Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76452 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 382(@200wpm)___ 306(@250wpm)___ 255(@300wpm)
“Your turn,” the wedding planner tells us.
How, I don’t know, but Spencer and I are in perfect sync as we start to slowly make our way down the makeshift aisle in the sand. “You want this one day?” he asks, making small talk.
“We’re supposed to be smiling at the guests, not gossiping,” I snip.
His deep chuckle washes over me, and I feel it from my head to my toes. “I think your kitty needs petting, Charlie. You’re too uptight.”
“I’m not uptight. This is my baby sister’s big day, and I want it to be perfect. And I’m allergic to cats,” I snap. Yes, I’m well aware he’s not talking about that kind of kitty, but I can’t go there. Not today, and not with him.
“Somebody should tell the groom that,” he mutters under his breath.
I stop when we reach the arch of flowers and turn to face him. I want to tell him that I agree with him, but that goes against every fiber of my being, so instead, I just give him a curt nod and take my place where I’ll stand up with my sister.
I keep my eyes trained on Audrey as she makes her way toward the altar. My heart squeezes in my chest, and I wish my parents were here to see this. To see the amazing woman that my little sister turned out to be. The ache I feel for all that they’ve lost, for all that Audrey and I have lost, is deep.
They say that time heals all wounds, and while I can somewhat agree with that, I also disagree. I miss them every single day. There isn’t a day that goes by that I don’t want to call one or both of them for advice or give them good, and hell, even bad news. I miss their presence in our lives, and yes, while the days go by, it’s a little easier to breathe, but that ache, that tenderness deep in my soul, always remains.
Keeping my eyes on the aisle, I wait for Audrey to come walking down by herself. Anger flares in my gut when I once again think about everything that Lincoln is missing out on. This is a day they’re supposed to experience together. A moment in time when they prepare to spend the rest of their lives with each other, and he’s not here. I hate that for my sister. It worries me to think about what else Lincoln will miss out on in their marriage. Anniversaries, birthdays, the birth of their children? I want better for her, but this is her choice. I can’t make this decision for her. Not that I would want to. However, if I were the one to choose her forever, it wouldn’t have been Lincoln. It would have been someone more like… Liam.
As if the universe can hear my thoughts, Audrey walks down the aisle. My eyes turn to Liam, and he’s got a soft smile pulling at the corner of his mouth, and his eyes are glued to her. He’s watching her while her gaze is trained on the arch of flowers. When she reaches her place, and Lincoln’s void is obvious, Liam steps forward. He leans over and whispers something in my sister’s ear, making her smile, and that one, it’s real. There’s no worry behind her eyes, and yeah, I think, not for the first time, that my sister chose the wrong brother.
We do a quick run-through of how tomorrow is supposed to go. Liam assures everyone that he will make sure Lincoln knows his part. I have to fight like hell not to roll my eyes.
Liam jokingly asks Audrey if she wants to run away with him, and while one of the other ladies belts out her approval, I’m silently sending her mine, hoping that the universe will take control and make that happen.
Spencer grumbles about being hungry and some other random comment about winning me over tonight. He can shit in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up faster. There will never be a world in which Spencer Pennington “wins me over.”
A few hours later, Adeline and I are sitting at the bar. She’s flirting with this hot bartender, Decker, and I’m content to just be here for the show.
“He’s hot.” I nod my approval once Decker refills our drinks then walks away.
Adeline watches as he begins to clean up at the other end of the bar. “Yep.”
I toss my head back in laughter. “You going to make your move?”
“What? No. I’m just here for the booze, and the eye candy is just a bonus.”
“I think you should ask him to meet up later, or hell, tomorrow after the wedding.”
“Ladies.” I hear from beside me, and I don’t even bother to hide my groan at that voice.