Page 59 of Crossing Arizona

“Yeah, Valerie, who do you think he’ll believe? You or the guy that helped raise your daughter?”

She draws back like she’s been physically slapped, fake lips curling into a snarl before a slow smile widens on her face. “Yes, my daughter. And if you ever want to see or speak to her again, you’ll keep your mouth shut.”

“You can’t be fucking serious,” I growl in disbelief, my jaw dropping, and her answering laugh is near maniacal.

“You don’t think so?” Evil satisfaction flickers on her features, nose pointed high when I don’t respond.

Because she just realized she won.

Backing away, I grab Devon’s arm, throwing them one last scowl before silently returning to the room to grab my bag. Devon doesn’t speak until we’re outside, standing by his bike.

“She’s full of shit,” he mutters, replaying the video on his screen of the entire conversation.

I don’t respond because part of me knows she isn’t.

“So what do you want to do?” he asks, waving the phone around. “Want me to send this to Salem?”

And then what? Lose Hannah forever?

Could I do that? Potentially risk never seeing her again to prevent Matty from making a mistake? I’m not fucking stupid. The minute they sign those marriage papers, Valerie gets half of everything: their child, Matty’s money, his life.

A sick part of me wants to celebrate. To watch it all burn down, watch him get what he deserves for leaving me. But I know Hannah would just be caught in the crossfire.

“Xed?” Devon prompts, raising his brows at me expectantly, and I slowly shake my head as I get onto the bike.

“No. Don’t send it to anyone.”

Maybe it’s time Matty realizes the consequences of what he’s done.

Chapter twenty-six

“Where the hell is he?”

Pacing back and forth before the altar, I look toward the driveway, anxiously searching for any sight of my best friend. Everyone’s eyeing me cautiously, whispering amongst themselves, and Val’s furious. She’s already sent her friends three times to demand that we start the ceremony.

But I can’t. I don’t want to do this without Xed.

Taylor steps up beside me, looking flushed in his tux, dark strands damp with sweat from the Arizona heat. “I know you think he’s still coming, Matty, but… we’re already running late.”

“Ten more minutes.” Everyone’s already been waiting forty-five, what’s ten more?

Come on, Xed. Don’t do this to me.

Please don’t make me face this alone.

I’m so fucking tired of being alone.

Twenty minutes pass, and still, he’s nowhere to be seen. It isn’t until a sniffle draws my attention that I tear my gaze away from the street, looking down into my daughter’s tear-filled gaze.

“Did Uncle Xed forget us, Daddy?”

Her lilac dress is rumpled, hair a mess, far too cute to be looking as crushed as she does. My heart fucking breaks when her lower lip trembles, and I heft her up into my arms.

“No, jelly bean, he’s just…” Gone forever. “Just running late.”

It feels like the airport when I left for Phoenix all over again.

He’s gone, and I’ve lost him for good this time.