Chapter 17

George pulled up to the curb just in time to see Joanna hang up the phone. He raised a brow, surprised. "Who was that?" Joanna's tone was low. "My mom. She's urging me to go pick out the wedding dress." She didn't look at him. Instead, she walked straight to the passenger side, opened the door, and slid in without another word. When they stopped at the roadside a few minutes later, George turned to her with a serious look in his eyes. "Joanna, do you not want to marry me?" The words stung even as he said them. It felt like something pricked at his chest. Everything he had done for her wasn't meant to be transactional. He didn't want her to marry him out of guilt, or worse, because her mother pressured her into it. Joanna blinked in surprise, staring back at him. Before she could respond, George continued, "You don't need to carry that weight. I did all this because I wanted to, not to make you feel like you owe me anything. I don't want to pressure you. If this is making you un