Page 76 of The Reason I Married Him
It’s just all blank in my head.
“Aubree.”
“Hmm?” I ask.
“You’re holding my wrist.”
I wet my lips. “I know.”
“Why?”
I shake my head. “I don’t know.”
“Well, do you want to let it go?”
“No.”
“Okay.” His Adam’s apple works up and down. “Do you want me to sit back down?”
I think about it for a moment and then nod. “Yes.”
“Okay,” he says as he moves back to the bench and sits down.
When our eyes connect, I feel that guilt he was talking about, but it’s not guilt over deceiving people. It’s guilt over what he’s giving up.
Ever since he got here, I’ve been annoyed with his presence. Irritated that he thought he could waltz on in and act like everything was fine, like he owned this land, could help makechoices, and no one would hold him accountable for it. I think I was so annoyed that I missed one important aspect of it all—he’s grieving the loss of something that I’ve grieved as well.
I want the farmland just like he wants his family cabin.
I know the desperation he feels. I know what it means to hold something so close to your chest and want it as badly as he does, which is why I grabbed his hand.
Why I didn’t ask him to leave.
And why I’m staring back at him, ready to say what I’m going to say.
“We can get married, Wyatt.”
He shakes his head. “No, Aubree. I know you’re just saying that to be nice, and I really don’t want to create something bigger than it should be. This is my problem, not yours.”
“Let us get one thing straight,” I say as I bring my feet up on the bench and my legs close to my chest. “There is one thing I never do, and that’s ‘be nice’ just for the hell of it. I think anyone who knows me can attest to that. And I’m not going to just take the land for free. So you have two choices.” I hold up my fingers. “We have someone come out to the farm, assess your part of the property, and tell us how much it’s worth so I can attempt to find a way to buy it off you, even if that means I take out a loan. Or...” I pause for a moment and collect myself. When I meet his eyes again, I say, “We go through with the original plan and get married. That’s it, those are your two choices. I’m not going to take the land just because you feel guilty. I don’t take handouts or anyone else’s pity.”
He looks away as he grips the back of his neck. “Aubree?—”
“Two options, that’s it,” I repeat, wanting to make it very clear that I won’t listen to any other suggestions.
That’s when he turns back to me and asks, “What’s with the change of heart?”
“There’s no change of heart,” I say. “I went to bed last night with the knowledge in my head that I’d be marrying you. I woke up this morning expecting the same thing. You’re the one with the change of heart, and just because you feel guilty doesn’t mean I’ll allow you to take pity on me.”
His brow creases, and his head tilts ever so slightly. “I’m not taking pity on you, Aubree. I’m trying to do the right thing.”
“The right thing isn’t giving me the land for free. Clarke and Cassidy left that to you for a reason. I’m not sure why, but they did. That means it’s your land, and if you’re willing to sell it or trade it, then I’m willing to participate in such an exchange. But I won’t accept it for free. I’ve worked for everything in my life. I’m not about to stop that now because you have feelings.”
He chuckles. “Because I have feelings, huh? Nice way to put it.” I just shrug. He blows out a heavy breath. “Okay, if you insist, then I guess we’ll get married because there is no way I’ll take your money.”
“Great,” I say. “I guess we’re getting married, then.” I glance away as my stomach turns upside down with nerves. I know that feeling distinctly, but I dare not show it. I don’t want him to know how I feel about all of this.
I wasn’t allowed to show emotions growing up, and I’m not about to show them now.
