I Gave Them Their Show. I Gave Her My Wedding Chapter 09
I let out a light laugh, “Oh, you came all the way here for a vacation?”
“Looks like you’re missing one.’
Reid winced at the sarcasm, “I’m sorry, Nova.”
“We were wrong to trust Blair. We put you through so much.”
I raised an eyebrow.
Reid apologizing-that was new.
He looked down, regret thick in his voice,
“We’ve been searching for you. After you left, I realized how much you meant to me.”
“I was wrong. Come home. We can have the wedding the day we get back.”
Mira’s eyes filled with tears, “Nova, you always wanted me to be your maid of honor.”
“I’ll do it. Look, I already bought the dress.”
She showed me a photo-her in the dress I’d designed for her.
She’d always refused, saying she didn’t like the attention.
Arlo jumped in, “I’ll give you all my film reels.”
“You can take as many photos as you want.”
He’d always said “next time” when it came to me.
There was never a next time.
Now he was offering,
Reid thought I was moved.
He dropped to one knee and pulled out a ring-
same style as the one Blair wore, but even brighter.
“Nova, marry me. I’ll love you and make up for everything.”
I found it laughable.
The hurt I’d endured couldn’t be fixed with a ring or a wedding.
I’d never forget the wedding that was stolen from me.
The farce I was forced to play along with.
Now, I said calmly, “Reid, I won’t forgive you. But I won’t hate you anymore either.”
“I just want you to leave me alone. You might regret it. But I don’t regret leaving.”
Reid reached out desperately, “I was wrong, Nova.”
“You loved me so much we were together for years. How could you really leave me?”
Before I could answer, a hand reached in.
The ring was snatched away.
It clattered into a sewer drain.
The three of them looked up at Cole’s cold eyes.
He’d brought a group of coworkers to block them off.
He said something sharp to them.
Before I could hear, a few of the girls pulled me away.
When we stopped, I was confused.
One of them explained.
“Cole said you might go soft.”
“He told us to bring you away-he’d handle the trash.”
Another studied my face carefully. I couldn’t help but laugh.
“What are you all so nervous about?”
They relaxed when they saw me smile, “We were afraid you’d blame us for dragging you away.”
“And even if you did, we’d still do it. They’re not worth you stopping for.”
I felt warmth spread through me,
“Don’t worry, I won’t give anyone who hurt me another chance.”
“But is Cole okay dealing with all three of them?”
They exchanged a knowing look.
One of them grabbed my arm.
“Don’t worry about him. He’s sharp. Now-let’s throw a party.”
“We’ll call him to join us later.”
I smiled, “It’s on me tonight. Here’s to leaving the past behind.”
Everyone cheered.
The sunset spilled across the street.
The past was gone. Ahead, the road was wide open.
