30 Days Until He Loses Me by Aaren Collins novel Chapter 2

Chapter 2

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I turned to look at him. His messy hair didn’t take away from how handsome he was–deep features, sharp jaw, all that. But when his eyes landed on Whitney? They lit up with affection. When they swung over to me? Nothin‘ but coldness, like I was a stranger.

I looked down and said flat, “The life we got goin‘ on now.”

“Oh, you mean our wedding in a month.”

Joshua thought he got it.

According to our plan, we were supposed to get our license yesterday, then the wedding in twenty–nine days.

But what I really meant? I was leavin‘ him for good.

Joshua didn’t even think twice about it. Right then, his phone chimed, cuttin‘ through the quiet.

I knew that ringtone–it

This book had been added on your bookshelf.

He glanced down at his screen. whatever he saw made mis grip on the prone tighten up.

“The institute’s been crazy busy, so I’ll let you handle the wedding plans. We’ve been together long enough–let’s keep it low–key. A few friends, nothin‘ fancy. That way you won’t wear yourself out.”

J

Joshua leaned in to hug me, but I pulled back real subtle, like it was nothin‘.

“OK,” I said calm. “Go do your work, then.”

He nodded and headed to wash up.

I capped the marker and went back to my room.

A wedding?

Yeah, right. There wasn’t gonna be one.

He’d stood me up three times already. What’s one more? Even if it meant leavin‘ me waitin‘ at the

altar.

I got pride. And I’d never let anyone walk all over it.

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Chapter 2

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That afternoon, I went to the hospital to turn in my overseas study papers. Knowin‘ I’d be gone for years, my coworkers dragged me to a bar for a goodbye drink.

The party died down, and I stepped outside. That’s when I heard a ruckus nearby–some people were fightin‘.

I’m not one for drama, so I was gonna head out. But a coworker grabbed my arm. “Hey, is that… Prof. Crawford throwin‘ punches?”

I stepped closer, frowned. Sure enough, it was him.

I mumbled some excuse to ditch my coworkers, then walked over.

Joshua had been pulled to the side. When he saw me, he covered the red, swollen corner of his mouth, all awkward. “Nothin‘ big. Don’t worry.”

But his friend blurted out, “Some guy badmouthed his crush. He lost his cool.”

Of course. It was for Whitney again.

I was used to it by now.

Joshua looked uneasy. He grabbed my hand and started walkin‘. “It was just a joke. Ignore it. Let’s go home.”

“OK.”

I nodded and hailed a cab.

The ride back was dead quiet.

Once we got home, I went to the bedroom to get iodine and cotton swabs. When I came out, I heard Joshua on the balcony, phone pressed to his ear.

“Why’d you bring up the whole ‘crush‘ thing in front of Felicia? You know that’d embarrass her.”

His friend’s voice crackled through the phone. “C’mon, man. I’m your buddy. Whitney’s the one you love–everyone knows it. I said it for your own good. Marryin‘ Felicia ‘cause she’s easy and goes with the flow? That’s messed up. You really wanna spend your whole life with someone you don’t love? That’s sad, dude.”

I waited forever for Joshua to argue, to say somethin‘-anything. But he just stayed quiet.

So he thought that too. Bein‘ with me was “sad.”

How noble of him, sufferin‘ through it all this time.

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Chapter 2

But it wouldn’t be much longer. He’d be free soon enough.

I set the iodine and cotton swabs on the coffee table and went back to the bedroom.

Joshua slept in the study again that night.

The next day, I got a call from the bridal shop.

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“Ms. Delgado, the wedding dress you ordered last month’s here. You free to come in for a fitting today?”

I was gonna make up an excuse to cancel when I heard Joshua’s voice in the background.

What was he doin‘ there? Wasn’t he supposed to be swamped at the lab?

“Sure. I’ll be right there.”

I headed to the bridal shop.

And there he was–Joshua in a crisp white groom’s suit, grinnin‘ like a fool. Next to him? Whitney, wearin‘ my wedding dress.

Joshua looked shocked for a split second when he saw me.

But he recovered fast, his face smooth as he explained, “It’s Wednesday. I know you’re swamped with surgeries every Wednesday, so I didn’t wanna bug you. Whit’s got a similar figure to yours- she tried it on for you. Looks good, right? You can just slip it on on the big day.”

I stared into his eyes for a long minute.

J

Then I smiled. “Sure. It suits her. You two make a real nice couple.”

For some reason, I saw a flash of panic cross Joshua’s face.

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