Bliss (Entangled Hearts Duet 2)

I need to do it now, before she goes any further. My mouth is dry, almost as if it’s been stuffed with cotton. I swallow a few times and lick my lips. Here goes nothing. I open my mouth to speak, but her words stop me.

“Hunter. I’m sorry. I- I can’t do this,” she says as her voice cracks.

There’s a collective gasp throughout the room. Low murmurs of surprise ring out while I still stand frozen in the back row, on the left side. The bride’s side. I don’t take my eyes off her as I will her to look at me. She’s up there doing this all on her own, and I want to be with her. I want to stand beside her, my head held tall as she makes this announcement.

I want to do all of that, but my feet won’t move. It’s as if they’re glued to the floor, and all I can do is stand and watch this play out. Hunter reaches for her, but she takes another step back and shakes her head. I can see the tremble in her hands as she removes her engagement ring from her left hand and places it in his.

Her mouth is moving, but I can’t hear what she’s saying. She drops her hands to her sides and looks over her shoulder at Tessa. I see it all in slow motion as she turns on her heel and rushes to the side of the room, disappearing behind the door. I watch her go, with Tessa hurrying along behind her.

The door slams closed behind Tessa, and suddenly the crowd grows louder. All I can do is stare at the door. I wanted this to happen, but she’s hurting, and I hate that. I need to go to her. I need to hold her in my arms and tell her that everything is going to be okay. I need to show her how much I love her and support her through this.

Shaking out of my fog, I slowly release my grip on the chair in front of me and flex my hands, helping to circulate the blood flow. I move to take a step, but a firm hand presses on my shoulder. Turning to look, I see Nixon standing there.

“Come with me,” he says, keeping his voice low.

“I can’t. I have to go to her.” I shake my head.

“She’s with Tess, and your best bet of finding out where that is, is through me. Let’s go.” With his hand on my arm, he pulls me behind him. We rush through the double doors and down the hall that leads outside.

“Where are we going? I’m not leaving. I have to go to her. Damn it, Nix, Let go!” I yell into the parking lot.

“They left, Cooper. She’s not here. Now shut the hell up and get in the car.”

“What do you mean they left? How could she have just left that soon? Where did they go?” I fire off a multitude of questions.

“Get in the fucking car, Cooper,” he says through gritted teeth as the door we just escaped through opens.

“Cooper!” Garrett calls out.

I give Nixon a pleading look, and he mutters, “Fuck,” under his breath. I turn to look at Garrett.

“Where is she?” he calls out as he approaches.

“We’re going to her now.” That’s really all I’ve got.

He nods. His eyes darting between Nixon and me. I know I should say something like I’ve got this, and I’ll take care of her, but the truth is, I’m not sure where they are, and I have no idea what I’m up against. I wanted her to call it off, but this… her running out, that’s not Reese. My chest is heavy from guilt, but there is also a sense of relief that washes over me. Both emotions pulling in equal measures.

I want her to be mine.

“Take care of her, Cooper.” Garrett gives me a hard look that’s also a little pleading.

I look him square in the eyes. “Always,” I say with conviction and promise. There will never be a moment in my life that I won’t put her first. Never.

“Cooper. We need to go,” Nixon says.

I give Garrett a firm nod and climb in the car. “Where are they?” I ask Nixon as he speeds out of the parking lot.

“I’m not sure.”

“What the fuck do you mean you’re not sure? Stop the car. I can’t leave her here.”

“She’s not there, Cooper.” He tosses me his phone and rattles off the password. “Pull up the last message from Tess.”

Doing as he says, I pull up the text messages on his phone.Tess: We’re leaving. She’s really upset and not saying much. I don’t know where we’re headed, but I do know we won’t be going back to the banquet hall.Nixon: I’ll get Cooper. You tell me when and where.