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Sebastian chuckled. “I’m familiar with the feeling.”
Gus glanced at the others again then looked back at his brother. “You won’t tell anyone, will you? Because I know I have to come clean. And I will.”
“You really have changed, haven’t you?” Sebastian wore a thoughtful expression.
“I don’t know about that.”
“The old Gus never would’ve told the truth like that. You would’ve done whatever you could to divert the blame. I like this new you.”
“I’m trying. But obviously, I’m failing.” He frowned.
“Not at all. You came clean to me. You were honest. That’s a sign of positive change.”
Gus’s lips lifted into a smile.
“What are you going to do about Merritt?”
“I have to tell her.”
Back at the house, there was a flurry of activity. The guys were sent off to a small room in the loft of the barn so Sebastian wouldn’t see Genevieve having pictures taken with her bridesmaids outside.
“Looking good, bro,” Gus said as he straightened his brother’s tie.
“Where are your socks?” Sebastian asked as he looked down at Gus’s bare feet inside his shoes.
Gus glanced down. “I don’t suppose anyone has an extra pair.”
“You can’t not wear socks!” The panic in Sebastian’s voice made Gus laugh. With each passing minute, his brother became more and more anxious.
“Calm down, dude. I forgot them in my room.”
“Seriously? We have less than an hour!”
“Bash.” He took his brother by the arms. “I’ll get them. Don’t worry.” The color looked like it was going out of Sebastian’s cheeks, and Gus eyed him. “Hey, breathe.”
Sebastian let out the breath he’d been holding and took fresh air into his lungs.
“Are you good?” Gus asked.
He nodded. “I’m good. I just want everything to be perfect for her.”
Gus smiled. “It will.”
He stepped into his winter boots with bare feet and braved the cold outside. He hoped his socks were in their room like he’d told his brother.
As he walked toward the house, he spotted Genevieve standing in the snow next to her horse, Charisma, having photographs taken. She was a truly beautiful bride, and he was sure his brother was going to cry the moment he saw her coming down that aisle.
Inside the warmth of the house, he began toeing off his boots.
“You’re not supposed to be in here.”
He looked up to see Merritt standing before him in a sleek black dress that hugged her curves in all the right places. His foot caught in his boot, and he stumbled to the side, grabbing one of the log pillars that separated the entryway from the kitchen.
She giggled. Oh, how he loved that sound.
He righted himself, eyes trailing down her body and back up again. He was certain he resembled a cartoon character with eyes popping out and tongue hanging on the ground.
“There are no words to adequately describe how good you look right now.” His voice came out deep and raspy, but he couldn’t help it. The sight of her did things to him. That and the pink blush of her cheeks at his words.