Page 2

Present

As I was taking in the guests, Jackson, my roommate, elbowed me in the ribs. Leaning in, he whispered, “Your bow tie is crooked, and that, combined with your usual lopsided grin, is making you look like a simp.”

Fuck.

After fixing my bow tie, I smoothed down the rest of my tux and did my best to make my smile look somewhat normal. Too bad my hands wouldn’t stop shaking. I clasped them behind my back out of view, hoping no one would notice.

Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump. Thump.

The only thing I could hear was the erratic beating of my heart, the sheer number of guests not helping matters. I should be used to this. I’ve kicked field goals with more spectators watching me, but as I stood next to a makeshift alter with a priest under it, I conceded this was a completely different kind of nerves. This wasn’t a football game. Training wasn’t possible. This was a wedding, and that kind of pressure was something no one could prepare you for.

I took a long, deep breath and closed my eyes. Maybe if I pretended I was on the field and there was a football in front of me ready to be kicked, I’d calm down. After all, no one could get in my head when I was focused on the mechanics of my kick.

“That’s better,” Jackson said, drawing me straight back to reality. “I just saved you from looking like an idiot. You can thank me later.”

“We’re not supposed to be talking,” I muttered, then unclasped my hands from behind my back so I could fix my cufflinks.

“Alright, I’ll just let you look like an idiot next time.”

Then, I noticed my pocket square was crooked, so I fiddled with that too. My watch didn’t feel right either. Basically, nothing felt right, and I itched to walk down that aisle, away from the crowd.

When I didn’t respond, Jackson laughed, stopping so abruptly I thought he was choking. I looked up and caught sight of his frozen face.

“Everything okay?”

The bridal procession music started, but I was too focused on my friend to look.

“Wow…” he huffed out. “Britt looks… fantastic.”

I clenched my jaw, angry he was the first one to see her. I lifted my gaze and to say I nearly fell on the floor would be an understatement.

He was right.

I’d always heard when you saw the right person walking down the aisle, you’d feel it in every fiber of your being. Never in a million years did I think they’d be right.

The guests stood in awe as the beautiful woman walked toward me.

Brittany Brennon.

My chest was tight, my stomach rolled, and my legs wanted to go to her. To touch her. To claim her as mine.

Breathe.

I needed to calm down, otherwise I risk rocking a hard-on in front of all these people. A crooked bow tie would be the least of my concerns then.

Britt was… well, I wanted to say fantastic, but that wasn’t enough. Just looking at her made me want to get on my knees and crawl to her while I thanked her for merely gracing me with her presence. A long silky gown hugged her curves and her lightly tousled blonde hair bounced as she made her way down the aisle looking anywhere but straight ahead.

Her bare arms were a little red from the sun. Oh how I wanted to run my lips across her shoulder, bite her skin, then lick it better so I could leave my mark. Groaning inwardly, I imagined the scene. She’d let out these soft, breathy whimpers as her fingers dug into my skin, telling me where to go next, and I’d happily kneel, worshipping every last inch of her.

Yeah, those were not appropriate thoughts to be having while standing next to a priest.

Britt stared at the Hessian runner covering the grass, watching her step. She had high heels on, which were no doubt messing with her balance. Not that she had anything to worry about. If there was any hint of her falling, I’d run down the aisle and catch her. Maybe I should go help her right now. No, that would ruin the moment. There were too many people, and that wasn’t the protocol. So I stuffed my hands in my pockets as she tentatively made her way toward me.

With every step, my feet felt a little less stable on the ground.

How close would she get before I fell off these steps?

She pushed a piece of hair behind her ear and clutched onto her bouquet like it was the only thing holding her up. All the missed opportunities flashed through my mind. How many times we’d studied together, and I held back from kissing her. How many times she’d walked into someone else’s arms that weren’t mine, and I couldn’t say a damn thing because we were just friends. How many times I had to pretend she wasn’t the best thing to ever happen to me.

When she was only a few rows away, our eyes met. My fingers twitched, and that burning need to be close to her became stronger.

Blue eyes as deep as the ocean stared back at me, and I couldn’t help but smile. My heart was on fire, and it was all because the woman standing in front of me was everything I ever wanted.

What was she thinking?

It was a question that constantly ran through my mind even though I desperately tried to avoid its presence.

Britt was everything without even knowing it. I longed for her in ways I never expected. Even now. We were only a few feet apart, yet it didn’t feel right because she wasn’t in my arms.

She gave me a subtle wave, and I smiled like a goofy teenager, glancing at the floor to try to keep from embarrassing myself in front of all these people.

“Blue really suits her,” Jackson whispered, nudging me in the side.

I didn’t answer him as the reality of the situation came crashing down with that one statement.

Blue dress.

Britt wasn’t walking down the aisle to be with me, she was the start of the bridal procession. As she stepped to the front, she smiled before moving to stand next to Jackson.

That was it. It would be the only time I’d ever be able to think of Britt as more than my best friend. She wasn’t meant to be my happily ever after. She was always supposed to be on the sidelines watching, even if I hated it.

Couching, I tried to compose myself, knowing I couldn’t make a scene. Not today.

Dazed by Britt, I barely noticed the rest of the bridal party. Would it always be this way? Would I always think about Britt even though I shouldn’t?

A string quartet played “Here Comes the Bride,” then the door to the Italian villa at the end of the garden opened.

My heart raced. This was it. The reason we were all here today.

I took in a sharp breath when I saw her. Her dress was breathtaking. Simple but extravagant. Her shoulders were on show, framed by her dark curled hair. Even with the veil on, you could tell she was beautiful.

The train of her dress dragged across the grass as she made her way down the aisle with my friend who was graciously giving her away. When she made it to the alter, she gave me a small smile before kissing Adam on the cheek.

“Thank you,” she said as Adam took her in with pride.

“Anything for you,” he said, stepping away, but gave Devin, the groom, a stern look. “You better take care of her,” he muttered under his breath before making his way to me.

“As if that were ever a question.”

I moved to the side, making space for Adam as Devin stepped forward, gently lifting the veil, then cupping Reign’s face. He swiped away the single tear on her cheek with his thumb.

“You look beautiful, darlin’,” Devin drawled out as he took her in.

She gave him a timid smile.

“Are you ready to spend the rest of your life with me?” he whispered. I looked away, wanting to give them the tiniest moment of privacy before their lives changed forever. Unsurprisingly, my eyes instantly found Britt. Her blue eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she watched the happy couple beside me. She made it no secret that she wanted a guy to look at her the way Devin looked at Reign. I guessed she never noticed me.

When our eyes connected, she blinked away the tears, offering me a smile. I couldn’t help but think about how much I’d love to spend the rest of my life staring into those eyes, kissing away her tears, and showing her just how important she was to me.

“I’m ready,” Reign said. “Are you?”

“Oh, darlin’, I was ready the minute I met you.”

Still looking at Britt, I smiled back at her, feeling the exact same way as Devin.

“You may be seated,” the priest spoke to the guests, and we both turned our attention to the happy couple since it was better to focus on reality instead of a fantasy concocted in my head.