Runaway Groom (I Do, I Don't 2)

If I stay…

My heart sinks slightly. If I stay, Gage’s and my story will never be more than the debut season of Jilted. If I win (and that’s a big if) and if he marries me (and that’s an even bigger if), I’ll always be that woman he married for the sake of a TV show.

And do I ev

en want that? To get married like this? I can’t. I just can’t. I care about him too much to run us to the ground like this.

Please don’t, I beg with my eyes. Please let me go.

A stab of pain flashes across his face, but it’s replaced with a careless smile moments later. “Nah. No veto.”

Silence follows his statement, the shock in the room palpable. He gives me the slightest wink, and that nearly kills me, because I know that he chose not to exercise his veto for me. He cares more about what I want than what he wants, and…

Damn it. I need to get out of here before I fall all the way in love with this guy.

I walk toward him, grab the front of his T-shirt, and pull his face down to mine for a long kiss.

He goes still for a moment, then I feel him smile, his palm coming up to cup the back of my head as he kisses me back, soft and sweet.

I pull back and smile up at him. “I’ll never forget you, avocado eyes.”

He laughs softly. “Damn straight.”

I lift on my toes to press my lips to his ears. “Keep Paisley around as your new spy. She’ll take care of you.”

Then I kiss his cheek. And turn away.

“Watch The Godfather!” he calls after me.

I lift my hand in acknowledgment, ignoring the way everyone stares at us in clear bafflement as to what’s going on.

A few more steps and I’m out of the room. Away from the cameras.

Away from Gage.

I’m going home.

I sprint up the stairs to my room. Closing the door, I wait for the relief.

It never comes.

Invitation Ceremony #10

SIX WEEKS LATER, DURING THE AIRING OF EPISODE 10 OF JILTED

Dear Aurora—

You are cordially invited to celebrate the wedding of Gage Barrett and his future bride on Saturday, May 21, at two o’clock in the afternoon. Dinner and dancing to follow.

*

The Runaway Groom on why he jilted Aurora: “I’m looking for someone who’s in it for the long haul, and I just wasn’t convinced Aurora would feel the same about me if I developed a dad bod.”

*

Text message from Ellie to Gage: Dad bod? Really?

Gage to Ellie: I knew it. You couldn’t resist watching the episode, even after you got eliminated.