I step up next to him, loop my arm through his, and expect to walk up the aisle, but then he leans in close to my ear, sending chills up my spine, and whispers, “You look so goddamn beautiful, Kelsey. You take my breath away.”
My battered heart beats wildly as my knees go a little weak.
I love this man. I love him so much, and hearing his voice, feeling his strong body connected to mine, it almost seems like too much.
“Thank you,” I whisper back as we make our way to the reception room, where Huxley is kissing Lottie, his hand possessively on her lower back, holding her tightly.
JP turns toward me and lifts my chin. Before I can say anything, his lips are on mine and his hand gently runs through the curls of my hair. “Fuck,” he whispers when he pulls away. “I missed you today.” He kisses my nose, my forehead, and then my lips one more time just as Breaker steps up next to us with Ellie.
“Hell, everyone is kissing. Should we?”
Ellie chuckles and says, “Only if you want Dave to cut off your balls and serve them as a delicacy for dessert.”
Breaker taps his chin. “Hmm, decisions, decisions.”
The wedding planner comes up to us and says, “The guests are coming, but remember, no conversations, just a quick wave, because we need the bride and groom out by the sunset to take final pictures.”
The crowd walks in, everyone happy, chatting, and heading straight toward the open bar.
“You okay?” JP asks, tugging on my hand.
I smile up at him. “Yeah, just happy for Huxley and Lottie.”
Not sure he buys it, because he continues to study me, but thankfully, Lottie and Huxley head back outside and we follow behind. There are only a few stragglers left on the rooftop taking some pictures.
“Just the bride and the groom right now, if everyone else would step to the side,” the planner says. “And guests should head into the reception space.”
Two girls taking pictures of themselves in front of the sunset offer their apologies, and as they work their way up the aisle, one of them, the one in a skintight lavender dress, makes eye contact with JP and smiles broadly. JP shifts next to me as she presses her hand to his chest and in passing, says, “Compared to this morning, you look amazing. Congrats on the new sister-in-law.” She offers him a wink and then heads into the reception area.
The world around me fades to nothing.
Compared to this morning?
He was with her this morning?
My lip trembles.
My heart thunders in my chest.
And I feel like I’m going to puke.
“Kelsey,” JP whispers, “it’s not what you think.”
Not here.
Not now.
Pictures have to be taken.
I’ll deal with this later.
Push it to the side. Blacken your soul.
Don’t show your emotion.
You can do this, Kelsey.
Youhaveto do this.
