Page 1 of Waiting for You (Balsam Cliffs #3)

I slip into the back row, on the outer edge, hoping none of my family will see me. Being at my sister’s wedding is heartbreaking. I’m so happy for her, but I can’t watch her get the happily ever after I was supposed to have.

Except the respect I held for her husband-to-be got in the way of my own happily ever after. I was a little late on the respect and ruined any kind of future I had back when I was eighteen because of my own stupidity.

Everybody around me is sickeningly happy. And I can only blame myself for my lack of happiness.

The crisp fall air mingled with the salt air coming off the ocean is perfect for this time of year. The sun warms our skin as we sit, and everyone has smiles on their faces for the happy couple.

Emma deserves all the happiness after what she’s gone through the past year.

After the kidnapping of her stepdaughter Olivia, Roman proposed out on our land.

Apparently they’d been sneaking around for almost a year.

And when I confirmed my suspicions, I wasn’t ready to be right.

I’ve been letting my anger get the best of me for a few months now.

I miss my sister. And my best friend.

Watching Roman take his place at the altar next to my twin, Gunnar, digs the knife into my heart a little deeper. It should be me up there. I should be the best man. I should be there while he marries the love of his life.

But I’m not. I’m hiding in the back row like a scorned lover. I suppose I am. That might be the best way to describe myself.

The music begins to play and the bridesmaids walk down the aisle. First are my sisters-in-law, Willow and Violet. The last bridesmaid to walk down with Olivia Rose, Emma and Roman’s daughter, is the reason for my heartbreak over the last twelve years.

Evelyn Thomas.

My eyes track her movements to the front of the aisle as she hands Olivia over to Mom. She takes her rightful spot as maid of honor and a flash of the future we were supposed to have takes over in my mind.

I toss the blanket in my backpack, sneaking out of my room onto the porch roof, and down the trellis. I look out toward the barn to see if Pops is still out there and make a run for the tree line when I see him pass by one of the windows.

I’m meeting Evelyn on the cove. I have something big to share with her and I’m nervous how she’s going to react.

I get there before her and set up the blanket in the back corner so even if someone comes down here they wouldn’t see us unless they were really looking. The moon lights up the cove, bouncing off the water.

“Hunter?” A breathy whisper comes from the stairs.

“Over here,” I whisper back.

She comes around the corner and my breath is stolen in my chest. She’s so fucking beautiful and I can’t believe she’s giving me the time of day.

Her brother and my best friend, Roman, chases off every guy she’s ever talked to.

Hence meeting in secret. He’d actually kill me and I’m not risking that until my plan is in motion.

She crawls up the blanket to my lap, turning to kiss me.

I take her plump lips with mine. She’s two years younger than me, but I love this girl. She’s everything to me, all consuming.

She pulls back, taking my face in her hands. “What was so important that we had to meet tonight?”

My palms are sweating on her hips, and I’m sure she can feel the nervous tremble in my hands.

“I wanted you to be the first to know what I did today.” I swallow hard under her gaze.

This isn’t something that Gunnar and I told anyone.

“Gunnar and I signed contracts with the Marines today. We’ll be shipping out two days after graduation. ”

Looking up at me, I see her eyes widen and the wobble of her bottom lip as her eyes wet with tears.

“What? You’re leaving? What about college?” Her panicked tone has so many more questions for me.

“I know that was the plan. But things changed. College isn’t for me. I barely made it through high school. I didn’t think Gunnar was really going to go through with it, but we drove to Portland today and signed. It’s official.”

Tears pool in her eyes. “I wish you’d told me. Why didn’t you trust me with this?”

“I’m just nervous. I don’t want to fail.

Especially not in front of you. This is a big step, and hard as hell.

You still have two more years of high school, and I don’t want you stressed out about me.

I’ll be getting out of basic training by the time you start junior year.

And then I’ll get my first assignment.” I pull her close to me, wiping the tears off her cheek. “I wanted to be sure first.”

“Okay. I’ll trust your plan. Just don’t leave me behind, okay?”

“I promise, Peach.” She smiles at the use of my nickname for her. Roman and I had a little Mario obsession when we were in elementary school, and she always tagged along and made one of us play as Princess Peach. It’s stuck since then.

The collective gasp from the crowd has me coming back to reality long enough to watch Pops walk Emma down the aisle. Now I’m tearing up for a second reason. The loss of what could have been, and watching my baby sister get the happiness I gave up.

