Thea nods, and they exit quietly, their support dissipating along with them, and my knees go weak again. I’m slumped on the floor, staring into the mirror that was supposed to reflect a beautiful bride today.
Instead, it shows a train wreck. Someone who wasted years of her life on a relationship that she knew wasn’t the right fit.
“You’re such an idiot,” I mutter to myself. “IDIOT!” I scream, ripping my pearl earrings out and beaming them at the mirror.
Streaks of tears stream down my face, and I stare at them until I see a monster.
A horrible person.
I ama monster.
A sob racks my body, and I double over onto my knees. So stupid…
I wish…
I wish Jensen was here.
Another sob heaves from my lungs.
I’m an evil person for wanting him here after I’ve been so cold towards him, but I know that a hug like the one from last weekend is the only thing that would make me feel better right now.
It could keep me together when my world is falling apart.
A knock raps at the door, and a startled huff escapes me. I scrub my palms across my cheeks, swiping at my tears, and stand up on shaky legs.
“Come in.”
Elliot enters the room wearing a dashing tux. I haven’t even seen what he’d be wearing until now. The final wedding details were tossed together by our wedding planner.
“What’s going on, Livvy?”
I shudder at the nickname. “I’m sorry, Elliot.”
His posture stiffens, and he sighs as he loosens his bow tie. “What is this?”
“What?”
“I gave you a luxurious life. Connections. My name means something. And you’re willing to throw it away?”
“I didn’t need those things. I made my own money. I’ve worked hard to get where I am.”I definitely never gave a shit about your name.
“Where? Some prosecutor in Hicksville? Renting some shack?”
My jaw goes slack at his callousness. “I told you why I wanted to be there.”
“Right, for your little friend. She has her own family, you know? She doesn’t need you like you think she does. You’re pathetic.”
“That’s enough,” Thea’s voice demands from across the room. “Liv, we’re going home.” She stares at Elliot with all ofthe strength in her sunshine-filled body, reminding me that I can be brave, too.
“For the record, I stomp past him, joining my best friend. Iboughtthat shack months ago. That little cottage is more my home than your condo ever was. And, maybe if you learned how to please a woman, she’d actually want to come home to you.”
His jaw works back and forth as we get the hell out of that hotel room, but as soon as my feet hit the hallway, I hear him coming back for more.
“You’re a joke. You’d better hope that hole in the wall town still wants you because I’ll make sure your career is over. No one will hire you,” he spits his words, coming to a stop once he reaches the hallway.
I’m standing beside Thea with an army behind us. Natalie is on my left side with Jackson towering behind her.
Callie is beside Thea, holding baby Kate as Nathan and Jesse step forward, putting a wall between Elliot and me.
