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I’ve always been his. But in the five years I’ve known him, he’s never been mine.
29
Morning.
Charlie: What's wrong?
Nothing is wrong. Why would something be wrong?
Charlie: I told you to text if anything is wrong.
Just checking on you. You seemed nervous last night.
Charlie: Pre-wedding jitters.
It’s almost over.
She doesn't respond and I take the hint, getting back to helping her make today a success rather than distracting her with pleasantries like ‘good morning’ or ‘do you want me to bring you an iced coffee?’
I think twice about that second one. Charlie doesn’t need more jitters today.
I load up the car with what we’ll need and wake my brother—who's crashing on my sofa. He’s well aware that the guest bedroom isn’t available and I sure as hell wasn’t about to give him the bed Charlie and I shared the last few weeks. Groom or not.
He perks up as if he'd been awake for hours, but I know he’s been knocked out cold since eleven o’clock last night.
“You alright?”
He runs a hand down his face. “Anything on our leads?”
Is he joking? He’s concerned about our leads today. “No, man. I'm sorry.”
He sighs. “I just wanted to give her everything.”
I remember Charlie’s words to me from weeks ago. Keep the groom engaged and sane on the day of the wedding.
I grip his shoulder. “Today is going to be the happiest day of her life. But that can’t happen if you’re worried about her. You know she’ll see right through it.”
He rakes his fingers through his hair. “You’re right.”
“I’ll go make some coffee, then we’ll get dressed and head over. Sound good?”
“Yeah—yeah, coffee.”
Pepper wanted an outdoor Spring wedding in the open field near Hideaway Lake. And I don’t have a doubt in my mind that what's sprawled before me is exactly what she envisioned. The air is crisp and fragrant. The sun, warm and inviting. There’s a narrow white pebbled path that leads from the parking lot to the ceremony.
Rows of white chairs decorated with rose ribbons face a canopy made up of sheer white fabric and peach roses. The entire scene is set in front of one of my favorite views of this lake.
My new favorite view? Watching Charlie race into it naked.
That supersedes any décor.
A festival-sized tent is set up a few yards away for the reception, with several open curtain entrances.
“Where is she?” Chase asks.
I hold up my phone, signaling a message from Charlie. “Bridal suite.” I point to the small decked-out tent off to the side. It's next to another one, not as fancy, both separated by an open bar. “You’re free to roam about without running into her. Just don’t go lingering outside of it.”
He narrows his gaze and releases a breath. Then glances at the parking lot slowly filling up behind us.
