Nervous, I lead him outside my home, and we walk along the large driveway. It’s peaceful, as the giant trees that line it offer cool shade and light rustling of leaves.
Blake slips his hands into his slacks and side glances as we stroll. “So?”
“So. Um.”
Say it, Morgan! You can do this.
“Where is your ring?” he says.
“Oh.” I look at my bare finger. “That’s the thing.”
“The-”
“I can’t marry you!”
We both stop walking and stare at each other. I clasp my hands together, anxious. His mouth opens and shuts repeatedly. Finally, he cocks his head and manages a simple:
“Tell me you’re joking.”
“I love someone else.”
“Jack,” he says without skipping a beat.
My eyes fix on the stone beneath my white pumps and nod slowly.
Silence.
I peek up, and his gaze is dark and brooding. It’s so intense, I have to look away.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper.
“Haven’t I done everything you asked of me?”
“Yes, but the feelings aren’t there.”
“So what? That doesn’t mean we can’t get married.”
I retract my chin to my throat, disgusted. “Yes. It does,” I say firmly.
Blake begins pacing back and forth. “Morgan! We will have to tell the congregation the wedding is off! This is humiliating.” He grabs his chest, like it’s already public information. “They’ll look at me with pity.”
“You can say you left me,” I suggest.
He scoffs loudly. “They won’t believethat.”
“It seems like you are more concerned with what people think than love,” I say flatly.
“Love?” He barks out a laugh. “Love! Do you think I love you?”
“Well, I figured...”
“We’ve never said it! I thought you could tell when I kissed you how much I don’t love you.”
I blink several times, then murmur, “That was because I wasn’t into it.”
He points at himself. “Either was I! Dang, Morgan. You are so self-absorbed, you just assume every guy wants you. Guess what, you daddy’s girl, I’d rather kiss a wall.”
I gasp in disbelief. “Then why agree to marry me?”
