Once Upon A Half-Time: A Sports Romance - Sosie Frost Page 0,181

had a crisis of conscience,” he said.

I rushed him. “You son of a—”

Mandy stopped me with a hand to my chest. “Stop it! We’re all friends! Back off.”

My anger dissolved. Mandy wore the same hideous bridesmaid dress as the other girls, but only she filled it out right. Her silken, dark skin complimented the god-awful teal, and the soft curls of her hair fell over her shoulders and chest. She was the most beautiful woman here, but she flinched away when I reached for her.

“Don’t,” she whispered. “I can’t believe you’d hurt Rick. What’s wrong with you?”

“You know what’s wrong. We have to talk.”

“Now?”

“Yes, now.”

She shook her head. The bride stormed towards us in a cascade of taffeta.

“Now isn’t the time, Nate.”

“What are you doing here?” Lindsey pointed at her sister. “I thought…I thought you weren’t coming.”

I expected Mandy to tear up. Instead Lindsey immediately wept. She fanned her face and stomped a foot. Mandy took her hand.

“I wasn’t going to miss your wedding,” Mandy said. “Even if you didn’t want me here now, I think we’d both regret it when we’re all old and grey and cranky.”

“Speak for yourself, noodlearms.” Lindsey sniffled. “I’m already cranky.”

Mandy’s lip trembled. “I know you are, muffinbutt.”

The girls hugged, holding each other tight. Rick thought he’d get a handshake out of it from me.

I wasn’t as forgiving as noodlearms. He’d have to buy a round for me first.

Mandy pulled away from her sister. “I brought you some things.”

She reached for her purse, offering Lindsey a gold class ring from the front pocket.

“Something old,” Mandy said. “You used to wear this all the time.”

Bryce swore. “Goddamn it, Lindsey. I thought I lost that damn ring.”

Lindsey clutched it to her chest. “No. I stole it after our first anniversary. Sorry, babe.”

Bryce grabbed it from her hands, shoving it on his finger with a grumble.

“Something new.” Mandy gave an apologetic shrug as she handed her sister a red air freshener for a car rearview mirror. “I was…kinda in a hurry at the gas station.”

Lindsey tucked it into her bouquet. “It’s okay.”

Mandy offered her the picture of our sonogram. “Something borrowed. I want that back.”

“Oh…” Now she sobbed. “This is amazing.”

“And something blue.” Mandy smirked handing her a folded card. “Or…something indigo.”

The sample wedding invitation looked as hideous now as it did then, but Lindsey actually smiled.

Mandy shrugged. “I couldn’t let you get married without some luck.”

“And I couldn’t get married without my little sister.” Lindsey pulled her into a hug. “I’m sorry I yelled and banished you from my wedding.”

“I’m sorry I let you think you could banish people.”

Sandra broke up the girls, flittering between the two of them before lamenting that Mandy’s hair would have to stay down while they walked the aisle. She clapped her hands.

“We’re officially behind. Let’s move it! My baby has to get married!”

She hustled from the staging room, leading the bridal party. Damn it. I reached for Mandy, but Rick already took her arm.

Mandy didn’t look at me, and Rick’s nose still bled. She gently touched his swollen brow, repeatedly apologizing for my behavior.

Fuck. She was going to hate me.

I had to talk to her, but the music strummed from above. The church’s string quartet group began their set. We took the stairs and waited for our cues to head into the sanctuary.

My eyes never left Mandy.

I searched for her between the ruffles of teal and half-busted bouquets. She waited for her cue in silence, and she walked arm-in-arm with Rick as Maid of Honor and Best Man.

He was responsible. He was kind and caring. He might have taken excellent care of her.

But I wasn’t losing Mandy to him. I couldn’t.

She took her place beside the altar, and her eyes averted from me. My pulse beat out-of-sync to the music.

How could I have been so stupid?

The instant she’d told me about the baby, my heart split in two and grew double in size, beating for her and my unborn child. I should have stayed. She deserved better than my shock, and she deserved more than a proposal of convenience.

I never planned to settle down before, but now I couldn’t imagine a life without Mandy.

I blew my first chance, but I wouldn’t ruin the second.

If she’d take me back.

The bridal procession filled the church. The pews packed with family and friends. They stood as the wedding march strummed.

Lindsey was a hellcat, a raging bitch, and the craziest damn woman I knew, but she did look beautiful. She held her father’s arm and