Page 42 of Keeping Skylar (Fractured Hearts #1)
Skylar
Love hangs thick in the air, so strong I can almost taste it. Today is Hannah and Nate’s wedding day, and there’s nothing more enchanting than watching two souls intertwine—becoming one.
The ceremony feels like a scene pulled straight from a fairy tale movie. It’s absolutely breathtaking. Guests are gathered beneath a grand oak tree draped with low-hanging lanterns, just outside Bedford Manor, the cherished estate once owned by Hannah and Heath’s late grandparents.
Eighty of their closest friends and family sit on elegantly crafted wooden benches lining a white-carpeted aisle, each row adorned with stunning floral arrangements. The entire setting is just as intimate as it is magical.
I’m sitting in the front row alongside Heath and Hannah’s parents, Carol and Howard, watching the bride and groom exchange their vows.
They’ve chosen to stick with traditional vows rather than write their own—mostly due to Nate’s habit of slipping sexual innuendos into just about every conversation or speech, which likely wouldn’t go over well with either family. So far, though, he’s managed to behave himself.
Hannah looks absolutely radiant in her strapless mermaid lace gown, every detail embodying a sense of classic elegance.
Nate, in his sharp black tux, is a far cry from his usual larrikin self—he looks every bit the devoted groom.
And the way he’s been gazing at his bride all afternoon stirs up a whirlwind of emotions inside me.
Standing beside Nate as his best man is the one person I haven’t been able to take my eyes off since he stepped onto the scene. Heath stands tall and poised, his well-fitted tux making him look like he’s just walked off the runway of a high-end men’s fashion show.
Even amidst the beauty of the bride and the grandeur of the ceremony, Heath draws his own share of attention, evident from the countless admiring glances cast his way. And honestly, who could blame them? The man is effortlessly and undeniably irresistible.
The bridal party includes Hannah’s three closest friends from primary and secondary school: Natasha, her maid of honour, along with her two bridesmaids, Kelly and Caitlyn. Nate’s groomsmen are Heath, his cousin, Josh, and his long-time colleague and friend, Tom.
My eyes narrow as I spot Natasha—a striking, tall blonde with flawless high cheekbones and a slender frame—sending a flirty smile in Heath’s direction.
He meets her gaze with a smile of his own, and a sharp pang of jealousy stirs within me as I watch their exchange unfold.
I glance down at my hands, clenched tightly in my lap, trying to hide the irritation creeping into my expression.
Suddenly, I feel the weight of someone’s gaze on me.
When I slowly look up, I find Heath watching me; his brow furrows slightly, as if he can sense the shift in my mood—then his lips curl into a warm, reassuring smile.
He mouths ‘beautiful’, followed by a sexy wink that always leaves me blushing.
Despite the lingering frustration, a smile tugs at the corners of my mouth. How can I be mad at that handsome face?
The celebrant announces Nate and Hannah as husband and wife, and the delighted couple leans in for a deep kiss before making their way down the aisle hand-in-hand. The bridal party follows closely behind, and we all rise to cheer on the newly married couple.
As the bride and groom pass by, my attention shifts to Natasha, clinging tightly to Heath’s arm like she’s claiming him all for herself. And as they walk away, I can’t help but silently hope he’ll glance back at me—just once. But he never does.
The reception is in full swing, and once again, I find myself seated with Hannah’s parents, who’ve been nothing but warm and gracious since our first introduction.
They know me as Hannah’s friend and colleague, and Heath’s roommate.
But judging by the lack of raised eyebrows and curious questions, I’m guessing they haven’t caught on that there’s something more than just a shared lease between their son and me.
Carol is every bit as beautiful and graceful as her daughter, with her chestnut bob, vibrant blue eyes, and petite frame.
But it’s Howard who truly draws my attention.
He bears an uncanny resemblance to Heath, even in his mid-fifties.
With his salt-and-pepper hair, sturdy build, and piercing blue eyes, it feels like I’m staring at Heath twenty years from now.
“How are you enjoying the wedding so far, dear?” Carol asks in her motherly tone.
“It’s been such a beautiful day. I’ve never seen Hannah and Nate so happy. How are you two feeling?”