By the time the first kiss happens, I’m done for. I can’t be here anymore. I slink out the back, and through the trees, following the once well worn path back to the inn to lick my wounds in private.

The old barn on the leftmost edge of our property comes into view and I heave a sigh of relief.

The fresh white paint shines in the sunlight like a beacon.

My crew and I worked our asses off the last few months to get this barn turned into a wedding venue for Ems. The inn is doing so well they paid my guys top dollar for overtime, and they earned every bit of it.

I push open the large barn doors, to be greeted by the light, airy space.

We added skylights on the roof, natural light filling the space as well as a wall of windows on the side that faces the ocean.

The reclaimed barnwood floors are stained a deep espresso color, and the space is filled with picnic tables made by Liam.

It’s fucking gorgeous and Emma did an amazing job picking out designs and decor for a chic but comfortable space.

I stand in the center of the floor, reveling in the work my crew is capable of.

I’ve spent the time cultivating a crew of hard workers who respect me and my company.

They work hard and never let the company have a bad reputation.

I can’t wait to get the photos of the barn up on our website.

Restoration work is our sweet spot. I love restoring the old homes in the area into something that a family can use and love once more.

I might not want to be a part of the day, but I want my sister to be happy. And I want the family inn to thrive. This is the only contribution I can give her today. It has to be enough for her until I can get myself, and my mind, straight.

The doors open suddenly, a whisper of the cooler weather foreshadowing someone coming to intrude on my space. I turn to see who it is, and my breath is stolen by the beauty coming through. Evelyn walks through the doors in her low-cut dress that flows out behind her from the wind.

She stops in front of me, her arms crossed and a scowl etched on her face.

“You should have been up there next to Rome. You’re being an asshole,” she spits the accusations at me like I haven’t been thinking them for weeks. “They’re the real deal, Hunt. You can’t be mad at him forever. He loves her. He holds his vows sacred, even if you think they mean shit.”

Ouch. She’s coming in hard with the low blows today. I don’t give her an answer. I don’t have one, especially not for her. Anything I say won’t help, and she deserves more than a platitude.

I walk past her and right back out the doors she just came in.

Unfortunately I walk straight into Emma and Roman as they come up to the barn laughing and kissing. I freeze. They freeze.

“Hey, Hunt,” Rome speaks first.

“Congratulations, guys.” I scoff before pushing past them and practically jogging back to my truck.

“Hunter! Wait!” Footsteps sound behind me. “Please, just wait.”

I turn to see Emma holding her dress in her hands and running after me. The guilt pangs around in my heart. She doesn’t deserve any of this. I’m glad she’s found her happily ever after.

“Hunter, why are you doing this? Please stay. I know you’re mad at Rome, but can you please do it for me?” Tears brim on the edges of her eyes.

“Ems. I love you so much, and I’m so happy for you, but—” My eye catches over her shoulder. Evelyn runs up to her boyfriend Neil, pulling him to her for a kiss, which he greedily takes. “I’m sorry. I can’t, Ems.”

She follows my gaze to see Evelyn. There’s no hiding who I’m looking at. Her eyes fall back to me, and she nods in understanding with a small sad smile on her face.

“I love you, and I’m so sorry.” I tuck tail and run again. This time though, no one follows me.

Making it home in record time, I throw the door open to my beachside cottage, ripping at the tie around my neck, and then the buttons holding my shirt together. I can’t get in a full breath. The walls feel like they’re closing in around me.

I strip out of the rest of my suit throughout the house on my way to the back door.

Out into the open space. Down to my boxers, I wade out into the ocean before diving into the water so cold it feels like ice pricks at my skin.

I welcome the pain. I take deep strokes to get me out far enough my muscles burn from the exertion.

I swim back, then repeat the process. I swim for at least an hour until I feel like I can breathe again.

Exhausted from the physical labor of swimming against the tides, I trudge back up the beach through the waves.

My back hits the cool sand and my chest heaves for air, sucking in lungs full of salty air until my breathing evens out.

Hauling my body up, I dip back into the water to rinse the sand off before going back up to the house.

I pull a beer from the refrigerator and flick the top off with the bottle opener I installed on the cabinet.

It hits the counter with a ping, but I don’t search for it.

I walk back out to the deck letting the golden glow of the sunset bask over me.

It feels rejuvenating, promising a better tomorrow.

A better tomorrow when Evelyn Keaton goes back to Portland with her boyfriend.

And the pain can subside until the next time I have to see her.