Chapter 8
I snapped back to reality and grabbed Lucas’s hand, heading inside.]
Right before pushing open the gate, I stopped dead.]
“This isn’t about anyone else.“[]
“Xavier, I just don’t fucking want you anymore.“[]
Back in the courtyard, Lucas still looked ready to murder someone. I reached up
“He’s nobody. Don’t waste your energy
on him.”
ched up and touched his face.[]
Lucas’s whole body relaxed at my words.[]
He crushed me against his chest and didn’t let go.
For some reason, Xavier stayed away before the wedding day.[]
The ceremony was perfect – exactly what Lucas and I wanted.[]
Flowers everywhere, like a goddamn dream.[]
We walked down that aisle with everyone cheering us on, heading straight for the priest.[]
After the ring exchange, the priest smiled at us.
“Do you promise to love and cherish each other for life?”
Before either of us could say “I do,” this raspy voice cut through the whole church.]
“STOP!”
Every head in the place whipped toward the doors.[]
Xavier came crashing in like some deranged lunatic.]
I almost didn’t recognize the psycho in front of me.[]
His eyes were black holes, cheeks completely hollow, beard grown out wild. Dude looked like he’d been living in a dumpster.]
“Toni, you CAN’T marry him! He’s fucking gay! You marry this freak and your life is over!“]
“I was wrong about everything! I finally get it now I love you! I’ll spend my whole life making this up to you! Please, just don’t do this!“]
1 opened my mouth to tell him to get the hell out, but Lucas’s voice cut through the chaos like a blade.]
“Tin gay? Mr. Morrison, you crash MY wedding and run your mouth? Who the FUCK do you think you are?“}
Chapter 8
I stared at Lucas, totally stunned.]]
Lucas saw the confusion in my eyes and patted my hand reassuringly, then looked at the security guards on both sides of the
venue.
“What the hell are you waiting for? Get this psycho out of here!“]]
Normally, a few regular security guards wouldn’t stand a chance against Xavier. But he must’ve been wrecked from weeks of not eating or sleeping, because he couldn’t fight them off.[]
Unable to break free, he screamed at
- e.
“TONI! You said you loved me! You promised you’d wait for me! You can’t just break your word!“]
His words hit me like a punch to the gut. All those old memories came flooding back.[]
The night I turned eighteen, I’d confessed everything to Xavier.[]
Under all those fireworks, his eyes reflected the lights – so bright it was almost scary.]].
”
I’d laid my teenage heart completely bare, holding it out to him like some fragile gift.
Xavier had just smiled and ruffled my hair.[]
“Toni, I’m not ready for that kind of relationship yet.“[]
And what had I said back then?
www
“That’s okay. I’ll wait. I’ll wait until you’re ready. As long as it’s you, I’d wait a hundred times, a thousand times, ten thousand times. Forever if I had to.“[]
Those were my exact words.[]
But Xavier… I changed my mind. I’m done waiting.]]
Lucas squeezed my hand.[]
When I looked up, his gorgeous face was full of jealousy, clearly pissed about what Xavier had just said.
I almost laughed. I turned to face the priest and said seriously:]
“I do.”
The ceremony continued smoothly after that.]
Lucas and I raised our champagne glasses together, accepting everyone’s congratulations.[]
Just when I thought it was all over, chaos erupted outside again!]
“MURDER! SOMEONE’S BEEN KILLED!“]}
“Help! Somebody help!“]
