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Chapter twent y

Danie

I pound on the door to the groom's suite, my heart racing. I can't let this wedding happen. Not after everything I just overheard.

August opens the door, "What's wrong?"

"I need to talk to Ryder. Now." I try to push past him, but he blocks the doorway. Pushing me back into the hallway and closing the door behind him.

"Why? What's going on?"

"I overheard Victoria and Sarah talking. She's been lying to him. About everything." My hands shake as I recall their conversation. "She's not who he thinks she is."

August's face hardens. "No."

"What do you mean, no? He needs to know before—"

"I'm not telling him, and neither are you. He's already struggling with thoughts of Ava. If we tell him this, he'll never move on."

"But—"

"Listen to me, Danie. As Ava's brother and her best friend, we should want him to find happiness because that is what she would want for him. Not spend the rest of his life waiting for Ava to wake up." His voice cracks. "Because she may never wake up."

I feel the tears begin to well up in my eyes. "But Victoria—"

"This is his chance to have a happy ending. This is hard for all of us, none of us wanted it to turn out this way, but we have to do what's best for Ryder." August places his hands on my shoulders. "Let him have this, Danie. Please."

I stare at the closed door, knowing Ryder is on the other side preparing to marry a woman who has been deceiving him. But August's words hit home—the painful truth that Ava may never return to us, and Ryder deserves a shot at moving forward.

"Fine," I whisper, hating every word. "I won't tell him."

August pulls me into a hug. His familiar scent—a mix of cedar and something uniquely him wraps around me. My mind flashes back to that night two years ago. His hands sliding across my skin, our bodies tangled in his sheets.

I squeeze my eyes shut. No. We'd agreed it was a mistake. One night of weakness when we were both drunk and missing Ava. It will only complicate things.

Breaking away from his embrace, I smooth down my dress. "I'll go talk to Victoria and let her know her secret's safe." The words taste bitter coming out of my mouth. "But I will not stand up there as her bridesmaid, August—I can’t."

"Thank you, Danie." August's eyes hold a warmth that makes my chest ache. "I know this isn't easy."

"Nothing about this is easy, and it never will be." I turn, making my way back towards the bridal suite, my heels clicking against the marble floor.

Please let this be the right choice. For Ryder’s sake and for Ava.

August's voice stops me. "Danie."

I pause but don't look back. I can't handle seeing that look in his eyes again. The one that reminds me of his tattooed skin against mine and me moaning his name. "Don't," I whisper. "Just don't, please."