before she averts her gaze and looks at anything and everything but me.
I don’t know what’s worse. Whether she can’t look at me, or that she just refuses to.
Both options make me cringe.
“Well, I guess I better get inside so you can go back with the bridal party,” Emory says, pulling my attention back to her. “See you after the ceremony?”
“Definitely.” I nod and step forward to give her a gentle hug. “And thanks again for coming.”
She grins up at me. “See, I knew you’d eventually be grateful I invited myself.”
A soft chuckle leaves my lips. “Whatever makes you feel better, cuz.”
Em discreetly flips me the bird before turning on her heels and heading into the main entrance of the ballroom where the ceremony is being held.
And I resign myself to my fate. Walking Maybe down the aisle at my best friend’s—her brother’s—wedding.
Talk about a fucking mouthful.
When I reach the rest of the wedding party in a hidden corridor away from the main entrance, Margo—the wedding planner—waves me toward her. “I need the best man right here!” she exclaims and just kind of bounces around on her heels. “Two minutes, people! I repeat, we have two minutes before we begin!”
Damn, this woman is either incredibly excitable or mainlined Red Bull before she started her day.
In an attempt to not excite her further, I follow her instructions and stand where she tells me,
behind the rest of the bridesmaids and groomsmen, and right beside Maybe.
The very same Maybe who refuses even to glance in my direction.
It’s misery served straight up, without a chaser. And it’s as if the universe is saying “Fuck you, Milo” for being such a bastard. Between not telling Evan what was really going on between Maybe and me and handling that night at her apartment all wrong, I can’t deny I deserve it.
Of course, the stunning woman beside me continues to ignore my existence, staring down at her shoes as if they have the power to teleport her somewhere far away from me.
Margo starts pacing, and the sounds of soft, rhythmic, and very familiar wedding music starts to seep out through the closed doors. “Okay! Okay!” she exclaims and waves her clipboard in the air. “It’s time, people! I repeat, it’s time!”
I’m starting to fear that the wedding planner might not make it through the evening without succumbing to a mental breakdown.
The doors open, and two-by-two, each pair of the wedding party begins their walk down the aisle.
Of course, Margo is there, giving each member of the wedding party one last once-over before she lets them go through the doors. She is the mother hen of weddings, adjusting ties, fixing bouquets, doing anything and everything she can to make sure the event is perfection.
When there’s only one couple ahead of us, I don’t hesitate to reach out and gently lock Maybe’s arm within mine.
She startles at first, but I don’t miss the way her eyes glance down at where we’re connected. A little crinkle forms between her brows, and it takes everything inside me not to tell her everything that’s on my mind.
I miss you, kid. Goddammit, I miss you.
Her big brown eyes look up at me, and my heart migrates into my throat.
She doesn’t say anything, but I get the sense she wants to.
You can tell me anything. Say anything. For fuck’s sake, just tell me something.
Her mouth opens and closes once, twice, and a third time, but before words ever come out, crazy Margo gives us the cue to start walking.
We make it halfway down the aisle, and I can’t stop myself from telling Maybe the one thing I’ve wanted to say since I saw her in the lobby. “You look beautiful, kid. So damn beautiful.”
To anyone else, my words can’t be heard over the music, but I know she heard them.
Maybe doesn’t respond, but out of the corner of my eye, I don’t miss the way her throat bobs as she swallows hard against whatever emotion is inside her throat.
When we reach the end of the aisle, I have to let her go.
Without looking back, she moves away from me to stand near the other bridesmaids.
It stings like a bitch.
But I force a smile to my lips as I stand beside Evan and the rest of the groomsmen.
When the “Bridal Chorus” begins to play and everyone rises to their feet, all eyes move to the beautiful bride walking down the aisle.
All eyes except for mine.
Mine stay on Maybe the entire time.
Fuck. I wish I could