The other man handed her the flowers. “These are for you. I want to apologize for getting upset with you about changing your looks. You really are pretty.”
“Uh, thank you, Tom. Please come in. We have a lot to discuss.”
Once the dork walked inside and closed the door, Brad crept to Tyger’s window and looked inside. Thankfully, the curtains were opened and he could see what was going on, as long as they didn’t notice him.
“Tom,” she began as she stared at the flowers, “I have been doing a lot of serious thinking lately, and well, I’ve come to realize something.”
Brad was glad he could hear their conversation, too. Thankfully, her window was opened about an inch.
Tom swept a dismissal wave through the air. “Never mind about that now. Let’s talk about our wedding.”
Brad scowled. Didn’t Tom just hear what she said? Of course not. All the jerk cared about were his own feelings.
“Tom, I’m trying to tell you—”
“I’m not quite sure how much money my parents will give me,” Tom continued again as if he’d never heard Tyger, “but I’m sure it’ll be enough for a small wedding. We really don’t have to invite a lot of people. I’ll invite Kevin and Trish, and some guys you met at the bar. Since you don’t have many friends, you can pick one to be your bridesmaid.”
Anger rose in Brad and he bunched his hands. How he’d like to wrap his fingers around Tom’s throat and squeeze...
“No, Tom,” she snapped as she stomped her foot. “You’re not listening. There isn’t going to be a wedding.”
“I’ve been thinking about having it one of those fancy chapels. And if your baseball star brother comes—”
“Tom,” she yelled, which finally stopped the blabbering idiot from continuing. “Would you listen to me for once in your miserable life?”
Brad bit his bottom lip to keep from laughing.That’s my girl!
The other man’s face had hardened and he folded his arms across his chest. “Excuse me? You’re raising your voice tome?”
Tyger took a deep breath and released it slowly. “Apparently, it’s the only way to get your attention.”
“Well, you have it now.”
She nodded. “Okay, so like I was saying before, I have been doing some serious thinking lately, and I’ve come to realize that... that...”
Brad sucked in his breath.Don’t give up. You can do it!
Her hands flexed by her sides. “That... well, that I don’t love you any longer and I definitely don’t want to marry you.”
Brad blew out a relieved breath. Of course, he was sure Tom wouldn’t take this news very well.
Tom’s expression wavered a little as his dark brown eyebrows drew together. Even his jaw tightened. “When did you decide this?”
“Oh, Tom.” She moved to the couch and sat. Her fingers nervously twisted the edge of her shirt. “I’ve been feeling this way for a while. I can’t marry a man I don’t love and I can’t trust.”
“There is another man, isn’t there?” he barked.
She frowned and shook her head. “Why do you always ask me that? Can’t I decide I don’t want to marry you on my own?”
“No!” Tom growled as he marched toward her. “Because everything was going perfect for us before you had that party.”
Her face lost more color. “No, Tom. Everything was going good foryou, not me.”
“What does that mean?”
She sighed, leaning her arms on her knees as she leaned forward. “It means that you got everything you wanted from me – a good girlfriend who would shut her mouth and do as she was told, who would come at your beck and call whenever you needed her. And I was stupid enough to think you were telling me the truth.”
Tom narrowed his mean glare at her.
