Not everyone was as oblivious as Todd to how I felt about Daisy. Then again, Harper was probably the one person who was around us the most.Too busy to datewas my excuse for dragging my younger sister to rounds of golf or an afternoon out on Todd’s parents’ boat or to one of their fancy society parties.
Half the time, it wasn’t because I couldn’t stand to spend hours watching Todd and Daisy together, but because it meant hours I’d spend talking to Daisy alone. Todd always barricaded himself with friends at any event involving his family—me, our frat brother from college, Scott, and Daisy. He claimed it was so I wouldn’t be the third wheel, except he and Scott would end up going off socializing and gallivanting. Meanwhile, Daisy and I would be left to quiet moments alone.
Those quiet moments with her most beautiful smile were death by a thousand cuts.
Knowing she was marrying Todd—helping it unfold—was the final nail in the coffin I’d willingly climbed into, making today both a wedding and a funeral.
I knew I had to move on—knew I had to find some way to get over her. But even distance couldn’t work. Not when Todd started slacking on the simple wedding plans. Apparently, climbing into a coffin wasn’t enough. I decided to dig my own grave, too, by stepping in to help.
“Oh, Max.” Lou opened the door and stopped short. “I thought it was Wade. What are you—” Her brow furrowed just until her eyes found the bouquet. “Oh.”
“What is it? Is Todd?—”
“Max just brought over your bouquet,” Lou answered over her shoulder. “Here. I can take it. You shouldn’t see the bride?—”
“It’s okay, Lou,” Daisy called, and I saw her move from where she’d been lying on the bed. “I think that superstition is only for the groom.”
Which you aren’t,the reminder buried like a barb under my skin. No matter how I made myself bleed, I’d never get it out.
“Okay, I’m going to go down and check on Wade and refill your water.” She hugged a giant water bottle to her chest and stepped into the upstairs hall. “The flowers look amazing, Max,” Lou said. “I took so many photos to add to the wedding brochure. I think it’s going to be a great collaboration.”
MaineStems provided all the flower arrangements for the inn, complimentary as long as Lou let me put a plaque next to the vases with a QR code to our site so guests can order their own flowers on demand. That was the premise of my business. Flowers delivered when you needed them for men who forgot birthdays and anniversaries and Mother’s Day.
Like this,said a small voice in the back of my mind, my gaze dipping to the bouquet in my hand.For men like Todd.
“Thanks, Lou,” I replied as she moved aside, only for Harper to block the doorway next.
“Harp, where are you?—”
“Frankie just texted that the candles are all packed up and ready, so I’m going to go help her and Chandler.”
“Okay…”
She beelined right around me like she couldn’t leave the room fast enough.
And then it was just Daisy and me.
My breath bled through my lips as I looked over the woman sitting on the edge of the bed. Jeweled combs gently pulled her loose waves of sunlight back from her face, spilling them over her shoulders and down her back. Her dress was a pristine white, the lace sleeves reaching to her elbow and then fanning over the fullness of her breasts. With the high waist, it obscuredthe growing swell of her stomach. She had the fabric pulled up to her knees, her bare feet dangling off the edge.They still didn’t touch the ground.
“Hi, Max.” Her makeup highlighted those big, hopeful brown eyes as they stared at me and reddened every inch of her full lips while they teased out my name.
Hi.The response stuck in my throat. She was too damn beautiful…forever a pixie goddess who decided to dip her toes onto Earth.
Say something.My jaw worked overtime to let some sort of sound out as I approached, but there was nothing. Or maybe there was everything. Four years of everything I’d ever wanted to say to this woman, to tell her, to confess to her, it barreled up my throat like a runaway train, crashing into my lips and leaving only an inarticulate catastrophe for my tongue to sort through.
Her gaze followed me closely as I kneeled in front of her, like I was her knight rather than the fool who’d fallen for my best friend’s fiancée.
“Most beautiful,” I finally managed words, completely forgetting about the flowers in my hand.
Daisy’s eyes snapped to mine, and the smile she gave me was that full-bloom beauty. The knife in my chest made a hard twist.
“Thank you, Max.” Her smile dwindled into a cautious one. She wore the cautious one far too many times lately, and no matter how many times I prodded Todd, he never seemed to pick up the difference.Because people only changed when they wanted to.
“What is it?” I caught my knuckle under her chin, lifting it. She tried to shake her head, to look away so I wouldn’t see the tears stringing like twinkle lights along her lashes. “Tell me, Daze,” I pleaded, using the nickname I only ever pulled out when Todd wasn’t around.
“I don’t know. Something doesn’t feel right, but it’s probably just my hormones.” She quickly swiped her eyes, but one tear snuck free.
I went to cup her cheek and catch it with my thumb, but she tensed back. I immediately dropped my hand, frustration pummeling my chest.Dammit, Max.It wasn’t my place to be drying the tears of my best friend’s fiancée, even if she was my friend too. Even if sometimes it felt like we’d spent more time together over the last four years than she and Todd did.
