Carrie's POV

Kenneth's face is ruddy, his forehead is beaded with sweat, and when his eyes lock with mine, he actually says, "Oh, fuck."

Leona, grips me harder with her hand, and shakes my arm, "Carrie, please...please, I beg you, don't make a scene. Not here. It's my wedding," she pleads, not realizing that her argument is making this far worse than it already is.

"Yes, exactly, Leona, it's your bloody wedding!" I whisper yell at her. "What in the hell is wrong with you? With both of you?!" I am so angry, and mortified, I can barely see straight.

Kenneth approaches me, and I actually recoil from him, with a disgusted look on my face.

"How could you do this? Again! I suppose you never even stopped. But on this of all days!" I yell at him, this time unable to keep my voice down.

"Carrie, these things are complicated, okay... look, there isn't anything I can say to you right now to justify it, I know that. All I ask is that you don't ruin Leona's day," he practically begs.

"Me ruin her day? How about you ruining her life? Or you, Leona, ruining your husband's life? Yeah, remember Derek? He's the guy you just swore to be faithful to in front of 200 people."

Leona begins to cry, and Kenneth takes her into his embrace, comforting her.

"Look, I am not the bad guy here. And I hate that I've been put in the middle of this...situation, but you two need to figure this out and get your shit together. Right now, you're both being selfish. And this wedding, it's a charade. You've made a sham of the whole thing, and you're both just sick."

I can't hold my emotions in anymore, and I feel like crying myself. Looking at their guilty faces makes me feel nauseated, so I just walk away.

I take the elevator back upstairs, fully prepared to flee this hotel, and get as far away from all things wedding as fast as possible. People like Kenneth and Leona are the reason why Tyler has such a jaded, cynical outlook on marriage. Maybe romance is dead, and happily ever after is only found in books and movies. Real life is full of much more mirky things, like lies, and betrayal, and hurt.

Finally, I make it to our table, where Tyler looks like he's bored out of his mind.

"Hey, you were gone for a while...I was getting a little worried. I hope I didn't upset you with what I said, that really wasn't my intention..."

"I want to get out of here," I tell him, and down what's left of Tyler's champagne, nearly choking on the fizzy alcohol.

"Whoa, careful...what's the rush?" he asks me, patting my back.

"What do you care? You don't even like weddings."

"Hey, if you're ready, just give me a minute and I'll get the valet to pull the car around. Stay here, it's warmer than in the lobby, and I'll text you when it's time," he says, kisses the top of my head, and leaves me at the table.

I sit alone at the table, watching as most couples are dancing to some 80s hits, but I am hardly in a celebratory mood. Suddenly, Kenneth sits down next to me.

"Carrie, I know you don't want to talk to me right now, but Leona is really worried that you might say something to Derek, or to someone else... Please promise you won't tell anyone," he says in a whisper.

"I haven't said anything, and I won't," I tell him. "It's not my place...but one of you should."

Kenneth scoots his chair as close to mine as possible, leans in, and whispers.

"She will, it just has to be the right time, and right now isn't that time," he says, like it makes perfect sense.

"If you really want to be together, why not get this marriage annulled as soon as possible?" I ask, bewildered as ever.

"Like I said, it's not that simple."

I am furious at this point. "It seems pretty simple to me! It's infidelity, Kenneth...it's wrong."

Kenneth places his hand on my shoulder, looks searchingly into my eyes, and leans even closer, until his mouth is next to my year. He whispers, "We're not just messing around, Carrie. I love her, alright? But we can't be together, not like she wants, and--"

"What in the fuck is going on here?" I hear Tyler's booming voice.

I nearly jump out of my seat, and Kenneth looks up, meeting my boyfriend's furious gaze.

"Oh, hey, Tyler, I thought you were getting the car..." I croak.

"I forgot the valet ticket," he explains, snatching the little paper square from the tablecloth. "But you didn't answer my question, Carrie. What in the fuck is happening here?"

"I'm Kenneth," my boss introduces himself, and rises with an outstretched hand.

Tyler squints at him, refusing to shake his hand.

"Oh, the boss, that's right. And might I enquire, what in the fuck you think you were doing putting your hands on my girlfriend, and whispering sweet nothings in her ear?"

