Page 95 of Runaway Bride’s Husband

Holden let out a low whistle. “You’re letting her go just like that?”

“What was I supposed to do? Kidnap her?”

He shrugged. “You’ve done it before.”

“No, I haven’t.” I paused for a beat. “It wasn’t like that.”

Jane shot Holden a look and he sighed. “What? I was just saying that he hasn’t exactly respected her wishes before when she’s told him to go away. Why would he start now?”

I glared at him. “You’re incredibly supportive.”

“I’m starting my master’s degree back at Columbia soon. I’m evolving.”

“Into what?” I asked. “A concussed raccoon?”

Alex laughed. “Concussed raccoon or not, he has a point. You chased her to the ends of the earth⁠—”

“Massachusetts,” I corrected incredulously. “That’s not the ends of the earth. It’s just Massachusetts.”

“Fine, you chased her to Massachusetts, moved her in with you, planned her dream wedding, and now you’re just taking a step back. That makes no sense whatsoever.”

“Of course, it makes sense,” Jane said quietly, looking back at me with soft understanding in her eyes. “It makes sense because this is different. I get that, but have you told her how you feel?”

“No.”

“Why not?”

I laughed, but what came out was a grating, horrible sound that made me cut it out immediately. “What’s the point?”

“What’s the point?” Jane’s entire face scrunched up. “The point is that she’ll know that you love her and that you’re an option too.”

“She has to marry Daniel, Jane. I’m not an option.”

“Yes, you are,” she insisted. “She has to get married. The inheritance clause probably doesn’t specify that she has to marry Daniel Hawthorne.”

“No, it just says that she has to marry well and Daniel offers her that.” I glanced between my sister and her husband. “If anyone should understand, it’s you two. You guys got married because it was your only real option and it was a good one at that. A great one, even. Neither of you got to stand around waiting for some magical love story to happen first.”

“That’s true,” Holden said, backing me up. “Your marriage was arranged and look at you now, all deliriously happy and shit. Maggie’s in the same position you were in. So is Daniel, for that matter.”

“You’re overlooking one very important difference,” Alex reasoned calmly, reaching for Jane’s hand and giving it a squeeze. “Jane and I weren’t in love with someone else or opposed to getting married when the opportunity arose. Maggie is likely in love with Ryan too and it doesn’t sound like Daniel wants to get married right now at all.”

“Exactly.” Jane gave him a smile so adoring, it made my teeth hurt, but then she turned back to me. “If she marries you, she would also be marrying well, Ryan. You’re a Thayer.”

Holden snorted. “Like that means anything anymore.”

I lifted my glass toward him. “Amen to that. Actually, that’s what really pisses me off.”

“That we’re worthless now?” he guessed, smirking. “I’ll drink to that.”

“We’re not worthless,” Jane argued, but both Holden and I ignored her.

“That should have been my life, you know?” I gestured vaguely between all of us. “If we were still what we used to be, if Dad had never gone to prison, this would’ve been my wedding to Maggie.”

Holden looked into the deep ruby liquid in his glass. “It really could’ve been, yeah. God knows, everything would’ve been different.”

I knew he’d had it worse after our wealth and reputation had collapsed, and usually, that meant we didn’t really talk about it in front of him, but tonight, I dug in, as pissed off as I’d ever been and feeling righteously indignant.

“I just keep thinking that if Dad hadn’t ruined everything, I would’ve been in that world with her, but we’re outsiders now and there’s no way around it.”