What's wrong?

Bridget’s [POV]

"What the hell are you talking about?" I sneer. "You're not staying."

He lifts his chin defiantly. "I've already arranged a job. I can start any time I want."

I scowl. "What?"

"I'm working for Brock."

My face falls. "Brock? My brother?" What the hell? Brock owns a private investigation company called Marx Security. He employs retired Marines and army personnel.

"Yes, your brother Brock. Which other Brock would I be talking about?"

"Since when have you spoken to my brother?"

"Every week for the last five years."

I shake my head in disbelief as my hands angrily snap to my hips. "So, let me get this straight... you have spoken to my brother every week during your absence, but you couldn't be bothered to call me once?" My anger starts to rise, and I don't know which one of them I'm most furious at. I'm mad at myself the most for being such an idiot.

"How else would I check on you?"

"What the hell, Ben?" I yell. "You've been checking up on me?"

He nods and tries to grab my hands again, but I snatch them away. "Don't touch me, asshole."

"Bridget, calm down."

"Calm down?" I yell. "Calm down!" I shake my head furiously. "I am way beyond calming down. Why now?"

He frowns, not understanding the question.

"Why did you come back now?"

I fold my arms as I wait for his answer.

He stares at me blankly.

I frown as a thought runs through my mind. "Did Brock tell you I had a boyfriend?"

Ben stays silent.

My face falls. "Are you kidding me? Brock called you?"

"Bridget..."

"Don't fucking Bridget me!" I yell. Passing strangers look over at us, and Ben frowns.

"Keep your voice down," he growls.

"I will not keep my voice down!" I yell. "So, my brother called you and said you better get back here because Bridget has finally met someone worth keeping, is that it?"

His jaw ticks, and I know that's exactly what happened.

What a joke.

I step back from him because 'furious' doesn't even cover it. "Go to Hell, Ben. I will never come back to you."

He narrows his eyes. "Yes... you will."

I shake my head. "You don't care about me. All you care about is yourself."

"Bridget." He grabs my arm.

"Fuck off," I curse as I pull away from his grip. "Stay the hell away from me!" I turn and storm off as the crowd parts to look at the psycho woman who's screaming the place down.

I make my way outside and jump into the back of a cab. "Take me home, please," I snap.

Fifteen hours later.

"You ready to go, babe?" Eric asks as he comes into my bedroom. His eyes light up when he sees me dressed up. "You look gorgeous." He grins.

I glance down at my fitted, coffee-coloured silk dress that has delicate spaghetti straps, and push out a smile.

I've hardly slept all night and I feel like shit. I don't even want to go to the wedding today.

Damn, Ben is sitting heavily on my mind, and it's annoying me no end.

Eric is on night shift duty; he worked last night and then slept at his house this morning. I've had lots of time alone to think.

Not that I want to.

Eric's working again tonight and leaving the wedding at 10:00 p.m. Because he has recently been promoted, he couldn't ask for time off.

I'm dreading him leaving early.

I'm dreading being alone with Ben... dreading the magnetic pull towards the bastard.

I don't know who the hell he thinks he is turning up here, but I'm not falling for his shit.

I'm brought back to the moment when Eric gently kisses me on the cheek. I smile softly. He's a good man, and I feel guilty about the fact that Ben is even in the same country.

My conscience tells me that that's not a good sign.

Why do I feel so guilty?

I shouldn't, but I do. Is that because my heart is traitorous?

Does it know something I don't?

Eric is tall, dark, and handsome. He's the perfect male specimen. He's also a policeman and I met him around twelve months ago through Jesten. They have been good friends since meeting at the prison years ago. Where Ben is broody and non-verbose, Eric is the exact opposite. He's an open book and he tells me everything, from what he ate for breakfast, to whom he locked up at work. I know his gym program, his phone calls, his bank balance, and everything in between. He is the most honest person I've ever met.

He told me he loved me last week. It killed me that I couldn't say it back.

Why couldn't I say it back?

We've been together for three months and I care for him, I do. I know I do.

I just need some time.

And then I see Ben and my whole world crashes down around me, and I have to stop myself from blurting out that I love him, or begging him to stay.

But Ben's an asshole who doesn't care for me at all.

What the hell is wrong with me?

"You know... I don't feel so well. Let's give today a miss," I plead.

"Why don't you want to go?" He frowns. "Is something wrong? That's about the tenth excuse you've tried to get out of this."

I shrug. "I do want to go." I wrap my arms around him and rest my head on his shoulder. "But I also just want to stay in my bubble with you."

