Exposing the Groom Read Online Rachel Van Dyken

Categories Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Funny Tags Authors: Rachel Van Dyken Advertisement

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Addison throws herself at Rob and kisses him. “I just want you!”

“I want you!”

“Um…” Adrian raises his hand. “Then shall I continue, or do we need to go to confession?” He looks so frustrated, I’m afraid he’s going to cuss while holding his Bible. His smile is so fake it hurts my face to watch.

Addison fixes her hair, then twists it around her finger. “Sorry, yes, please, we just, um, a rough night with the almost murder, with the mixture of medicine and too much wine. We’re ready.”

The rest of the wedding goes by fast, thank God, though I see both my parents make a quick escape to the wine table and grab a bottle each once everyone is excused to go to the reception. I don’t blame them.

Addison is Rob’s issue now.

I stay in my seat even though everyone’s allowed to leave, and I watch, as they all file out, and then I wait for it.

I wait for the start of the music.

And start it does, followed by Killian’s intense voice, singing about going until the end, never leaving someone’s side. It’s hypnotic.

I sit there through one song, then another.

I remember our laughter. I remember our fights and want to smile even harder. I remember the brief moments in his arms.

And then I remember the darkness when he left last year, how it felt like a torrent of rain and how I always thought it was because of Rob.

But now I know.

It was because of the star I wished on.

Killian Stone.

I squeeze my eyes shut and feel a hand on my shoulder, and then reach for my hand. I look up and it’s Adrian.

Then on the other side, Dustin grabs my other hand. We sit and stare at the emptiness, the place where the bride and groom stood, now bare.

And I remember how it felt to be alone, almost like a bride left at the altar.

Stay by my side. My heart begs.

When my brain knows. Everything has an end.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Killian

I’m not feeling any of the songs, and Cassidy said she wanted to talk after my first and only set, I committed to eight songs total. I’m nearing the eighth and I still don’t see Scarlett anywhere.

My heart sinks deeper the more I think about it. She’s going to assume the worst and while I want to go strangle the bride, I found out through a brief talk with Cassidy that they’d actually been friends for the last year and she was truly invited to the wedding, the rest is all just another conniving way for Addison to hurt her sister or make herself look better on her wedding day.

Normally, I’m better than this, but my eyes can’t help searching for Scarlett. When she finally does arrive, it’s at the end of the last song.

This one is about losing love then gaining another. Her eyes meet mine briefly as Adrian loops his arm through hers.

The priest.

Did I literally just lose to a priest over a misperception? Over my own fear? I keep playing and sing about moving on, and I want to scream into the microphone that the last thing on my mind is moving on. She ducks her head and smiles at a guest. Her parents approach and each gives her a hug and point at me, most likely saying how happy they are about the ceremony.

God only knows if I’ll still be here by that time.

I won’t leave without telling her, though. That would be a dick move, and I don’t think I would even recover from it.

I wonder if I’m the only person that sometimes lives in their own imagination, singing or listening to tracks and thinking about a future I know will never exist. In this specific one, it’s me and Scarlett laughing, traveling, her backstage, having someone to come home to.

My thoughts choke me. I think about kids.

I squeeze my eyes shut and finish the song, then finally address the room. “Thanks for letting me perform. Congratulations to the happy couple.”

I almost drop my guitar in an effort to hand it to one of the stagehands and quickly walk down the stairs, only to be completely blindsided by Cassidy.

“Hey.” Her smile’s warm, pretty like always. “Can we have that talk now?”

Is no an option? I let out a heavy sigh. “Yeah, but wait here one minute.”

I leave her standing by the stage and rush over to Scarlett. “Give me ten minutes then we talk, is that okay?”

Adrian’s eyebrows shoot up, and he crosses his arms. Dustin’s suddenly gone silent by his side. Ah, good he clearly has chosen sides in this scenario. He looks everywhere but toward me.

Scarlett’s smile is wobbly; her eyes have tears in them. I want to explain everything, but I’m petrified the tears will be for an entirely different reason. Her answer is a small whisper, “Okay.”

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