Total pages in book: 72
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67982 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 340(@200wpm)___ 272(@250wpm)___ 227(@300wpm)
Like Marek, I want another fucking Stanley Cup too. This year the pressure is going to be incredible, because it’s next to impossible to win three in a row. It hasn’t been done in almost three decades.
“You get what I mean?” Marek asks me, and I have to nod. I sort of get where he’s coming from.
“Just don’t want you to get hurt in there, is all,” I tell him. “Making sure your expectations are met.”
“My expectations are I stop her from marrying this prick and then she goes on to lead a long, happy life without him.”
I don’t point out that he failed to add, “with someone else.” I wonder if that was intentional or subconscious.
Regardless, I can’t let that bother me right now. I’ve got to make sure Marek comes through this all right.
“Okay,” I tell him with a confident smile. “Let’s get this done.”
I follow Marek into the church. He walks with purpose and as if he knows where he’s going. The first thing he does is walk through the vestibule to peek through the double doors to the sanctuary. When he pulls back, he says, “Hasn’t started yet. Come on.”
He then heads down a hallway on the right, takes a left, and goes down three doors to a door that says CLASSROOM 1. Looking at me, he grins, “This is where the brides always get ready.”
“And you know that how?” I ask him.
“Many years as an altar boy in this church.”
I nod and Marek boldly pushes the door open. He slips in and I follow him, shutting the door behind us.
My eyes immediately go to a woman—a bride—standing by a window that looks out over the church playground. She’s got both hands on the window sill and her head is bowed as if in contemplation.
She doesn’t look up at us but says in a quiet voice, “I need five more minutes, Bev.”
“You’ll need more than that,” Marek says in a hard, gritty voice. “Because you aren’t getting married today.”
Gracen spins around to face us and her wide eyes lock on Marek without even looking at me once. Her petite frame goes stiff and I’m struck by how beautiful and sad she looks at the same time. She’s short like Josie, but her hair is golden and wound up in an intricate-looking style topped by a jeweled tiara. Her eyes are strikingly blue, same as Marek’s.
“What are you doing here?” she gasps in disbelief.
“Heard you were going to make the stupidest mistake of your life and I came to stop you,” he answers blandly, as if he stops weddings all the time.
Gracen’s eyes narrow to tiny slits and she takes two menacing steps toward Marek as she grits out, “You have no right. You gave that up a long time ago.”
“Consider this a public service duty, then,” Marek says as his eyes flash hotly back at Gracen. “Owen Waller is a douche, and frankly, I can’t believe your family would even give you their blessing on this. Everyone knows the guy is a bad seed.”
“He’s a fine, upstanding member of our community,” she retorts as she stops before reaching Marek. She clasps her hands in front of her, looking suddenly serene and at peace with her decision to wed today. Marek snorts in disgust. “He’s a spoiled, entitled pig who still preys on the weak. For fuck’s sake, Gracen. He used to beat up kids for their lunch money. He bullied everyone that wasn’t as rich or popular as he was. He’s so far up his own fucking ass he’ll never make you a priority.”
Gracen’s face is flushed red and I expect her to defend her fiancé, but she merely says quietly, “This isn’t any concern of yours. I’d appreciate it if you’d leave.”
Interesting. She’s not denying any of the things Marek just said, which means she knows she’s marrying an asshole.
“Call the wedding off,” Marek says with a dark smile. “And I’ll gladly leave.”
“I’m sorry you came all this way to tell me your opinion, but I’m marrying Owen today and nothing you say is going to stop me.”
For the first time, Marek’s confident facade slips and his expression grows dark. He opens his mouth and I brace for whatever is about to come out, because I know it won’t be good.
But then the door opens and a tiny, dark-haired girl peeks in. “Mommy…Aunt Bev said it’s really time this time. You have to come and she said no more stalling.”
Marek glances at the little girl and then back to Gracen with smug pride on his face that apparently Gracen’s not as anxious to get hitched as she is making it out to be. But then the smile instantly slides off his face and his head snaps back to the little girl, who has now walked into the room.