this time. He should see what he did to me. I watched his Adam’s apple bob up and down as I continued my verbal assault on him.
“You don’t get to rip out my fucking heart and then come up here and say you’re sorry.” I poked my finger into his chest to try to get my point across.
“You’re right.” He made a grab for my hand, but I pulled it back immediately. “I should be saying a lot more, and I will. But first, I have something very important to ask you.”
It was then that my world stopped. Greg started to move and bend in a way that I wasn’t expecting. He kneeled down in front of me, and I heard the gasps from Alexa and Erica all the way over here from where the rest of the group was on the mountain.
“Lilly Alexander.” Greg pulled out a black box from his pant pocket and popped it open to show a simple ring. A solitary diamond highly mounted with five smaller diamonds imbedded into the band on each side. Not like the costume jewelry he had gotten me after we married in Vegas. This was simple. This was me.
No. No no no no no.
This wasn’t happening. This man had broken my heart.
“Will you marry me?” Greg’s question filled the whole mountain and I swear, for the first time up here, not even a kid was making any noise.
“No.” My answer was quick and meant with a purpose. “Stand up.”
I grabbed for him to get off his knees and stop making a spectacle.
“We are not doing this. Ever.”
“Lilly, let me explain.”
“There is nothing to explain.” I yelled at him. I knew I was being dramatic, but I wasn’t going to put up with this show of embarrassment.
“But there is.” He held my left hand, with the ring box still open in his right hand. “Marry me and I’ll explain everything.”
“You can’t tell me to marry you again.”
“I tried asking the first time and you said no.”
“It’s what I should have said a month ago in Vegas!” I snatched my hand out of his. The kind understanding demeanor he had almost chipped away. He took a visible deep breath and then tried again.
“Divorce was never an option for me, Lilly, and when you said you wanted one, stupidly I agreed, hoping that, if I gave into you, I would still be able to convince you just how perfect we are together.”
“I know this, you made it clear you never wanted one a month ago, but clearly now you feel differently.”
“Just listen to me, woman.” He snapped the box shut and I jumped at the sound. “I’ve been planning this damn moment for a fucking month, so let me have it, okay?”
I cocked my head to the side, confused about what he meant.
“What?”
