“No. He didn’t make me cry. How was your dance with Bethany?”

“I made you cry?”

“No, not really. I guess you did. Seeing you with her hurt.”

“I never want to cause you pain.”

She sighed. “You can’t make promises like that. I’m … I’ve got a lot of … issues.”

I chuckled. “We all have a lot of issues.”

“All my life, all I’ve ever been told was that I don’t measure up. I am second best. I am not liked. I’m unlovable, and seeing you with Bethany after she said that you will be with her, that you’d make love to her, it hurt.” Aurora turned toward me, tears glistening in her eyes. “I … I can’t stand the thought of her or any other woman being with you. I know I’m not perfect.”

“Don’t,” I said. “I don’t want to hear another word out of that mouth of yours that makes the claim you’re not good enough. Screw them, Aurora. You think I don’t know how you feel? I was left to rot in the dirt for years. I fought my way. That fight you witnessed, that was fucking clean compared to the shit I’ve put up with. I am loyal to Ivan, but I’m also loyal to you. There isn’t going to be another woman. I have no desire to screw around.”

I ran my fingers through my hair. Talking like this didn’t come naturally to me, and seeing the pain in her eyes renewed my rage. “I can’t promise your life is going to be easy, but I will do everything I can to make you love this life.”

“Will you be happy?” Aurora asked.

I was confused. “Me?”

“Yes. Will you be happy with me?”

“Have I given you the impression I’m not?”

She smiled and shook her head. “No.”

“Then I’m going to be happy.” I kissed her head. “Are you okay?”

“I think so. I just, I don’t know what came over me. I’ve been getting so emotional lately for no reason at all. I don’t understand it.” She shrugged. “This … wedding. I don’t know what it’s doing to me, but it’s like I can’t stop the pain, and it’s morphing into anger. I’ve never felt this way before.”

There was no one around, and the last thing I wanted to do was join the wedding party again. Adelaide had stuck by my wife, pulling her away from me. I’d never thought I was the jealous type until Aurora. “Talk to me.”

She sighed. “You know most of it. My dad offering me in place of my sister. Not even asking me what I wanted. Years and years of not measuring up. Of being second best.” Tears swam in her eyes, but I recognized another emotion, anger. I’d rarely seen it in Aurora’s eyes. “Adelaide feels something similar. It’s not exact, but it’s close. The pain is like more than she can bear. She doesn’t know if she’s terrified of her new husband, or angry that she is just a replacement for Bethany.”