Perfect. If they didn’t get enough in the restaurant, they’d get to see us finish our fight out here.
“I’ll send you my flight schedule and itinerary. I hope to see you next week, Harrison,” I said honestly.
“That’s not funny.” His finger was still in my face, and he was leaning in close.
My heart faltered, but I knew he would never hurt me, so I stood my ground. “No, it’s not funny. I don’t want to get engaged like this.”
“Sothis is what you’re deciding? You’re in charge now?” He poked mein the shoulder.
“Woah, hey, is there a problem?” A thick accent asked, stepping between us.
I stared at the back of Colton’s head as he separated my soon-to-be fiancé and me. He was breathing hard, his fists balled tightly.
“Yes, and here you are.” Harrison pushed him out of the way and looked right at me. “I’ll see you next week with a better attitude.” He looked between us again, as if he was desperately trying to read our minds. Finally, he threw up his hands and walked away, toward his rental car.
The door slammed as Colton turned to face me. His facewas red, and he was still breathing hard.
His family was waitingbya pair of red trucks, watching the scene unfold.
“Are you alright?” He asked, putting a hand on my shoulder.
I had no idea. The supposed love of my life had degraded and yelled at me right after asking me to spend the rest of my life with him. I was angry, filled with guilt, and wanted to crawl into a hole with humiliation. I nodded and blinked hard, pretending I wasn’t crying. “I would like to apologize for unintentionally involving you and your family in this. Especially you. He had no right to put his hands on you.”
Corporate Allegra, detached Allegra.
He tilted his head,his green eyes filled with exhaustion. “Ally, please, you have nothing to be sorry for. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”
I was so tired. I couldn’t even acknowledge the feeling of cold water down my spine that accompanied the “Ally” name. “I’m alright. Thank you. And it’s Allegra, by the way. Tell your family I’m sorry. I’ll see you all in Utah. Travel safe.”
I turned and walked off, even though I didn’t have a car.
Even though I wanted to throw my arms around him.
Even though I missed my dad so much, I wanted to die.
Even though I loved the way he called me “Ally,” and wanted to beg him to say it over and over again.
~~~
I slammed the bathroom door hard behind me. I didn’t care if I woke my neighbors. I needed to release some anger.
I didn’t even recognize the woman in the mirror.
What had I done?
I knew exactly what my life was going to look like. Why had I looked at Colton? Why had I fought back when Harrison argued? What had I done?
It was late, but I needed help. I pulled out my phone and clicked the top contact.
“Allegra? Are you okay?” Martha picked up on the second ring.
I pressed my back against the cold tile wall and slowly slid to the floor, not caring that I was sitting on a hotel bathroom floor. “Martha,” I cried.
“Oh, baby. Tell me what’s going on.”
And I did. For the next twenty minutes, she didn’t say a word. She let me get every bit out of my system, listening to me blubber through my snot and tears.
Finally, I took a shaky breath. “Martha, what if I lost Harrison?”