"Tyler, it's not like that," I try to explain, rising out of my seat. "Kenneth was just...we were just talking about work, and the music is so loud I couldn't make out what he was saying, so he just...erm...sort of yelled it in my ear."

I really hate lying to him, but I don't want this to blow up right now.

"Please, Tyler, let's just go," I beg, taking his hand.

He keeps staring Kenneth down, but then at last relents, and lets me drag him out of the ballroom.

We get into the elevator, and I can tell by Tyler's body language that he is fuming, so I just stay silent...don't want to poke the bear just yet.

As soon as we get into his car, he gives me a glare, and steps hard on the gas, jolting me in the seat.

"Are you going to explain this shit to me, or am I supposed to just be understanding?" he finally asks me.

"Tyler, believe me, there is nothing to explain. It has nothing to do with us," I try to assure him.

"It? What is 'it'? Carrie, do you and Kenneth have a history together?" he asks, gripping the steering wheel so tightly, I can see the white of his knuckles.

If this situation wasn't so tragically ironic, I'd probably burst out laughing. "What?! Kenneth and I have never been more than coworkers. Where would you get an idea like that?"

Tyler's jaw clenches as he shifts gears, and keeps his eyes on the road. "I just don't like how familiar he is with you. All these late night calls. And staying at the office longer than you're supposed to...What the hell is up with that? I mean, I know you're trying to make a good impression at work, but don't you think it's going a little overboard?"

I place my hand on top of Tyler's forearm, hoping my soothing touch will calm him.

"I swear to you that nothing untoward is going on between Kenneth and me. Yes, it's true that since I got hired as a full time employee my schedule has been more demanding, but I love my job. It's what I've been dreaming of doing since I graduated college, so hell yes I am going to dedicate myself 100%. Because I want to build a career in this industry, and I want to be good at what I do...not for any other reason. My professional reputation means a whole lot to me, and I would never cross that line at work, even if I were single, let alone in a loving committed relationship."

Tyler's look seems to soften. "I know. I'm sorry. Carrie, believe me, your drive and ambition are some of the reasons why I find you so damn irresistible. And I am not questioning your work ethic--"

"Well, you kind of are," I interrupt him. "You're basically asking if I've had an intimate relationship with my boss..."

"Forget I said anything... I just saw him touching you, his face so close to yours...and it just sent me into caveman mode. I don't mean to sound accusatory, or unreasonably jealous, but it just got under my skin..."

"Tyler, trust is the foundation for any strong relationship, and if we don't have that between us, there isn't anything for us to stand on together. I don't want to have to explain myself any time a man other than you comes into my orbit. I need you to trust me...completely."

Tyler looks at me then, and I can see that my words struck a chord with him. Suddenly he swerves the car to the right, and brings it to an abrupt stop at the curb. He shuts off the engine, and turns to face me.

"Carrie..." he beings, then pauses, and rakes his fingers through his hair. "You must know..." he pauses again, takes my hand in his, and interlocks his fingers with mine, his eyes piercing me through. "You have to know that the reason I act like such a complete fool sometimes, and say all this neanderthal kind of stuff is that I'm fucking crazy about you. And the idea of some other guy coming between us, is enough to drive me fucking insane...and it's all because... I love you, Carrie. I fucking love you, and there's isn't a damn thing to be done about it...so I just had to tell you."

My eyes are wide, and I'm just drinking it all in....simply staring at this beautiful man say the words I've dreamt of hearing fall from his lips.

"You don't have to say it back...I am not so naive as to think that you might reciprocate my feelings simply because I've shared mine... I only wanted you to know where I stand. So, yes, Carrie, I do trust you, because I love you. I think the world of you," he says, and brings my hand to his lips and presses them to my shaking fingers.

I can't take it anymore, I unbuckle my seatbelt, and climb into his lap, wedging myself between the steering wheel and Tyler's solid chest. I take his face in my hands, and bring my trembling lips to his. He kisses me back, with such slow, sweet tenderness that my inside begin to melt.

I break the kiss, and smile at him. "The thing is, Tyler...I fucking love you too..."

Tyler's face lights up with a smile. "You do?"

"...and there isn't a damn thing to be done about it," I whisper in between kisses.