Oh, God, I want to stay in Eric's safe arms and not be tempted by the devil.

Eric smiles cheekily and kisses me softly. "Do you love me yet?"

I smile up at him. "You know how I feel about you."

He smirks. "But you can't say it."

I shrug. "We just started dating, Eric."

He kisses me again. "I know, but I knew I loved you on our third date."

I smile softly. "Well, you're stupid to give your heart away so easily. You should guard it more carefully."

"It wasn't stupid. I gave it to you."

My eyes search his and tears threaten to fall. He deserves so much better than a girlfriend who has been thinking about another man all night.

He frowns. "Hey, what's wrong?" He brushes my hair back from my forehead as he studies my face.

I shrug. "Nothing." I shake my head as I try to think of an excuse. "I just have bad PMS" I whisper over the lump of guilt in my throat.

He laughs and spins me 'round before he pushes me back onto the bed. "I'd better get in quick then before the painters come to town."

He lies down on top of me and I look up at him. "Too late, the painters are already in town," I reply flatly.

He bites my neck, distracted. "Damn it."

I smile and slap him on the chest as I stand. "Few days, I'm sure you can wait." I go over to the mirror and reapply my lip gloss, hoping he bought that lame excuse.

He stands and rearranges the erection in his suit pants. "I think you mean beauty before blue balls. Get it right." He wraps his arms around me from behind and kisses my neck. As if I am having an out-of-body experience, I watch the two of us in the mirror.

I close my eyes to block the vision of us out. I feel Eric's lips on my neck, but it's Ben's face that I see. What's going on here?

Dear God, help me.

The walk up to the church is painful for two reasons. One: these fucking shoes that Satan designed are decapitating my toes. Two: the feeling of my impending heart attack when Ben meets Eric.

I have no idea what he's going to do, but knowing Ben and his inability to play nice I have every right to feel nervous.

I remember back to when Ben and I were sneaking around when we were seeing each other. Carson made a move on me one night when we were out at a party, and Ben grabbed him by the throat so hard that Carson nearly passed out.

Calling him the jealous type is an understatement. My nerves boil under the surface.

The thing is, Eric is just as bad.

They are both strong, dominant personalities, and who knows what's going to happen...

Maybe Ben won't even come today. I did give it to him last night, so hopefully he got the message.

As we turn the corner I see Joshua, Cameron, and Ben standing out the front of the church, hands in their pockets and deep in conversation. Joshua and Cameron are groomsmen, each wearing black dinner suits, while Ben is dressed in a charcoal suit.

My heart somersaults in my chest at the sight of him... I mean them.

Cut it out! I feel sick.

Oh, damn it, I should have stuck my damn fingers down my throat to make myself throw up. It would have been a lot easier than dealing with this shit.

Eric squeezes my hand and I squeeze it back. "There's Joshua and Cameron." I smile awkwardly.

Eric looks up at the boys. "Where's your sister?"

I look around for Natasha. Where is she? "I can't see her."

Shit, we have to walk right past them. Joshua is the first to spot us, and he smiles broadly and then winks at Ben. Bastard.

"Hey, Didge." He smiles as he kisses me on the cheek.

"Hello." I smile. "This is Eric, and this is my brother-in-law, Joshua."

Joshua smiles. "Hello." He nods politely as he shakes Eric's hand.

"And this is Cameron." I hold my breath. I swear I may pass out at any moment.

"Hello." Cameron smiles broadly and shakes his hand. I know for sure Cameron will be nice to Eric because he doesn't have a mean bone in his body.

"Hi, nice to meet you." Eric smiles in return.

"And... this is Ben," I push out.

Ben glares at Eric and holds out his hand. A frown crosses Eric's face, but he forces himself to smile and shakes Ben's hand. "Hey," he says.

Ben nods in acknowledgment without saying a word.

Oh, dear Lord. There's no need to act sick now because I feel sick for real.

I need a distraction. "W-where's Tash?" I sputter as I look around, pretending not to notice Ben's arrogance.

Joshua smiles cheekily, standing there with his hands in his pockets. The bastard is loving this. "She's around," he replies calmly.

She's around? He knows where she is every minute of every damn day. Don't give me she's around.

"Where, exactly?" I snap. Don't mess with me today, Joshua, or I will end you.

I grabbed Eric's hand. "Doesn't matter. Let's go. See you later, boys." I drag Eric through the crowd.

"Who's that fucking dickhead?" Eric whispers

My face falls. "Who?"

"Ben."