the most beautiful thing I’ve ever witnessed.
Chloe’s expression immediately fights an onslaught of emotions as her eyes search her fiancé’s. Gavin looks equally emotional as he grabs both of her hands and looks her down then back up. At the moment their eyes connect again, their first tears fall. He’s wiping hers, and she’s wiping his, and then they lean in, whisper something no one around them can hear, and they kiss.
Cheers explode from the bridal party, and when Chloe and Gavin part again, it’s with a smile and another swipe of tears. More pictures ensue, and I’m suddenly feeling like an intruder. Monica insisted that I come with them to their photo shoot since none of the wedding guests had arrived yet, but I don’t feel right sharing this moment with them.
As the photo shoot continues, I sneak off through the woods and make my way toward the ceremony area. I’m eager to find a spot in the back row, but then a man in all black catches my eye. He has the build of a football player and the hair of a Sons of Anarchy cast member. Then he turns around, and a fluttering inhabits my chest. Desmond is devilishly sexy.
He’s currently chatting up Phoebe’s sister, Ursula, when I spot another figure in my peripheral. “Zach? I thought you couldn’t make it.”
He greets me with a wink and a hug. “I didn’t want to promise Monica in case I wasn’t able to, but Coach was kind about it. I just have to jet to the airport at ten o’clock, so no partying for me.”
I smile, still emotional from the photo shoot, and feel myself blinking back tears. “You’re so good to my sister. She’ll be so excited to see you.”
He shrugs, like there’s no other option. “I love her.” Then his grin widens, and he loops an arm around me. “One day, it will be Monica and I saying ‘I do.’”
I chuckle and nod over to Desmond, who now appears to be flirting with another woman, this one a beauty around Faye’s age. “That’s fine and all, but can you leave him at home for your wedding? He’ll just try to hit on all the ladies.”
Zach bursts into laughter. “True. Well, at least you have nothing to worry about, then.”
My stomach squeezes with discomfort. “What do you mean by that?” I ask with a forced laugh. The last thing I want is for Zach to think I care an iota about how Desmond feels about me.
Zach’s eyes flick to mine. “You don’t have to worry about Desmond hitting on you. I know you’re not exactly his biggest fan, which is perfectly fine. Des has a type if you haven’t noticed.” He gestures over to Desmond, who is still talking with the woman.
I might just feel my heart break a little in my chest. “You mean older women?”
Zach winks and then releases my shoulder, leaving a chill. “Don’t say you heard it from me.”
I’m still watching Desmond interact with the beautiful middle-aged brunette when he looks over and spots me. His eyes quickly shift to Zach, and then he excuses himself from the woman and starts to jog over.
If I needed additional confirmation that Desmond and I should not be kissing in concert halls or in the back seat of his car, this is it. Desmond has a type, and I’m not it. Clearly, we let the buzz of alcohol and good music cloud our minds. We created a false sense of protection from everything we know we shouldn’t want: each other.
“Well, look who decided to show up.” Desmond claps Zach on the back while I stay a safe few feet away.
“Couldn’t let my girl attend a wedding alone, now could I?” Zach grins, making his true intentions clear.
Desmond rolls his eyes. “Of course not.”
“How’s the catering gig going? Got everything under control?”
Desmond shrugs. “It’s all good. Maggie here helped with all the prep back at the kitchen, and everything’s ready to put on the burners when it’s time.”
I swallow as Desmond’s burning blue eyes land on mine when he mentions my name. And even as I look away, I can feel them lingering on me like he’s begging me to turn back toward him. Why does he have to look at me like that? We’re supposed to hate each other. When did things become so much more complicated?
When you kissed him, you idiot.
But even as I answer my own question, I know complications started much earlier than when