Page 8 of Crash with Me (Seasons of Sizzle #3)
SETH
“Will you stop pacing?” Stacey cries out. “You’re making me nervous.”
I freeze mid-step. “I’m making you nervous.”
“Yes, with all the back and forth and sighing.” She shakes her head. “You’re going to walk a hole into the carpet.”
“I don’t think that’s possible.” But all the same, I sneak a glance at the ground.
It’s fine. I’m fine. Everything is fine.
“I don’t know why you’re so nervous.” Her eyes narrow. “Please tell me you aren’t having second thoughts.”
“Of course not.” I glare at her. “I’ve wanted to marry Heidi almost from the moment I met her.”
“Okay.” She presses a hand to her chest. “You were scaring me for a moment.” Her hand falls to the side. “So, what’s the problem?”
“I’m just… nervous.”
“About the wedding?”
I give a short nod. “You know I don’t like being the center of attention. I don’t like people staring at me.”
“If it makes you feel better, most people will be looking at the bride and not you. Well, not unless you do something stupid, like saying the wrong person’s name during your vows.”
I stop mid-pace again to gape. “Oh, great. Now I have to worry about that too.”
“Or, maybe you might lock your knees and pass out.”
“That’s enough, Stacey.” My dad steps into my room, a tie in his hand. “Leave your poor brother alone.”
“I’m just keeping him on his toes.”
“I know, but that’s going to be Heidi’s job now.”
All three of us smile at that. Who would have guessed that the woman who was hired to bartend my dad’s ultimately ill-fated wedding would have ended up being the one who brought us all together?
I’ve stopped trying to figure out how she did it. My future wife has a way about her.
She befriended Stacey.
She helped my dad realize he needed a therapist, not another wife.
As for me, well, she’s made every day of my life better simply by being in it.
Nudging Stacey aside, my dad places the tie around my neck and begins to form the knot. That’s another thing Heidi did. She helped my dad and I mend our issues.
While our relationship isn’t the same as it was before, which would have been impossible, we’ve built a new one.
“I can’t wait to get this over with,” I say as my dad finishes.
“I can appreciate that.” He straightens the tie and steps back. “But as long as you say the right name and keep your knees from locking, you have nothing but a lifetime of happiness to look forward to.”
I chuckle at that. “Okay. I’m ready.”
And a few minutes later, when I see Heidi walking down the aisle toward me, I know I am.
I’m ready for whatever life has in store for me. Until death do we part, and after if possible.
Thank you for reading. For more steamy shorts, check out the rest of the Seasons of Sizzle series.