I mean, what was I supposed to do withthat? For the longest time, I just wanted to prove him right. Getting cast in my ownshow this summer had felt like I was doing that. So obviously, I’d been avoiding being alone with him all weekend.
“Hi, Oliver.” I cleared my throat. God, he looked good in a suit. “Is my brother here?”
He stepped back. “Of course.”
“Tess.” My brother’s voice caught my attention, and I pulled my eyes away from Oliver—a shame, really—looking at my brother in his wedding tux.
I gave him a thumbs up. “You look really handsome. Noelle’s going to lose her mind.”
He looked down at the cream colored suit. “Thanks. I tried to stick with the theme. Anything to make her happy, you know.”
“You’re such a sap.” I pushed at his shoulder. Watching how he loved Noelle for the past two years had been inspiring.
Because for the longest time, he’d been quiet and reserved, grumpy for everyone but me. Part of it was that he blamed himself for our parents death. After all, they’d been driving to visit him at college and the roads had been icy. It took a long time for him to realize that it wasn’t his fault. Time, and therapy, which had given me the lovable brother I had today.
Now, he was showing off that secret golden retriever side I’d always known he had. Because my brother was absolutely, completely obsessed with his girl.
“You look beautiful.” Matthew leaned in, pulling me into a hug. “I wish our parents could be here.”
I hugged him back tighter. “I know,” I whispered. “They’d be so proud of you.” There was no doubt in my mind that if our parents had still been alive, they would have loved Noelle. She was impossible not to love, with her sunshine personality, her love for all things sweet, and the way she always had her nose in a book.
He nodded. “Thanks, Tess.”
“I just came to check on you guys. See if you need anything.” I looked around the room, at the guys loitering around. Most of his groomsmen were his best friends since college—with the exception of Oliver, of course.
I caught his eye and looked away quickly, feeling the warmth rush to my face.
“Nah, I think we’re okay. Snowball’s still with you girls, right?”
Snowball, the samoyed I’d given Matthew several years ago when she was a little white fluff ball of a puppy, was hanging out under Noelle’s feet when I left. The dog loved Matthew, but she loved Noelle even more.
“She is.” I giggled. “I’m not sure she’s going to be very happy walking down the aisle without her.”
Snowball was walking in before all of us at the wedding, one happy pup as the flower dog. Matthew’s best friend’s toddler, Theo, was the ring bearer. I was pretty sure everyone was going to be melting from the cuteness. My ovaries were already screaming, and it hadn’t even happened yet.
My brother chuckled. “That would be a sight.” It sure would.
“Okay, well I should get back in there,” I said, pointing with my thumb at the door. “The photographer got pictures of you getting ready, right?”
“Yes, Tess.” He ran his hands through his long blond strands, messing them up. “Tell Noelle everything is fine and she doesn’t have to worry.”
“You really think that will help?” I raised an eyebrow.
He shook his head. “No, but tell her I’ll still be the one meeting her at the end of the aisle.” He grinned. “And that I can’t wait for her to be my wife.”
That would help, I thought. “Alright. Off I go.” I gave him one last hug. “Love you.”
“Love you too, Tess.”
Turning, I moved to walk out the door. Except there was a large ginger standing in my way, and I looked up, staring into his green eyes. He hummed, hands reaching out to still me. I couldn’t stop thinking about how he’d looked at me, his eyes skimming down my body. Like helikedwhat he saw. I hoped he didn’t seemy blush. All thoughts fled from my mind, and I blinked. “Sorry. I?—”
“See you down there, partner,” Oliver said, winking.
I blushed, even though we’d walked arm in arm together during the rehearsal yesterday afternoon. Somehow, I still couldn’t believe we were walking in together. Of all the people I’d been paired up with, that it was him. I was pretty sure Noelle was playing matchmaker, like she didn’t have enough of that as a romance author.
Running my palms down my dress, I walked back to the bridal suite, feeling suddenly nervous. When was the last time I’d been like this around a guy? When was the last time I’d felt flutters in my stomach just from the sight of a beautiful man who seemed interested inme?Years. Maybe the last time I’d been in a relationship. But, if I was being honest with myself, it had been even longer than that.
Though I’d gone on a few dates while living in LA, it never felt right. Thankfully in the last two years, I’d been fairly incognito. No one had known who I was yet, acting in low budget films or getting booked for small parts on TV shows, so I didn’t get recognized at restaurants or stalked by the paparazzi trying to catch a glimpse of who I was with.
