“We did. We still do, I assure you.”
“Then where is my daughter? If you don't put her up on that altar right this minute, the whole thing is off. Just because your family is richer than mine does not mean you can simply make fools of us.”
People from both families began to talk louder, which quickly escalated to shouting. It seemed they'd all forgotten the two of us up here. That was all right by me.
“Do you realize how much money we've sunk into this? Two thousand for the flowers alone!”
“What about the honeymoon? It's not like we can refund the tickets.”
Asher sighed. “It's always about money with them. Frankly, I'd rather be broke than deal with this crap anymore.”
“I can see why.”
He eyed me curiously. “Would you really still want me if I was Joe Nobody, without the fat bank account and smoldering good looks?”
I laughed and hit his arm. “Of course, although I could do without the cocky attitude for once.”
“Then I wouldn't be me, would I?”
A horrible scream resounded through the chapel. Vivian and someone from Rosa's family had gotten into a vicious cat fight, but everyone else was too busy arguing to pull them apart.
“I don't know how you managed this stunt, but I'm very impressed,” Asher said.
“I had some help from your sister and Lana.”
“Not surprised in the least.”
“Honestly, I thought you'd be mad.”
He shook his head. “I'm not. In fact, I'm the one who ought to apologize to you. Here I was going along with dad's evil plan to marry some girl I hardly knew, because I thought it'd save your store.”
“But you were willing to do that for me.” I rested my head on his shoulder. “It hurt like hell when I heard it, but I understand now. You'd never go through something so awful unless you really did care.”
He quieted, for once without a witty comeback. Then he gazed down at me.
“Uh, there's something I need to tell you. That I never bothered to, and, well, I'm an idiot for it.”
I met his gaze. No one had ever looked at me that way, like no matter what happened around us, he only had eyes for me.
“I...” He swallowed hard. “I love – ”
As if on cue, all the lights in the building went out.
Shouting intensified, as did the blame-hurling from both sides of the aisle. If not for the small stained-glass windows in the chapel, it would have been totally dark.
“Do you think it's the storm?” I wondered.
“Could be another one of Macy's schemes.”
“Or Cole's.” I had almost forgotten his offer to help. “This might be our chance to escape.”
Escape to where? We couldn't go back to a normal life after this. Asher's family would probably disown him, and Hazel's Curiosities would soon be turned into a parking lot. Things were going to be forever changed.
But, to me, it would be worth it.
“Of course the power would go out right now,” Vivian could be heard sniffling in the dark. “It's going to ruin all the beautiful photos! They'd better give us a refund, at least.”
“This is likely all your doing,” Heath shouted at Rosa's dad. “That's right. You wanted to back out of the wedding, so you did it like cowards. Probably found someone richer for your daughter, is that it?”
“Why, you – ”
The fathers started throwing punches. People screamed in fear and fled for the exits.
“Thank god this wasn't our wedding day for real,” Asher muttered. “I'd never forgive him for ruining it.”
That's right. We weren't married, were we? But Asher put that ring on my finger, and I wished it were so.
“What is that thing?”
“It's coming right for us!”
Some small object zipped quickly through the air, buzzing noisily as it dive-bombed the crowd. A bird, or a bat?
No. A drone.
“That would be Cole. Not bad, buddy.”
Vivian yelled over the terrified howls of fleeing guests. “Don't worry, everybody! This is just a, um, minor setback. The reception still begins at two!”
Asher took my hand and led me toward a back door. “C'mon. We'll get out this way.”
“But where are we going?”
“To that reception.”
I tried to pull back, but his grip on my hand tightened as he led me down the corridor.
“You're crazy. They'll probably have the cops waiting there.”
“My parents sunk a ton of money into that reception. No way they'll not try to get as many people there as possible. That, and they'll try to cook up some sob story, hoping to save face that I didn't marry Rosa.”
“And we would want to go there... Why?”
“Because I'm sick of dad's bullshit. I won't miss it and let him lie to everyone to cover his ass, not anymore.”
I was terrified, but at least Asher stood by my side. No matter what happened at that party, he'd protect me. I knew that now.
We escaped out the back exit into a growing snowstorm and headed off, together, to the final showdown.
Chapter 27 - Asher
I was a free man. Thanks to Sarah, I'd never have to marry that shrew Rosa, never have to fall in line with dad's plans for me ever again.
She'd saved me.
“You look good in that tux,” she said softly, shielding her face from the snow.
“And you looked adorable in that dress. Gotta admit, I was looking forward to seeing you in it while we were planning our 'wedding.'”
She grew silent and stared at the bustling country club entrance. Something was still bothering her.
“Are you really sure you want to do this? It's your last chance, you know. To save face with your family.”
“I think my last chance was up on that
