He walks away, and panic shoots through me. I’m fucking this up. But what else can I do? As I watch, he’s swallowed by the crowd. Here one second. Gone the next. Pain stabs my chest, and I can’t breathe. What if he leaves? I can’t lose Garrett—but I’m not ready to tell anyone.
What would that even look like?Surprise, everyone. I’m into men.Or maybe,So, I’m in…lust…with my wife’s brother.That’s one way to shock your daughter and family.
“Want to talk about it?” Jane slips into Garrett’s chair and studies me.
“You should be enjoying your wedding.”
She gives me a sad smile. “Emily would have loved this. Although I suspect she wouldn’t have wanted the wedding in a VFW hall.”
I don’t want to talk about Emily. Not now. But I owe Jane this. “She’d have made sure it was outside. Although she might not have scheduled it in the middle of July.”
“Yeah, well, things don’t always work out the way you think.” Jane rubs her belly.
“She would have spoiled your wee one something fierce.”
“Yeah.” She smiles to herself, and then her eyes are on me. Calculating. “She would have wanted you to be happy, Christy. And Garrett.”
“I’m sure Garrett’s happy. He’s got his job in New York.”
Jane watches me, and I try not to squirm. “Garrett’s senior year in high school, he had a crush on this guy. He didn’t think anyone knew, but Emily figured it out.”
My pulse speeds up, and I can almost hear the swishing in my head over the music. “Is that right?” What else can I say?
“Garrett has always been good with people. I wish I had that trait.”
“You do, lass.” I pat her hand.
She glances over at Isaac. “Yeah.” But then she takes a drink of her water and focuses on me. “But when my brother likes someone, he ignores them.”
“That’s…” I clear my throat. “That’s interesting.”
“Isn’t it?” She grins at me. “Garrett’s been ignoring you for a while.”
I take a deep breath. Is there a way to stop this? “Jane, I don’t know where you’ve come up with this notion?—”
“Emily told me.”
My head jerks up. “What?”
“She felt terrible that her finding the love of her life meant her brother…didn’t.”
“That’s not— Why would she say that? Did Garrett—” I clamp my mouth shut before I give more away.
“Garrett has no idea Emily figured it out. And, at first, she thought it wasn’t serious. But over the years…with Garrett staying away and not finding anyone, I think she realized it wasn’t just a crush.”
“You’ve known this for a while.” I sip my beer, barely tasting it. How is this possible? My mind keeps turning, but nothing makes sense.
“I didn’t say anything because you knowing wouldn’t help anyone. And it wasn’t my place.”
“And now it is?” I can’t keep the anger out of my voice. Not sure why I’m even pissed. Maybe because Jane had somethingfrom Emily that I never got. Or betrayal that this was kept from me by fucking everyone.
She takes my hand, and I don’t jerk away. It’s her wedding day after all. “Now it’s no longer one-sided.”
I blink away the rush of emotion—fear—as I watch couples slow dancing. Mrs. Weppler stands off to the side, swaying back and forth. I clear my throat again. “You’re mistaken?—”
“I saw you together.”
My eyes dart to her face, and she laughs.
