it was Tessa.
The rest of the ride to the hotel is silent. I’m lost in thought. I don’t know what I’m going to say to her when I see her. Hell, I don’t even know if she’s willing to see me. That’s not going to stop me from trying.
Nixon pulls up to the valet, and we climb out of the car. Hands in my pockets, I follow him like a lost puppy through the lobby and to the elevators. I don’t say a word on the ride up, or when the doors open and he steps off. We finally stop outside a room, and he knocks softly. My breathing halts as I wait for them to answer. What feels like hours later, when it’s merely seconds, Tessa opens the door and gives us a sad smile.
“H-How is she?” I ask, my voice gravelly.
“As good as can be expected after running out of her own wedding.”
I wince. “Can I see her?”
“Depends. Tell me you’re in this for the long haul, Cooper.”
“Eternity.”
She nods and hands me a card. “I got you a room too. I wasn’t sure where you were staying, and well, I’m not sure how this is going to go over. I was hoping that would be your answer, and you would want to be close to her. Your room is there.” She points across the hall. “We’re a few floors up. Call us if you need anything.”
“Thanks, Tessa.” Pulling my hands from my pockets, I take the offered card with a mental note to repay them and wrap my arms around her in a hug.
“Hands off my wife, Reeves,” Nixon says. His voice is calm and holds no heat.
“She’s not your wife yet,” I fire back.
“Close enough. Go get yours,” he says, drawing Tessa into his arms. I watch as he kisses the top of her head, and together, arms wrapped around one another, they head down the hall.
Slowly, I push open the door and walk in, making sure to lock it behind me. With each step I take into the room, my heart seems to pound a little faster. By the time I can see her, I feel as though it might pound right out of my chest.
“Reese,” I say, my voice gruff like sandpaper.
She looks up at me with tears staining her cheeks, and red, watery eyes. I don’t give her a chance to speak or to even act before I’m rushing to her, dropping to my knees and cradling her face in the palm of my hands.
“I’m so sorry, baby,” I whisper as my thumbs swipe across her cheeks, drying her tears. I hate to see her like this. I hate it’s because of me. I should have told her sooner. This is my fault, and I’ll do anything to make it up to her.
“I don’t know what’s happening, Cooper.”
“We’ll figure it out together,” I tell her.
“Will we?” She pushes my hands away and stands as she begins to pace the room. “I can’t believe you dropped all this on me the day before my wedding. Do you know how incredibly selfish that is? That you don’t want me, but you don’t want him to have me, so you make up this bullshit story about being in love with me? Who does that?”
“It’s not bullshit, Reese.” I stand, and again have to shove my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her.
“It is!” she screams. “Why now, Cooper? Huh? Why all of a sudden do you want me? You say you’re in love with me? What changed?”
“I changed.” I take one step closer to her and stop. “I changed because I learned what life was like without you in it. It fucking sucks, Reese. I hate it. I think about you every fucking second of every day, and it’s not because you’re my best friend. It’s because you’re my fucking soul.” My hands fly out of my pockets as I smack my chest. ‘Right fucking here.” I tap my heart. “That’s where you live, and frankly, I can’t live without you. I don’t want to. I’m miserable.”
“You’re miserable?” She scoffs. “I threw myself at you, and you turned me away. You didn’t want me. I was trying to move on. I was supposed to be married to a good man who would always want me, and now this?” She waves her hands around the room. “I’m here in my fucking wedding dress fighting with you.”
“I don’t want to fight with anyone else.” My voice