His temper flares. “Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. What more do you want from me?”
“Me?” I bite my tongue because his dad may be dying. However, as soon as we get back, we’re going to hash this out.
Back inside, his jaw tics and his fists clench as he throws clothes into a knapsack.
Damn. What did I do? He’s the one who didn’t want me with him and was a jerk about the Pre-Cana classes which I’d already explained he had to take.
Shit. We don’t say much in the Uber to the airport and even less as we wait by the gate. Exhausted, my eyes droop and my head falls on his shoulder until the loudspeaker announces our flight.
After boarding, he grabs my knapsack and stuffs it overhead with his and as he walks away, it dawns on me our assigned seats are on opposite ends of the plane. In the long run, I guess it doesn’t matter because I’m sound asleep before the wheels leave the ground.
My ears pop and I watch out the window until we come to a stop in front of our gate. Sitting while those around me debark, I catch his sad gaze as he makes his way forward.
He reaches into the overhead compartment and hands me my bag. “Sorry.”
“I’m sorry too.” I squeeze his arm and follow him down the narrow aisle and into the accordion-like structure leading us into the terminal.
His long strides make me jog to keep up. “I rented us a car.”
“How far is it, to your parent’s house?”
“We’re going straight to the hospital, then I got us a room at a motel.” He frowns. “Me and my stepmom don’t get along so well.”
That explains why he didn’t want me to tag along.As we wait for our rental car, I take his hand. “Are you still mad?”
“Mebbe. You?” Troubled eyes search mine and I almost say no but we need to be truthful if we’re going to take our relationship to the next level.
“A little.” I’m not letting him off the hook. He really hurt my feelings.
After he signs a thick wad of paperwork, we walk outside and cross the street, following the rental sign. In silence, we drive out of the airport and go north.
On an empty stretch of road, I figure I’ve had enough. I don’t want to meet his parents in the middle of our first fight.
“Listen, Sebastian, I’m sorry I didn’t clear the Pre-Cana weekend with you. If you want, I’ll cancel.” I wait for him to say sorry about how he said I’m not family but nothing comes.
Fine. Be like that.
We leave our baggage in the car, ask for Mr. Sutcliff at the front desk, then follow the yellow dotted line to the elevator.
Swallowing hard, I hold back tears as I wait for our floor. “If you’re going to give me the silent treatment, I might as well go home.”
“You’re the one who insisted on coming.” He stares ahead, not at me, and it breaks my heart.
The waterworks which I have managed to hold back the whole flight, roll down my cheeks. “I wanted to be included as family.”
“No, you don’t. Believe me.”Who is this cold-hearted man?
Too late to escape, the elevator doors open and as we walk down the hall, I manage to pull my shit together and smile at the woman who approaches.
A sixty year old, Malibu Barbie holds open her arms as if expecting a hug from him but Suds grabs one of her hands and shakes it.
“And who is this with you?” The pleasantness in her voice doesn’t match her eyes.
“I’m Samantha. His fiancé.”At least I was.
“Oh, I had no idea.” Raising her brows, she shoots Sebastian a nasty look before plastering on another smile and entering the hospital room.
Theatrically, she throws opens the curtain where a frail, gray haired man looks up from his reading and glares.
