Attendees are still gathering, and no one has seated yet, which means we're right on time. I scan the room for the one person I'm most interested in seeing, but there's no sign of him. I'm both disappointed and relieved.
Lance fidgets nervously at my side.
"Is everything ok?" I ask him.
"Everything's fine." He responds, glancing around the room. "How about you find our table, and I'll get us some drinks."
Nodding, I head toward the row of tables by the dancefloor, glancing back often to see the direction Lance goes. Something about him seems off, and I'm not sure what it is. When he walks past the bar and through a small crowd, I forget about finding our table and decide to follow him.
Chapter Fifteen
Lance Freeman
According to Danny, the one person I wanted here before I make my big announcement hasn't yet arrived, but I needed to get away from Harlyn; otherwise, I would've jumped the gun on asking her.
Right now, I'm just trying to buy some time by doing a quick sweep of the area to see who else I might want to shock with my announcement tonight. I spot Quinn in one of the rooms, but have no intention of speaking with her. She and I have never gotten along, so she'll have to find out through her friend later.
I'm about to look in another room, my phone chimes.
Danny: They're parking
Danny: About three minutes out
Me: Thanks man
I don't have much time. Spinning on a heel, I don't realize Harlyn is behind me before I plow straight into her, gripping her arms just in time before she falls back.
"What are you doing back here? I thought you were getting drinks." She asks, eyeing me curiously.
"I was, then realized I needed the men's room."
She glances down the hall, the way we came. "Funny because it's in the opposite direction."
I need to get her back to the ballroom, or at least the main entrance. "You're right, I just got turned around. Did you find our table?"
"Um…" Her cheeks tint red, and she lowers her gaze. "No. Sorry I went looking for you."
"It's ok, come on I think I saw a seating chart at the entrance." Gripping her arm lightly, we walk briskly toward the main doors. She follows willingly and without question. "There, over on the wall."
She heads over to the chart, and I'm a step behind watching the door. Once Asher and Catarina reach the doors, the next few moments happen so quickly it's almost a blur.
I pull the ring from my pocket and drop to one knee. "Harlyn."
She turns, and her breath catches. Shock is what paints her face first and then a flash of anger. "Lance, what are you doing? Get up!"
Ignoring her pleas and with perfect timing, I ask the question I've wanted to for a long time. "Francis Harlyn Aldridge, will you marry me?"
"Harlyn, what's going on?" A deep voice asks from the door.
Her eyes flit to his and then to Catarina before her face goes white, and a hand covers her mouth.
I can't help the grin that spreads across my face at their predicament. Catarina has been filling me in on Harlyn and the teacher. It fueled the fire burning deep within to make her mine. I was hoping it would be under different settings, but this will do.
Still, on one knee, I ask again, "Harlyn, will you…be my wife?"
A single tear slips from her eye, and without giving him any chance to explain why he chose Catarina and not her, she turns to me. "Yes, I'll marry…"
"You most certainly will not." A female voice interrupts. Gasps cast from the crowd that has now gathered around us.
It catches Harlyn's attention, and her eyes snap to the person ruining my whole plan. "Mom? Mom!" She shouts, running toward her long-lost parent and jumping into her arms. Her parents don't give a fuck about her. Why would they? The only reason they're here is to show support for their daughter in front of everyone, so there's no question around who took care of their darling daughter.
Straightening myself, I move toward my girl and her mom but not before tossing a glance Asher's way. His stare is narrowed so hard on me if looks could kill I'd be murdered and then some. It warms my heart, knowing he's that angry. I also flit a glance to Catarina shrugs slightly at what went down.
She and I need to talk.
"Mrs. Aldridge, so nice to see you again. I hope you had a nice flight." Laying it on thick, I focus my attention on the woman who brought my girl into this world.
She brushes me off, tucking her daughter under her arm, and they head down the hall, but not before Harlyn tosses me a what the fuck were you thinking look over her shoulder.
I'm left standing in the entryway with stares all around. "Alright, break it up. There's nothing to see here."
With a low rumble, most head toward the ballroom while others pat me on the back and give me their condolences.
Shouting turns my attention toward Asher and Catarina. "NO! I Can't do this. Go ahead and blab to your parents, I can't stay here!" He shouts, exiting the building, leaving Catarina and me alone together.
Chapter Sixteen
Francis Harlyn Aldridge
I hold it together long enough for my mother to pull me into a private room where as soon as I step through the door and find my dad standing by the window, the waterworks let loose. "Daddy!" I rush toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist.
"Oh my sweet Francis, what has gotten into you?" He asks, stroking my hair.
"It seems a lot has been going on since we've been gone." I hear my mother say between my sobs. "That Freeman boy was proposing to her, and she was just about to say yes."
"Is that true, my dear?" He asks, tipping my head up so I'll meet his eyes.
Knowing I've disappointed them,
