Westley stands at their table and clinks his glass. “If I can interrupt everyone for just a moment, I’d like to say something.” The chatter dies down. “I’m usually the one behind the camera while McKenna thrives in the spotlight. But, tonight, I want to step out of my comfort zone to thank you, her family and friends, for being here for us. And to the guys on my crew who flew to Tennessee from Iceland just to see me marry the love of my life, thank you. And to my friends from Hollywood, I promise to make the trek when it’s your turn. I won’t give this speech tomorrow, so I want all of you, our closest people, to hear from me how incredibly blessed I feel to have met the love of my life.”
My eyes instinctively search for Carli, and when our gazes connect, she smiles a private smile at me before turning away to fix her attention on Westley.
“McKenna and I might have missed one another if I didn’t take a risk reaching out to her on social media. I had no idea what I was in for.”
He looks down at her with such obvious affection.
Luke shouts, “You might still not know what you’re in for!” and my brothers and I crack up.
Westley looks at Luke, smiling. “Whatever it is, I’m here for it.”
“McKenna, you make my life so full. You support my dreams. You bring fun and adventure I never knew I was lacking. I love you. And I can’t wait to call you my wife tomorrow.”
My sister, who is never at a lack for words, stands and wraps her arm around Westley and simply says, “I love you.”
After that, we all resume eating.
My eyes keep drifting to Carli. She should be sitting next to me. Instead, she’s at another table, engaged in other conversations.
“I’m going to check the serving dishes,” I say to Ethan.
I stand and walk down the line of platters and trays, checking for anything that’s running low.
The pan of rolls is full enough, but I could get more.
I stop a short distance from Carli’s table, catching her eye and tipping my head toward the main house. She gives me the smallest, almost imperceptible nod.
I take off, hoping she got the hint.
I hear her say something to someone at her table, but I don’t turn back to check. I think she said she needed to use the bathroom. We’ve got porta-potties set up for tomorrow, but I know she’s right behind me as I stride into the main house. She’s a good distance behind me, but I can feel her in my bones.
Inside the house, I pass through the main room and then I duck into a hallway that leads to one of the downstairs bathrooms and my dad’s office.
She’s right behind me. I tug her in toward me, leaning back against the wall and holding her close.
I breathe her in. Tucking her head under my chin.
I don’t know why I’m so desperate for her. Maybe it’s thewedding, or being forced to hide for so long. I just need this—need her.
“I needed to see you,” I whisper. “It’s torture being here, watching you from across the room, not being able to hear your laugh up close. Not being able to put my arm around the back of your chair. Not being able to touch you.”
“I know,” she says, smiling up at me. “I needed this too.”
She leans in. I place a kiss on her forehead. Then her cheeks. Then her lips. She kisses me tenderly, like she’s soothing all the places that ache for her. When I pull away, I glance down the hallway just in time to see Jace round the corner.
The blood drains from my face.
Carli steps back.
Jace roars. It’s a noise I’ve never heard from him before—his face red and his fists balled.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Chapter 31
Carli
“Et tu, Brute?”
