Broken Course (Wrecked and Ruined #3)(19)

"So, you remember sobbing your entire way through your vows?" he asks as tears prick his eyes.

I can’t do this with him again. I can’t watch him melt down—again. I’m not his wife anymore.

"I want a divorce," I say as my own tears begin to fall.

"So, you remember dragging me into the employee lounge at the reception just because you couldn’t wait a minute longer to make love to your husband?" he asks roughly, planting his hands on his hips.

"Please don’t do this. I don’t remember these things the same way you do. Just stop," I beg. My memories don’t pain me, but hearing his memories destroys me. I want to be Sarah Sharp again. However, just figuring out the Sarah part is hard enough.

He continues as if his words can force me to feel something. "So, you remember holding me so tight during our first dance that you joked that we were going to meld together?"

Suddenly, my frustration with the whole f*cking situation overtakes me. "What do you want from me? Lies? I f*cking hate that you do this to me. You can’t make me feel it, so I’d rather just forget every single minute of the past with you. Every tear. Every kiss. Every f*ck! I want to erase it all. Maybe then you will leave me the hell alone. I am not that woman anymore. No matter how hard you f*cking try, no amount of cake or fancy dinners in the world will make me magically come back to you."

My chest is heaving, but if Brett heard me at all, he doesn’t show it. He ignores me and takes three giant steps forward, cornering me against the wall. Then he reaches out, grabbing either side of my face and leveling me with his green stare.

"Come back to me," he demands desperately. "Goddamn it, come back to me. I can’t do this without you. We can start over—make a new life. Whatever you want. Just… Goddamn it. Please," His frantic tone shreds me.

When his mouth slams over mine, I don’t even have the energy to push him away. I stand motionless as he attempts to lure me into a kiss.

"Please, Sarah. Just come back," he whispers against my mouth as he peppers kisses over my lips.

And because I deserve it, I keep my eyes open and watch every heartbreaking emotion as he pleads. Brett Sharp is just one more person I have destroyed.

Finally, he stills and his eyes open. A single tear slides down his cheek, matching the steady stream falling from my own. He begins shaking his head and drops his hands from my face. Then he roughly shoves them through his hair before letting out a humorless laugh and covering his mouth with a hand.

"Fuck!" he explodes, spinning around and flipping over the entire dining room table.

The dishes shatter against the floor, and that f*cking cake smashes into a million pieces.

Completely ruined—just like us.

"I shouldn’t have asked that," Casey says awkwardly, walking into the kitchen, as I stand frozen, desperately trying to escape the memories.

When I turn to tell her it’s okay, a knock on the door stops the unspoken words. As nerves flutter in my stomach, I try to calm myself. I run a hand through my hair as I head for the door and pull it open. However, the minute I lay eyes on the gorgeous man holding a red Gatorade with a messy bow and small bouquet of mixed flowers, I immediately relax.

"Hey, babe," Leo says with a warm grin as he steps forward to kiss my cheek.

"Hey," I laugh, taking the Gatorade and flowers from his hands. "You know this does not make me feel positive about going out with you again."

"Well, I figured, with my luck recently, I should at least make sure you’re prepared this time." He leans away to catch my eyes, a devilish gleam in his own. "You’re beautiful." He gives me a very obvious head-to-toe assessment and pauses on my breasts for a second too long.

"Should I spin in a circle to make it easier for you to check me out?"

"It wouldn’t hurt." He smirks but pulls me tight against his body. For a brief minute, I return his embrace, enjoying the simple comfort that is Leo’s hugs.

"Eh, hm." I hear Casey clear her throat from the kitchen. Her eyes are glued to mine and her wide grin is unmistakably peaceful.

"Shit. I’m sorry. Casey, this is Leo James. Leo, this is my best friend, Casey Black," I say motioning, between them.

"Hi." Leo extends a hand in her direction, but Casey just glances at it and crosses her arms.

"What are your intentions with Sarah this evening?" she questions with a stern tone that causes Leo’s forehead to crinkle in confusion.

"Jesus. Stop screwing with him," I tell her, curling into Leo’s side. "He already had the pleasure of meeting Caleb and Emma. He’s been interrogated enough."

"Oh God. I bet that was a real treat," Casey mumbles as her face pales. She quickly recovers. "Okay. You guys have fun. Sarah, can I talk to you for a minute?"

"Yeah, of course." I smile up at Leo and walk Casey to the door.

Just as I pull it open, she leans into my ear and says, "I really f*cking hope you cleaned the cobwebs out of your panties, because I don’t care if he does think you’re easy. I want you to run into that man’s bed, strip naked, and let him kiss you wherever the hell he wants. You did not tell me he was that good-looking."

"Yes, I did!" I whisper-yell back to her while glancing over my shoulder to make sure Leo can’t hear us. But, much to my dismay, he’s very obviously listening. His confident shit-eating grin is impossibly wide. "Oh fantastic." I push Casey out the door without even so much as a goodbye.