His chin tilts as he regards me like a child instead of a grown woman. “No, Melody. I’m not. Either you get in the car with me, or everything is gone before I leave the driveway.”
Trapped. He’s trapped me. I can’t lose everything I worked so hard for. Not when it’s all I have left…
I hang my head, pushing his hands away as my lips twist. “Then let’s get through this party.”
He snakes an arm around my waist, making my eyes close with the pain of his touch as I suck in a deep breath and steady myself for the storm coming. If Dylan thinks I’m going to lie down and be the dutiful wife, he has another thing coming.
I smile numbly as Dylan’s family laughs haughtily about inside jokes and our wedding. Someone asks me if the reason for our pushed-up date is because I’m pregnant, and I nearly vomit all over the sparkling marble beneath me.
Pregnant?
We haven’t discussed children, and I honestly don’t want to with Dylan. None of this feels right, but I have no choice. Nameless faces blur by, each congratulatory and bright, but nothing more than static to me. I’m overwhelmed, my fingers rubbing a mile a minute over the bottom of my shirt. I feel like I’m going to have a panic attack as I fight past the crowd and finally make it outside.
I bend at my hips, bracing my hands on my knees as I gasp. The fresh, cold air bites my lungs, and my skin pricks with the cold sweat glistening over my brow.
Too much.
This is too much.
I shouldn’t be thinking of him, but right now, all I can imagine is Kaden. I want his touch, his comfort, his headstrong will. I want him more than anything, but I can’t get lost in fantasy. Not like I did the first time.
He could ruin me just as easily as Dylan.
Pick the lesser of two evils.
I nearly snort at the saying.
The door opens behind me, and I feel his presence before I see him. When Dylan places his hand between my shoulder blades, I recoil.
“I think you’ve had enough today,” he says softly.
I peer over my shoulder at him. “What?”
He fixes his suit jacket, his work phone in his hand as he frowns at the screen. “The party is over. Everyone is leaving. I’ve already put your bags in the car.”
My heart thumps painfully.
Kaden.
He isn’t here.
I won’t get to say goodbye…
“Looking for someone?” Dylan asks, his voice dipping dangerously as his eyes narrow.
I rise, shoving my sweat-drenched hair away from my face. “N-no…”
He hums, tucking his phone back into his pocket. “Say your goodbyes. We have a drive ahead of us.”
I nod silently, shuffling back inside as the party wraps up. I give Mom and Dad a tight hug, holding onto them as if it’s the last time I’ll see them.
“Are you sure you can’t stay, Jellybean?” Mom asks into my hair. “We thought—”
I pull away, forcing a smile to my face as my chest pangs. “Uh, no. Dylan needs to get home, and I have a wedding to plan.”
I see the hesitation in her eyes, the urge to say something, before it vanishes. Dad sighs, scrubbing a hand down his face. “I’ll tell Kaden when he gets back.”
The sound of his name makes my eyes water. “Okay…”
