AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I wanted Brock.
I was tugged over to a table and practically pushed down in my seat. Bryce let out a huff of annoyance as he took his seat and picked up his napkin. I repeated his movements on autopilot, trying not to look as distressed as I felt.
“What is going on with you?” Bryce said, picking up his water glass.
I shook my head, trying to come up with the words. But I was afraid to speak them out loud. Bryce would leave me, and then where would I be? I didn’t even know if Brock still wanted me. Was I really willing to walk away from everything because of a fascination with a man who said he cared about me and then walked away?
But didn’t I want him to go?
“The press is here, Wren. Try not to look like a deer in the headlights.”
I picked up my glass mechanically, forcing the water down my throat. I could do this. Brock was…the man I wanted.
No!
I would not do this to myself. I would not throw away everything now that I was so close to having it all. I forced a smile as the waiter brought over a bottle of champagne. The cork popped, shattering my fraying nerves. I was barely hanging onto my sanity right now.
The waiter poured a glass and I picked it up, smiling at Bryce.
You can do this.
“Are you ready for this?” Bryce asked.
Dizziness washed over me as he stood from his seat and got down on one knee. My hands shook as he smiled up at me. Oh God, this was really happening.
“Wren, we’ve known each other since we were kids. I can’t imagine a more perfect mate to walk with me through life. Make me the happiest man in the world and say you’ll be my wife.”
The words were perfect and everything a woman in my position wanted to hear, but they were all fake. He would sleep with other women. He wouldn’t cherish me or kiss me like Brock did. There would be no passion—no lust. No driving hunger that would make me do crazy things for him.
You wouldn’t risk staining your soul for all eternity to save the person you love?
Oh God. I had it all wrong. I wouldn’t die for Bryce. He was nothing to me, but I would risk it all for Brock. I knew that as I stared down at Bryce on one knee. This was all a show. And I played a part in it for so long that I couldn’t even see how horrible my life would be, how useless and senseless. I thought I actually wanted this!
“Wren, you’re leaving me hanging,” he chuckled, looking around at the cameras.
Tears filled my eyes, but it wasn’t for Bryce. I swiped them away, laughing at the fact that I was actually crying over a man. “Bryce, are you sure you want to do this?” I asked quietly. “I mean, do you really want to marry me, or do you just think it’s what you’re supposed to do?”
“Wren, what are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about love. Real love.”
“Since when do you believe in love?”
I shook my head slowly. “I don’t know. I’m not even sure I can have it, but isn’t it something we should both want?”
“Wren, we had an agreement.”
“I know,” I conceded. “And I’m sorry I’m doing this now, but…but I think we both got wrapped up in what this marriage would mean for us without considering how wrong it is.”
“Wrong? Wren, we’ve known we would end up together since we were kids. I do love you. And maybe it’s not the kind of love you read about in stories, but it’s always been there. Can you really tell me you’d walk away from a sure thing? Because I’m in this, Wren. For the long haul. I was meant for you, and…” He shook his head slowly. “You’re the only woman I would ever consider calling my wife. You’re that special to me.”
I had no idea he felt that way. I was speechless.
“It’s just you and me, Wren. Forever.”
34
BROCK
