“We’ve been together for three whole years. How can you do this to me?” My voice cracks, and I slip the ring off my finger, my vision blurred from crying. “What did I do wrong?”
Carl snorts. “A cheap, worthless ring is all it takes to keep you loyal? Don’t be an idiot and stop clinging to me-we’re done.”
He slaps the ring out of my hand and it skitters across the icy pavement, rolling until it stops at someone’s feet.
Simon.
He bends down, picks up the ring, and straightens with quiet resolve.
Carl shakes his head like I’m pitiful, his insults slamming into me hit after hit.
“Look at yourself-you’re not good enough for me anymore. Three years in New York, and you’re still waiting tables. Your fashion sense is outdated, and those cowboy boots? You’re not on your Texas ranch anymore.”
Jade’s fancy stiletto heels clack against the pavement as she steps forward and links her arm through my ex-fiancé’s. As of about five minutes ago.
“Exactly,” she says with a smile full of venom. “Carl’s now the manager of the top U.S. branch of the Jones Group, all thanks to my father.”
“The branch manager?” I ask, wondering when this happened. If he was ever going to tell me, or if he was waiting for a fancy new title to go with his fancy new relationship with my cousin.
“My dad’s the VP, after all,” Jade continues. “Only someone like me deserves to be with Carl.”
Someone like her? I get what he means now, and it causes a heavy rock to settle in my gut.
My financial contribution has been the source of many a fight, even though I gave my all and lived on a shoestring budget. He might’ve made more money, but he typically spent it on himself before applying anything to our shared stack of bills.
Jade purses her lips, giving me a condescending look. “And you, cousin… you’re just pathetic.”
I glare at her, my fists clenched. “Why do you have to be such a jerk? I’ve done nothing to warrant you treating me like this.”
“Give up the fantasy and head back to Texas where you belong,” Jade snarks, “with the livestock or herding cattle.”
Before I know it, my hand flies up, and I slap her across the face. The sound echoes through the chilly air. I’d say it’s been a long time coming, but I never thought myself capable of striking anyone. It’s the implication her family’s better than mine that really eats me up inside.
She gasps and covers her cheek, the most shock I’ve ever seen on her face. “Carl! See what she did? Teach her a lesson!”
Carl’s face darkens as he steps toward me, rage pinching his features. “You crazy bitch!”
He raises his hand, and I wince. My heart pounds in my ears as I squeeze my eyes shut, bracing for the hit.
But it doesn’t come.
When I open my eyes, Simon is there, gripping Carl’s wrist with an iron hold. His piercing green eyes blaze with anger, his jaw set like stone.
“Don’t you dare touch her,” Simon says, his voice low but terrifyingly calm.
Carl recoils like Simon’s touch has burned him. He rubs at his wrist and whines in a sniveling voice, “You filthy hobo, don’t touch me with your disease-filled hand!”
Jade wrinkles her nose and backpedals. “Ugh! Where did this bum come from? Disgusting!” She takes Carl by the hand and tugs him toward their car. “Come on, darling. Let’s not waste time with these lowlifes. You might catch something.”
They get into the car, the engine growling as they speed away.
The street is quiet again, save for the soft hum of the Christmas lights overhead, glowing brighter as the last rays of sun are fading away.
His eyes meet mine, filled with something I don’t quite understand. Kindness and a pinch of regret, maybe? Whatever it is, it seems to knock down all my walls and bare my raw emotions to him.
Normally I’d do a better job hiding them, but I’m still reeling from everything that just happened. I’m also unable to trust myself from speaking without bursting into tears, then again, I’m already crying.
“Are you okay?” he asks, the question filled with concern. “That guy’s an idiot. You shouldn’t bother crying over him. I promise you, you can do better.”
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand and nod, even though I don’t feel okay.
“You’re right. He’s not worth my tears.” My voice wavers, and I expel a shaky breath. “But my mom and grandma are already planning my wedding. That’s what my phone call with my mom was about earlier.”
He nods, compassion and understanding glowing within the depths of his kind eyes-they drew me in from the very beginning.
That’s probably why I keep on rambling. “They’ve spent their entire savings. Seeing me get married is also something my grandmother wanted to witness before we have to say goodbye, so now…”
Panic crowds my chest and leaves me struggling for oxygen. “I don’t know what to do. I don’t want to disappoint her or my mother.”
Simon’s gaze doesn’t waver. He takes a step closer, his expression resolute.
“I think you should… marry me.”
Simon
City Hall is decked out in Christmas cheer-garlands hang over the entrance, a massive wreath adorns the main desk, and the scent of artificial cinnamon lingers in the air.
Someone went a little overboard on the air freshener, and it and the cheery setting do little to settle the uneasy churn of my gut.
Victoria and I sit side by side in uncomfortable plastic chairs, filling out the last of the paperwork. The woman seated behind the desk calls our name and, as we approach, I see her nameplate reads
Diva.
She scrutinizes the paperwork we hand her and then eyes us with the intensity of a detective attempting to crack a baffling case. Sharp brown eyes flick from me to Victoria and back again, jet black braids swishing lightly.
“So, Ms. Victoria Barron,” she says, adjusting glasses that magnify her narrowed, assessing gaze. “Are you sure you want to marry this-” she pauses, giving me a once-over and declaring me on par with roadkill- “gentleman? You’re not being coerced?”
I don’t even flinch. I’m all too used to the judgmental looks. Used to being overlooked, dismissed, and underestimated by everyone but the angelic woman beside me.
Hell, it works in my favor.
If people can’t see past the unkempt hair and scraggly beard, the tattered clothes and rough edges, they won’t ask too many questions. They won’t dig deeper.
They’ll never expect I’m that Simon Jones.
New Book: Back Home to Marry Off Myself
Loredana’s father left the family for his mistress, leaving them to fend for themselves abroad. When life was at its toughest, her father showed up with “good news” after 8 years of absence: To marry off Loredana to a paralyzed son of the wealthy Mendelsohn family.