Free Stupid Hearts by Kristen Hope Mazzola Page A

the rows, awaiting the ceremony. I was busy snapping candid shots of everyone while my partner for the day was off with the bride doing her first look shots with her dad. Usually that was my favorite part, but I had been brought onto this shoot last minute because the original second photographer had broken his hand in a rollerblading accident while I was in Nashville. So, I didn’t have much say in what I did, I was just along for the ride.
    An all too familiar voice broke my concentration and I got rigid. “Joey? Is that you?”
    I turned around and, to my horror, saw Seth standing there in an expensive suit, without his wife on his arm or a ring on his finger. “Where’s the wife and baby, Seth?”
    He rubbed the back of his neck, taking a step closer. “She left me,” he whispered.
    Shocker.
    “Good for her. Now if you would excuse me.”
    “I’ve missed you.”
    “I’m working.”
    He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Alright.”
    Thankfully, he took his seat—right next to where I was standing, but at least I could move away from him, which I did in a heartbeat.
    The night rolled into the reception. Finn must have been really busy because he hadn’t made his way into the ballroom to check on things like he had planned.
    Out of the corner of my eye I could see Seth standing next to the bartender, staring at me while he sipped on his martini.
    “I’m going to run to the restroom.” I looked over at my partner for the evening. She gave me a quick nod and I bolted to get a little bit of privacy. I heard the door close behind me as I came face to face with a sloshed Seth. He was standing inches from me, his hand wrapped around my wrist.
    “You’re so pretty,” he slurred.
    “You smell like a bar. Leave me the fuck alone.”
    He threw me into the wall, his body weight pinning me in place while I squirmed to get free. He tried to kiss me and I reached up with all my might and slapped him across the face.
    “Oh yeah, baby. I know you like it rough.”
    He shoved me again and I screamed, “Seth, you’re a fucking dirtball and you need to get the hell off of me right now!” Panic started to break into my words.
    The door to the bathroom opened, revealing an enraged Finn flying across the room and connecting his fist to Seth’s jaw. A few seconds later security guards burst through the door and started to restrain Seth.
    “What do you think you’re doing interrupting me and my girl?” Seth grumbled, trying to break loose.
    “She’s never was and never will be yours.” Finn was seething.
    “Who the hell do you think you are?”
    “The man that loves the woman you just tried to rape, you filthy fuck.”
    I slouched to the floor, heaving hysterically, tears flowing down my cheeks. Without a word, Finn scooped me up and carried me down the hall into a vacant room.
    He cradled me in his arms and sat down on the couch, never letting me go. He wiped the tears from my eyes. “You’re safe, Joey. I promise.”
    “Did you mean it?”
    Finn looked at me questioningly. “Mean what?”
    “That you love me.”
    His kissed me tenderly, pulling me closer to him. “Yes. I know it’s fast but there’s just something about you that I know I never want to live without.”
    “I love you too, Finn.”
    “Wait here.” Finn started to get up from the couch, handing me the remote.
    “Where are you going?”
    He kissed my lips quickly. “To let them know why you’re not working the rest of the night and to get excused from the rest of my shift.”
    I started to follow him. “I should really go home to Dozer.”
    Finn spun around and shook his head. “Call Brett, see if he can let your dog out. You’re not leaving this room until I know that dirtball is far gone.”
    I nodded, sent a text to Brett, and slumped down onto the couch.
    Finn returned in less than an hour, Styrofoam containers in hand.
    “Hungry?” Finn’s honey eyes were tired and worried.
    “Famished. What’d you bring me?”
    “A