“I’m still trying to wrap my head around the fact my little girl married that idiot. But thankfully, we love that idiot, so we can’t complain.” Howard shrugs then gives me a playful wink.
I chuckle, feeling a sense of ease settle over me. They’re nothing like Kaden’s parents, far from overbearing or judgemental.
“Now that our Heath is home for good, hopefully, he’ll meet someone he can settle down with too,” Carol says with a smile. “We’ve been hoping and praying for a nice girl to come along and tame him,” she adds, completely unaware that their wish might come true sooner than they think.
“All he does these days is work and travel.” Howard sighs, shaking his head. “Doesn’t he realise he can still do all that and have a partner by his side? It would be nice to see him happy with someone for a change.”
Carol nods in agreement. “When he dated Natasha, we thought she might’ve been the one, you know? They seemed so in love. It was really sad when we found out they broke up.”
My stomach instantly drops. Heath dated Natasha? Why didn’t he mention it before? I guess that explains the ease between them, the way they interact like they’ve known each other forever.
“How long were they together?” I ask, trying not to sound too curious.
“They dated briefly in high school, just before Heath left for the cadets. Then they picked up where they left off a few years later and were together for almost a year, give or take.”
“Why did they decide to end things?”
Carol and Howard exchange a look, their expressions tightening as if they’re not entirely comfortable discussing the reason behind the breakup.
“He cheated on her,” Carol admits, her voice tinged with disappointment.
“That poor girl was so smitten with him. It was a real shame. Honestly, I’m surprised they’ve been so civil with each other all day.
Who knows? Maybe the third time’s the charm.
” She offers a small, hopeful smile, but it only deepens the ache settling in my chest.
Shocked and hurt by this revelation, I force myself to look away, my heart sinking as I fight to keep the tears from spilling.
Heath, the man I opened up to, the one I believed was different, has cheated before.
And suddenly, all those doubts I pushed aside come rushing back.
What’s that saying? Once a cheater, always a cheater?
Just when I thought I’d finally found something real, something worth holding onto, it feels like I’ve been knocked down once again, all hope fading away.
How could I have been so na?ve, so ready to believe that this time would be different, when all I’m doing is trading one heartache for another? I knew this was too good to be true.
As if on cue, the MC announces the arrival of the bride and groom.
They step into the venue, hand-in-hand, beaming with the brightest smiles.
Right behind them, like a picture-perfect couple, are Heath and Natasha—arms still linked, laughing and smiling at each other, radiating their own golden glow.
‘He cheated on her. That poor girl seemed so smitten with him too.’ Carol’s words echo in my mind as I fight to suppress the bile rising in my throat.
After the bridal party take their seats at the front, facing the guests, I deliberately avoid meeting Heath’s gaze, though I can feel the weight of his eyes on me the entire time.
For the next hour, we enjoy a lavish three-course meal, and to my surprise, I find myself genuinely enjoying the company at the table.
Seated beside Hannah and Heath’s parents are their Aunt Louise and Uncle Henry from their father’s side, along with their adult son, Liam.
He appears to be in his late twenties or early thirties, tall and lean, with sandy blond hair, very attractive.
He also shares the same striking blue eyes that seem to run in the Bedford family, proving that their good looks are deeply embedded in the genes.
“So, Skylar, how long have you known my cousins?” Liam asks, sipping his champagne. On closer inspection, he kind of resembles a younger Travis Fimmel from his Calvin Klein days, though with shorter hair.
“Well, I’ve known Hannah for about five months since I started teaching at the school, and I’ve known Heath for a little over three,” I reply with a tight smile. “What about you? Are you close with them?”
“Not as close as we used to be when we were younger,” Liam admits, a hint of nostalgia in his voice.
“To be fair, though, we don’t exactly live in the same city anymore.
I’m based in Perth now. Heath was always away working on a cruise ship and my own job required a lot of travelling as well.
So, it was tough trying to find the right time to catch up. ”
“What is it that you do for work, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“I’m in acquisitions, for a hotel chain. I travel a lot between states so it’s hard to find any free time. I miss hanging out with them, especially Heath. May I ask how you and Heath know each other?”
I take a sip of my champagne, offering Liam a polite smile as I feel Heath’s eyes on me from across the room. I resist the urge to glance his way and focus on his cousin instead. “We’re roommates.”