I leaned back over to sink against the stone wall, not caring if the rough edges snagged the delicate lace and fabric. Three years of my life had gone to complete waste it seemed. I was twenty-seven years old. I was beyond my prime for dating. A part of me even recoiled at the thought of it. My time and energy had been drained by trying to keep Harry in my life.
The town of Ashburton peeked through a valley of hills. I could walk down the road, find a nice place to live, and hide out for the rest of my life while Harry returned to London to an empty flat. Not that he would obviously let it go empty. He’d soon find another woman to bring into the bed we had shared together for years.
Unwanted tears filled my eyes as I gazed down at the quiet town that I had grown to love over the past few months of visiting the venue. I didn’t dare think of what was being said back in the church. There was no doubt that everyone knew that something had happened, but I imagined they were trying to figure it out.
Where’s Molly? What happened, Harry? Why did we come all the way out here for a wedding that no one intended to have?
Footsteps approached from behind. I froze at the sound of them. I couldn’t bring myself to look over my shoulder as the footsteps drew near. My heart pounded as I closed my eyes. Please don’t be Harry. I’ll punch his damn nose in if it’s him.
“Molly?”
I blinked in surprise to hear that voice. Wiping my eyes dry quickly, I looked up to find the last man I expected to see standing there behind the stone wall with one hand resting above my head. My heart did a small start as it always did when I saw him.
It was Alfie, taking a seat next to me—Harry’s best man.
Chapter Three
Alfie
I had no idea what to say to Molly exactly. I’m sorry that my former best mate is a fucking prick? I took a seat next to her gingerly on the small rock bench she was seated on. Mindful of the miles of white and lace, I made sure to not step on the fabric pooling near her feet. Sunlight glittered off the sparkles and jewels on her dress. Her gorgeous black locks of hair were pulled up in an elegant braid with flower pins holding strands in.
There were faint tear lines on the curves of her cheeks, but Molly’s eyes were guarded from whatever emotions that had driven her to sit out here in the chilly wind. I couldn’t read the expression on her face no matter how hard I tried.
“I know,” she said, softly.
I sighed inwardly at the simple statement.
“I’m sorry,” I said, and that was all I could think to say. “I don’t know what happened last night, but the man standing in that church isn’t the man either one of us know anymore.”
Molly’s lips curved up in a humorless smile. “Isn’t that the truth?”
“Unfortunately,” I said, grimly. “I can’t get over it myself. I just want you to know, Molly, that I had tried to stop it and—”
Soft fingers rested on my forearm. Heat shot up through my arm when I looked up at Molly as she stared at me through the fragile and thin material of her veil.
“You don’t have to defend yourself,” she said. “None of this situation is on you. Harry has changed over the years, whether or not we like it.”
“I don’t even recognize who he is anymore.” Disappointment swelled in me. “You know, I used to look at him as one of my best mates who had his life together. I now know the only reason why he has it together is you.”
Molly lifted her hand away from my arm. I resisted the urge to reach out and grab it as her hand rested back in her lap. “You’re awfully kind, Alfie. My mother always told me that I had too much of a golden heart for people. I tend to take care of everything for everyone.”
“It sounds like we are both cursed with that gift,” I said.
“It certainly feels like a curse,” Molly said. She looked up at me with a long sigh. “I know this isn’t the first time he has cheated on me either. It’s happened a few times over the years.”
“Why didn’t you leave then?”
She shrugged her shoulders helplessly. “What’s that cliché saying? We take the love we think we deserve?”
“You don’t deserve that,” I said, firmly. “I don’t care what you think. Harry is behaving like a prick who has no idea what he has. That is the truth of the matter.”
Our eyes met. Something in my chest burned before Molly looked away with an exhausted sigh. Her petite shoulders slumped a bit.
“Thanks,” she said. “I don’t know how I’m going to get out of here without someone seeing me, or where I’m honestly going to go.” She laughed darkly. “I share a flat with Harry back in London.”
“Here,” I said, and dug through my pocket to hand her my house and car key. “I have a house in Devon about thirty minutes away from here. You can stay there as long as you need.”
Molly’s eyes widened in surprise. I was a bit surprised myself for the generous offer, but I couldn’t stand the man that Harry had become. A woman like Molly was a jewel, and if Harry couldn’t see it, then it was his loss.