I swallowed roughly. “I know.” I winced. This conversation was why I’d never made a move. Disappointing Matthew was something I never wanted.
“She didn’t have the easiest time growing up. Tess lost our parents when we were young, and even though she tries to pretend she’s not affected, I can see how she guards herself because of it. How she’s hesitant to let anyone in.” He nodded to himself, running his hand over his jaw. “She deserves to be happy more than anyone else I know.”
“What are you saying?” I frowned. That wasn’t where I thought he was going with this.
“She’s my sister, and I love her,” he repeated. He adjusted the corsage that had already been affixed to his tux. “And if you think you can make her happy, you should go for it.”
I blinked. “Huh?” If that was his blessing, I’d take it. Even if she lived in LA. Even if I lived here. Even if she was the furthest out of my fucking league, and there was hardly a chance she’d goout with a guy like me. Right?“Are you sure?” Did I think I could make her happy? Hell fucking yes.
He just nodded. “Yeah. If there’s one thing I’ve learned since falling in love with Noelle—and watching all her friends fall in love, too—it’s that if you really care for someone, there’s no obstacles that should keep you apart.” Matthew clasped a hand on my shoulder.
But I just nodded, trying to act cool in front of him on his wedding day. Even though my chill was almost evaporated, my brain trying to keep up with what he was telling me.
There was a reason I worked on computers. Programming, code, all of it made sense to me. I was perfectly comfortable spending my day in a dark room trying to fix the program in the software I was working on.
Software was easy. Software didn’t involve feelings. Or complicated things like who lived where. It was just a complex series of zeros and ones, a formula that my brain needed to parse out.
“I don’t even know that she likes me,” I grumbled, turning towards the mirror. Maybe I’d hoped, but thiswasTessa Harper we were talking about. The beautiful blonde bombshell who spent her days on movie sets and living in the same city as famous men I could never hope to compete with.
But me? Was there actually a chance for the two of us?
Everyone gathering around distracted me from my thoughts.
Matthew’s best friend, Bryan, threw an arm around his shoulder, pulling him in tight. “What do you say we go and get you married, man?” The dark-brown haired man grinned. “About time you finally joined the club.”
“Yeah, yeah.” Matthew rolled his eyes, but the happiness on his face was unmistakable. “Let’s do this.”
It was time.
Not for Matthew and Noelle to get married—though that would come soon.
No, it was time for Tessa and I to walk down the aisle.
I offered her my arm, and she looped hers through it, holding the sunflower bouquet in front of her.
Holding my breath, I tried not to acknowledge how right it felt to have her standing next to me. How it felt like we fit together. Maybe because I’d never noticed these kinds of things with anyone before, but I was all too aware of them with Tessa Harper.
As we moved toward the aisle, getting ready for our turn, I leaned over, dipping my head so my mouth hit her ear. “I didn’t get to tell you earlier, Hollywood, but you look beautiful.”
It was an understatement. She was a fucking knockout, her makeup enhancing her natural beauty, her gorgeous golden locks in waves tumbling down her back. The top half was done in an updo, keeping the strands free from her face.
She turned her head to look at me, those gorgeous blue eyes connecting with mine. “Thank you,” she whispered back, a slight blush spread over her cheeks.
“You’re welcome,” I murmured, and then we were walking. We moved down the aisle, arm and arm, before parting ways at the front to stand on either side, but I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Even with other people in between us, she was all I could see.
Most people’s eyes would be on the bride as she made her first appearance, but not mine. No, I was too focused on Tessa, on the tiny blonde curl that had escaped her updo and sat in front of her ear.
All I could think about was pushing it back.
The entire time the bride and groom said their vows, I was focused on her. On her eyes filling with tears as she watched her brother and my cousin profess their love for each other. As they slid their wedding rings on, I could see the desire in her eyes. Andwhen Matthew swept Noelle into his arms, passionately kissing her in front of everyone, everyone cheered.
I still couldn’t take my eyes off of her.
Not for one single second.
“Beautiful ceremony, right?”came the sweet voice I’d been longing to hear. She slipped in next to me at the bar, throwing her hair over one shoulder. “Gin and tonic, please,” Tessa said to the bartender, who just nodded his head.
I took a sip of my beer. “It was.” Not that I’d paid attention to most of it. She didn’t need to know how unfocused I’d been on the bride and groom. The reception was in full swing, and since all of the photos of the wedding party had been taken, we were finally free to celebrate. “They’re perfect for each other.”
