The corner of my lips tug up into a wry smile and I elbow him in the ribs. “My money’s actually on Clay. I think he’s the closet softy after seeing him with Lizzy when they stayed with me in Bend.”
Sutton starts to say something, but I ignore him when the guests quiet down. I turn around to see Collin make his way from the back of the house and lead the way down the aisle to start the ceremony. He takes his place at the altar as the officiant, fitting since he's also Tanner’s best friend.
I turn back toward the hall just in time to see Grace walk in next, arm in arm with Collin’s boyfriend, Walker.
I feel my heart stop and my mind blocks out every sound around me, just like the moment before I would go on stage for a concert. Her long, bright colored hair is up in a crown of braids. Her dark purple bridesmaid dress accentuates her tall, tonedbody. Some of her tattoos that are still etched into my psyche are peeking out of the low cut back and slit on the side.
She practically glides across the room, smiling at everyone her eyes meet, looking around the room at her friends and family on Tanner’s side of the aisle. Her eyes meet mine for just a second and she drops them to the flowers in her hands. Even with her makeup, I swear I see a hint of adorable pink stain her freckled cheeks. When she looks back up, her eyes are focused forward toward Collin, like I don't even exist.
I don’t even notice when Lizzy and Clay or V come into the room. My eyes never leaveher.
I’m transfixed by her.
The smile she’s wearing is the same bright, playful one that she flashed at me like a siren song to get me on stage to do karaoke at a shitty dive bar with her.
She looked like a dream earlier today when she showed up to the guesthouse. Christ. I doubt she could ever look anything but stunning. But as she stands there next to the altar, I can’t help but notice what looks like the slightest glimmer of worry in her eyes.
Whatever it was, it’s gone before I can blink and that wide, bright smile is back and I just can't look away from her. The way she’s silhouetted with the sunset behind her, the vivid hues matching the streaks of color in her hair. She’s perfection.
“Hey there, buddy.” Sutton whispers into my ear after he elbows me in the ribs, snapping me out of my trance. “Are you really that cliché, man? I know she's a bridesmaid, but she’s the Chapman brothers’ baby sister. You know, the two giant six-foot-god-knows-what mountain men we'refriendswith? They won’t give a shit that you’re a rockstar. They’d still murder you and I have a feeling Chap knows where to hide bodies around here.”
Fuck my life. I need to get my shit together.
I should be thinking about the eight figure real estate deal in Seattle that I know Jake is busy working on right now. I should becelebrating with my friends at their wedding. Or maybe I should be thinking about reviving my dormant music career.
But I should definitely notbe fawning over Grace like a lovesick puppy.
I take a deep breath and lean toward Sutton, still keeping my eyes forward. “I don’t know what you're talking about,” I mutter, taking one final glance at her. “And again, retired rockstar.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” He chuckles to himself and I focus back on the ceremony.
If Sutton can notice her throwing me off my game like this, I’m clearly being too obvious.
Does she even have a clue what she does to me?
CHAPTER 3
GRACE
CRYSTALLINE
I still can’t believethis is finally happening. I’m back in Jackson, watching my oldest brother get married to the woman of his dreams. The one he’s been in love with basically my whole life. Everything about it feels surreal, yet perfect at the same time.
Well, nearly perfect.
I look to our family’s side of the aisle, seeing the empty seat next to Dad, the one left in memory of our mom. It’s been a decade since the car accident that took her from us and nearly took my life too. A shiver racks through me, pricking my skin along the scars I still carry from that day. I remember the times during my recovery that I would have never imagined being here with them. Not a day goes by that I don't think about her and the hole left in my life.
I would give anything for her to be here today. To see the man my brother became. She always knew Tanner loved V growing up, even if he was too afraid to ever do anything about it.
I wipe a stray tear away at the thought of how happy she would be to finally witness this.
But selfishly, I wish I could talk to her.
Everyone thinks I’m just here for the wedding this weekendand then it’ll be back to my life in Salt Lake City. Except that’s not the case. I’m planning to stay here for a while until I figure out what's next on my journey in life. Mom was my guiding influence, subtly giving me the strength to find my own path in life. Sure, Kayleigh is right and Mom would have said the same thing.
Make the best out of it. It’ll all work out in the end.
Looking at Tanner and V, I smile at that little bit of wisdom Mom always liked to drop on us because that’s exactly what happened with these two, finally ending up together. It still doesn’t change how I feel though. Wasatch Wishes was my dream job and now I need to find something else to do. I don't even know where to start.
