34: Take her. Go.

“Beth.”

“Elizabeth.”

“My love, please wait.”

They caught up to me faster than I wanted. Someone lifted me off the ground, and my face was buried against a hard chest. I sniffed, noting now the tears drying on my cheek. The smell of Malik’s cologne comforted me. He only let go when I stopped shaking but never let me get far.

“My love,” Malik whispered, stroking my cheek with the back of his thumb. I tried to look away, but he cupped my face in his palms. “You are not a slut or whatever stupid name he conjured back there.”

“I don’t care about Ian or what he says,” I said. Malik’s lips thinned. He looked like he wanted to say more but was allowing me to speak my mind. Waylen was by his side, deathly silent and fuming. From Malik’s bruised knuckle, I knew he was the one to hit Ian. I’ve always wanted him to lose his cool, but never like this. “I ruined my best friend’s wedding. No drama, but you two brought a truckload of drama.”

“We brought drama?” Waylen yelled. He was in my f