I took a step back, and now, I was the one feeling sick. “What?” I barely got out as I took another step away from him.

“Reed…” Layton said in a warning tone.

Oh my God. What if he’s changed his mind? What if he isn’t sure he wants to marry me? I looked around and saw The Ritz-Carlton across the street.

“Reed, just take a few deep breaths. Everything is going to be okay,” Whitley said as she walked over to Reed.

I turned and walked to the car. I grabbed my purse and made my way across the street to the hotel.

“Courtney!” Whitley called after me.

I turned and gave her a weak smile. “I’ll meet y’all at the hotel.”

I picked up my pace as I heard Reed call out after me. There was no way I could talk to him right now. By the time I got halfway across the street, I began running toward the hotel until I came to a stop in the massive lobby. All I could hear was Noah’s voice in my head, saying over and over that no one would ever want me like he wanted me.

One quick look around, and I found the ladies’ restroom. I barely made it in time before I began throwing up. When I finally couldn’t throw up anymore, I stood up and leaned against the stall. When I closed my eyes, I saw Reed, and I bent over and panicked.

No. I’m not okay. Maybe we shouldn’t be doing this.

Then, I saw Noah again. This time, he was on top of me, saying how much he wanted to be inside me, how only he belonged there, and how no man would ever want me.

My eyes snapped open, and I began crying as I placed my hands over my ears. I whispered, “Please go away. Please just go away.”

I began reciting my favorite quotes from The Marriage Bargain over and over until all thoughts of Noah were gone.

I banged my head against the stall and whispered, “I’m so stupid. I rushed Reed. He said he would marry me tomorrow, but maybe he didn’t really mean tomorrow.”

I wasn’t sure how long I had been in the stall before I walked out. I rinsed out my mouth and washed my hands. One quick look in the mirror revealed a mess staring back at me. My eyes were red and swollen, my face was flushed, and my hair was a mess. I reached into my purse, pulled out a hair band, and threw my hair up into a ponytail.

I swallowed and took in a deep breath. How stupid of me to think how romantic it was for Reed to just whisk me away and marry me on a moment’s notice.

I looked at myself in the mirror again and whispered, “Life is not like the books you read, Courtney.”

I closed my eyes, and Noah’s face appeared.

He smiled and said, No one will ever want you like I want you.

I snapped my eyes open and quickly wiped away my tears. I pulled out my phone and saw I had six missed calls from Reed and three from Whitley. I also had one text message from Reed.

Reed: Courtney…baby, please call me. I’m really worried about you. I didn’t mean that the way you thought. It’s just that you freaked me out by telling me your parents are coming and that they are really pissed. I just want to make you happy. Please call me. I love you so much, Court.

I looked at the time on my phone. “Oh shit!” I’d been in the restroom for almost an hour.

I splashed some cold water on my face before I walked out of the restroom and to the lobby. I walked up to the counter, gave the woman standing behind the front desk my name, and asked for my room. I smiled when she told me I was in one of the presidential suites, and then she gave me a key.

Oh, Daddy, I’m going to owe you a big kiss and hug.

I sent Whit a text message, saying that I was on my way to the elevator.

Courtney: Hey, I’m heading up to our room. I’m so sorry. I didn’t know how much time had passed.

Whitley: Oh my God, Courtney. Reed is a complete mess. We are in the room with him. I let him know that you’re on your way up. What in the hell happened? Why did you run away? We have an appointment in an hour for your dress. I’m so pissed at you right now.

Courtney: Duly noted. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to worry you guys. I’m almost there.

When the elevator opened, I turned to the right and started making my way to our suite. My heart was pounding, and I wasn’t sure how Reed would take it that I had only been kidding with him about my parents. I hadn’t realized how nervous he was.

I stopped outside our door and sucked in a breath of air, preparing myself to hear Reed say that we were no longer getting married. I slid the key in and opened the door. When I saw Reed sitting there, looking completely destroyed, my heart dropped to my stomach, and I dropped my purse.

He jumped up and made his way over to me so fast that I didn’t even have time to say anything before he pulled me into his arms.

“Please don’t ever leave me like that again. Please. I’m so sorry, Courtney. I didn’t mean for you to think that I don’t want to get married. I just want everything to be perfect for you, and if you’d rather have your parents here…”

I pulled back some and looked into his eyes. Has he been…crying?

I quickly looked behind Reed and saw Layton and Whitley. Whitley was standing there with her hands on her hips, looking ready to rip me a new one. I looked back into Reed’s eyes, and my heart actually began hurting, knowing that I had hurt him so much by foolishly running away like that.

“I, um…I felt sick, so I went to the restroom. I felt so guilty for making you feel that way, and then, um…” I looked away and whispered, “Old memories came back, and I just…lost track of time.”

Reed placed his finger on my chin and turned my face up to his. The love in his eyes warmed my heart and filled my soul with peace.

“I just freaked, angel, that’s all. I was worried that I was rushing you, and then you said your parents were upset and all. I’m so sorry I said anything to hurt you.”

My breathing picked up, and I couldn’t believe what he was saying. I had been a bitch and purposely made him worry, and here he was, saying such wonderful things to me.

“You lost track of time?” Whitley said from behind Reed. “Really? That’s the best you can come up with, Court? You deliberately said that bullshit to Reed to make him upset, and then you take off when he freaks out. I just—”

Reed turned and held up his hand. “Whitley, it’s okay.”

Whitley started shaking her head as she walked over toward Reed and me. “No, it’s not okay, Reed. So, because you had some stupid old memories come up, you caused all of us to worry?”