"It doesn't matter what I think about Konnor."
"My dad and Konnor said that man had sold him. He was held in a fricking basement, Max."
"They also said they were just speculating." He dips his head. "Remember?"
"But he didn’t want Konnor back when they found him. How could a father not want his son?"
"Is he Dustin's son? From what I heard, he might not be."
Shaking my head, I answer, "It doesn't fricking matter. He raised him for?—"
"Don't be naive! In my world, to have your wife be unfaithful is?—"
"Yourworldsucks." I cuddle my waist. "Why didn’t he want him?"
He softens slightly. "It's good he didn't want him, Little One. Thenyougot him."
I try to smile at that comment. "I guess."
"I barely see Dustin," he says. "I can't imagine you will have to either."
"Promise?"
"I promise that if you ever have to speak with him again, I'll be right beside you." He wipes a tear from the corner of my eye. "You still want in this with me?"
I sigh. "I wantyou."
"Then from now on, we do this my way." He entwines our fingers and walks across the lawn towards the main marquee, his strides long and quick.
"Max, slow down," I plea as he drags me behind him.
He instantly slows his pace. "Sorry, Little One. I'm fucking pissed off. They're fucking disrespecting me."
I glance up at him as he stares dead ahead.
If looks could kill.
His jaw works furiously. His whole body is taut with anger. He curses a few times and his eyes dart around as if he's processing something internally.
After we pass Flick and Stacey on the dance floor, he slumps down into his seat at the main table and pulls me onto his lap. We are the only ones seated at this table; the rest of the bridal party is mingling with the guests.
My ears are burning as people covertly watch us and whisper.
I touch his cheek and his stare softens. "Max, what are you doing?"
He looks at me. "Sitting with my beautiful girlfriend."
"Did you just call me your girlfriend?"
"Did you want me to call you something else?"
I smile. "No."
He places his big warm palm on my bare thigh, fingers tracing the hem of my dress. "I like your little dress. It is rather distracting."
I continue to stare at his gorgeous, tightly-wound face. Everyone's staring at me, but I sure as hell don’t need to see them doing it, so my eyes stay anchored on Max instead. "How did they disrespect you?"
He glares at me, but the venom in his eyes isn’t for me, just merely directed my way. "You're my business. They know that. Dustin shouldn't have spoken to you without my permission."
