I watch his retreating form and try like hell to convince myself I’m doing the right thing.
For me and my grandmother and our future.
1
LAKE
PRESENT DAY
“Stop eye-fucking the bridesmaid,” I hiss at Beau.
“Don't sayfuckin church,” he whispers back.
“We’re not in church,” I point out, making his lips tip up in the corner as he shrugs one shoulder. Neither one of us have frequented the house of God in a while and it shows, our manners leaving something to be desired.
Still, I don’t think we’ll be bursting into flames inside the Wintervale Resort anytime soon. The thought has me holding back a smile which is better than the nerves I’d been trying to swallow down only moments ago.
Things had been tense between Pen and me after she told me Carter didn’t want her to take the promotion. I could count on one hand the number of times we’d fought over the years, but this had been the worst. She deserves more than to be some damn trophy wife to the asshat looking smug next to the justice of the peace.
I want to deck him, wipe that holier-than-thou expression right off his face.
But I refrain because it doesn't matter.
Pen made her choice, and even though I don’t like it, she’s still my best friend.
And Penelope Renee Stewart deserves my support—our support—even if every cell in my body is screaming she shouldn’t be doing this. Because my best friend deserves better.
She always has.
But Carter Hanes had done the one thing I hadn’t done.
He’d taken a chance.
In eleventh grade, he’d asked her to go to homecoming with him, and I’d been cast into the friend zone for all eternity.
Fuck.
My thoughts are cut short when the music changes, my stomach dropping as everyone stands. Clasping my hands in front of me, I do my best to breathe as Pen walks down the aisle by herself.
Something about it rubs me the wrong way but hell if I could’ve been the one to hand her off to Carter at the end.
“Please be seated,” the woman officiating says, wearing a serene expression that says she’s done this a million times before.
“You okay?” Beau whispers, and I realize my hands are fisted in my lap, my knuckles white, as I stare at Pen.
She’s beautiful.
But she’s nother.
“…as Penelope and Carter begin their new life together…”
“Of course.”
“Liar.”
“…one of trust and fidelity and lifting each other up…”
I snort and Beau lands a subtle, but hard, elbow to my side, forcing me to stifle a groan. I swear I barely make a sound, but when Pen and Carter look out into the crowd, her eyes lock on mine.
