“Jesus, what?” he asks as I finally let go of his jacket. I’m shaking and he eyes up my appearance, his hand coming up to grab my bare shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

“He brought a date. A fucking date, Joey. I was not expecting that.” My chest is rising and falling rapidly and I feel like I might just pass out right here in the middle of this thing. I see his eyes search across the dance floor and spot Reese, who is talking closely with the young and very attractive woman.

“Fuck. That’s so not cool. Want me to say something? I can throw his ass out of here. Or hers if you want.”

“Oh please, like you would stand a chance against Reese. But her, maybe.” He narrows his eyes at me and makes a face. “Fuck, this is awful. He’s all over her. I figured Brooke would be the only bitch I’d be fighting today.” The soft song dies down and everyone is told to take their seats so that the meal can be served. I make an obscene gesture in the direction of Reese who is none the wiser as I walk up to the bridal party table and take my seat next to Juls.

I’m quiet during the meal, my only words to Juls being that I’m so happy for her and that she looks radiant. I pick at the food on my plate and keep finding myself glancing over at the table that Reese had been hovering over during the first dance. The woman is young, probably close to my age and has dark brown curly hair that falls just above her shoulders. She’s talking amongst the other guests at her table and having a blast, while my mind is eyeing up my utensils and deciding which weapon of choice I’d like to use on her if I get the chance. But really, is it her fault that he asked her here as his date? She probably doesn’t know about me, let alone the history we share. She’s an innocent bystander that he’s dragged into this mess like a complete fucking asshole. I’m gripping my knife tightly in my fist and feel Joey pry it out of my grasp, quickly putting it far away from me.

“Relax please. I’d really rather not have the cops called at Juls’ wedding reception,” he says under his breath as I let out a forceful one. The DJ softens the music and talks through the speakers as I try and calm down.

“And now I will ask that the wedding party make their way out onto the dance floor for a special number.”

“Oh great. Give me my knife back,” I growl at Joey as we all stand up and he shoves it farther down the table. He grabs my waist and directs me down the stairs, the rest of the wedding party meeting us out on the dance floor and finally letting go of me when he plants me directly in front of Reese. I cross my arms over my chest and refuse to look up and into his eyes. Bastard. I hear a small sound of amusement from above me as he steps into me and pries them down; wrapping his hand around my back while his other holds mine against his chest. A song that guts me begins playing overhead and I flick my eyes up to his and see his soft smile. Of all songs the DJ could have picked for this stupid moment, he picks “Look after You?” Perfect.

“What the fuck is this? Did you ask for him to play this song?” I ask angrily as I try to wiggle free. His grip around me tightens.

“So what if I did? It doesn’t mean anything to you anyway so what’s the problem?”

“Oh you’re so right, Reese. It means nothing to me. You’re a fucking asshole you know that? I can’t believe you brought a date to this thing and had the nerve to accuse me of flirting with Juls’ cousin.” I glare up at him as he moves me around the dance floor, my anger level rising at the realization that he’s also good at slow dancing. Really fucking good at it.

“What date? What the fuck are you talking about?”

I tilt my head towards the direction of the pretty brunette who is staring at us, smiling for some weird ass reason. “That date. I saw you with her. Kissing her and talking all close and intimate. Fuck you. I would never do that in front of you.”

He shakes his head at me. “That is my fucking sister, Dylan. Ian invited her and her husband who couldn’t make it because he’s away on business and I haven’t seen her for months. That’s why she got such a warm welcoming from me. But it doesn’t really fucking matter if it’s my sister or not now does it? You ended things, remember? You fucking destroyed me.”

I push away from him and take a step back. Staring, shocked at his admission. “I destroyed you? Fuck you. You completely broke me you stupid shit.” I slap him hard across the face because it’s what I do and storm off the dance floor, pushing my way through the crowd of people that, I’m sure, have been focused on us since our heated argument started. I’m out the double doors and make my way down the long empty hallway, unsure of where I’m headed when I hear the doors swing open in the distance behind me.

“Dylan!”

I keep moving, picking up my pace but stumble forward once my heel catches on my dress, landing hard on my knees, my hands breaking my fall and hitting the marble floor. Falling back onto my heels, I drop my head into my hands and try to muffle my cries. I didn’t want him to see me like this but it’s too late. His body drops down and I’m lifted off the floor and onto my feet as he tries to pull me against his chest. I push away and pry his hands off my waist.

“Let go of me. I hate you. I fucking hate what you did to me.” I wipe under my eyes and mentally curse myself for the mascara that appears on my fingertips.

His eyes widen. “What did I do? Dylan, God damn it. What the fuck did I do besides everything you wanted?”

“Everything I wanted? How was what we did what I wanted? You’re the one that wanted a casual hook up. You’re the one that never did anything serious and only wanted it to be about sex. I never wanted that.”

He steps closer and I back up but I’m pressed against the wall, unable to put anymore distance between us. “What the fuck are you talking about?” His eyes search my face for an explanation. “You were the one that said this was just fun and nothing serious. You labeled it that when we were at The Tavern that night. You were the one that refused to let me get close to you, never wanting things to get too intimate between us. That was all you, Dylan. I fucking told you that you had all the control.” He roughly rakes his hands through his hair and down his face. “This shit was never casual for me. Never. You’ve owned me since that fucking wedding.”

“I fucking heard you with Ian. I came to your office the day I ended things to tell you that I loved you and I fucking heard you. You said you didn’t do serious and that you were just fucking me because you liked to. How could you say that about me? After everything. After your birthday and---” my face falls apart in tears and I push against his chest, “---and after you made love to me. How could you say that?”

His hands grip mine and hold them to his chest, his eyes widening and pupils dilating. “That’s why you ended things? Fuck, love if you would have just stayed and listened.”

I pull my hands away from his. “Don’t call me that. And listened to what? I heard everything I needed to hear. I meant nothing to you and you meant everything to me.”

He shakes his head and grabs me by the waist, pulling me against him so our chests are touching. He sighs heavily. “Christ, Dylan, if you would have just stayed and listened for a few more seconds, you would have heard Ian call me out on my bullshit.” His hand comes up and he pushes my hair behind my ears, his thumb lingering on my cheek. “I only said those things because I’d been desperately trying to convince myself that it was only about sex between us, because I knew that was what you wanted. I was certain that was what you wanted and the only way I could have you. But it was never just about sex. Not for me. After Ian called me out, I admitted how crazy I was for you. How you were the only woman that ever got to me and that drove me completely insane, and not just because you like to challenge me. Which you do so fucking well.”