It’s the very one marked in Koren’s bible.
The one she chose for our wedding.
It’s perfect, but if I could add just one more line, it would be: “Love is sometimes stupid, and blind, and far too stubborn.”
I look to the heavens, almost pleading with God to add that line. I may not be the smartest guy, and I’m definitely no theologian. But I know I love Koren, and I’m all those things.
The music announcing the recessional march jolts me out of my daydream and back to the present. I step forward one final time, offering my arm to Koren. It feels like I’m placing my heart on a platter. My throat cinches as we walk together. I’m all too aware that this is likely the last time I’ll touch her.
Just before we step through the sanctuary doors, I lower my lips to her ear again and whisper, “I know you regret everything and maybe you always will. But walking you down the aisle was the closest I’ve ever felt to my dreams coming true.”
Her breath catches audibly. Before she can respond, Sophie and Axl press in from behind, nudging us forward.
“Keep moving or we won’t all fit back here,” Sophie whispers.
Koren stays silent.
But if I’m not mistaken, her grip on my arm softens for the briefest second before she pulls away, adding distance between us.
It wasn’tI love youor even anything close. But it was a twitch of something.
For now, I’ll take it.
eleven
Koren
Whoever came up with assigned seating clearly doesn’t understand that some complexities can’t be put on paper.
Like ex-fiancés with soft lips who look unfairly hot in a groomsman’s tux.
I tuck my arms tight against my body, avoiding any chance of elbow rubbing. Every time his knee bumps mine, I passive-aggressively clink my fork against the table. I stare at my fork, half-wishing I could “accidentally” jab his knee with it. When his leg knocks into my knee a fourth time, I blurt, “If you bump me again, I’m going to stab you with my fork.”
He gives me a quiet side-eye. He’s extra jittery and his bobble knee never stays in one spot. I glare at it bouncing up and down, and I do my best to slide to the other edge of my chair. With a huff, I check the time on my phone. We’ve only been here ten minutes. Everyone is eating and laughing, and we haven’t started speeches yet. What I wouldn’t give for a robust case of food poisoning right about now.
I mean nothing that would hurt Kaci or Jackson and ruin their special day, but enough to send me to the bathroom for the rest of the night.
Again, his knee bounces into mine, and I stiffen, pulling my shoulders back.
And then.
It happens.
I knew something was off with my dress straps the second I put in on. The gap was too wide, like it was already giving out. With the faintest sound of fabric ripping, the strap aborts its mission andsnaps.
I freeze with my fork midair.
Apparently, Elijah has super hearing for wardrobe malfunctions, as his head immediately turns toward me. “Whoa!”
I grapple for the top of my dress and turn sideways in my chair so I’m not facing the entire room. White-knuckled, I hold onto my dress, making sure it doesn’t fall and hiss, “Don’t even think about looking this way.”
“I’m not looking.” He wags his head back and forth.
My gaze locks on the exit that is all the way on the other side of the room. I seriously have to get up and strut out of here with my hand over my boob. Like that’s not going to attract any attention.
Sweat trickles down my lower back as I weigh my options.
I can’t sink into the floor.
