“Okay, girlies, let’s do this,” Willa said and grabbed her flowers. “Oh, and you’re not only my bridesmaids, you are also going to give me away.”
Maisie and I hugged Willa, each taking one side and engulfing her completely.
“Are you sure?” I asked.
“Absolutely. Nobody else I’d rather walk me down the aisle,” Willa said.
“Okay, Wills. It will be our honor,” Maisie said and we each stood on one side and took her hands.
We led the way downstairs and Rayna checked if everyone was in place. When she gave us the okay we all walked outside to where Jameson, his brother, and Landon stood in front of a beautiful arch wrapped in flowers.
My steps faltered when I locked eyes with Mason, but I was quick to regain my senses and continued walking.
We stopped opposite the guys, and I felt Mason’s gaze burning into me. Willa’s eyes were on Jameson and a look at him confirmed that he only saw her.
If there was ever anyone made for each other it was those two.
The ceremony was short and sweet. She always talked about having a ten-minute ceremony and a ten-hour celebration. I guess she really meant it.
I couldn’t hold back the tears when they said their vows, and I had given up on wiping them away. I had to fix my make up anyways, no need to draw more attention to what a mess I was and wiping my face.
As soon as they separated from their kiss that was anything but a chaste peck, everyone descended on the happy couple. I stepped back, needing a minute to collect myself. Somehow I ended up standing next to Mason.
“How have you been?” he asked, his familiar baritone voice flowing over me. I hadn’t seen him in a few days since he had been away on business. Mason and Jameson bought old cars from all over the country and restored them. Willa told me it was a big part of their business and brought them a nice profit. Mason went to New Orleans to look at a few potential buys. Not that I had seen him much since our big blowout even if he was working in the garage.
“Good. You?” I answered, sounding anything but good.
“Good.”
We continued standing there in awkward silence, looking at everything but each other.
“Excuse me,” I said and walked to the bathroom, unable to stand the tension any longer. I wondered how long it would take for me to get over him. Because the last few weeks hadn’t dimmed my feelings at all. If anything, it had amplified them. Seeing him again, and in a suit for crying out loud, made my heart ache with sorrow. What had I done?
I walked into the upstairs bathroom that I used when I was staying at his house. I closed the door behind me, but it stopped before it could latch shut and was pushed open.
I stumbled back and there was Mason, his tie partly undone, his hair sticking up as if he had repeatedly run his hands through it. He turned and shut the door and locked it, resting his forehead on the wood. “Damn it, Stella,” he rasped.
What could he possibly be mad at me for now? I hadn’t talked to him in weeks, and I didn’t think there was anything offensive about our short conversation a few minutes ago.
“What are you doing?” I asked, my whole body one tight mess.
“Why can’t I get over you?” he groaned and turned around to face me.
“I’m sorry,” I said, dropping my head.
He stalked over and I looked up, recognizing the fire in his eyes. There was no point in backing up now. If Mason wanted to get closer he would.
And there was no way I would stop him. He put his arms around me, one on my waist, the other behind my head, sinking into my hair, and crushed me to him. I gasped at the contact. His mouth met mine and I sighed in relief. Finally.
I opened my mouth, our tongues tangling and the feel of him ignited a familiar fire inside me. I arched into him, shuddering at the feel of his body on mine.
The kiss ended as abruptly as it started, and I stumbled at the sudden loss of his touch.
“What the hell are you doing to me? I promised not to do this to myself anymore,” Mason said, breathing heavy. He backed up, his hands interlaced at the back of his head. His beautiful eyes had lost their vibrancy, the lines on his face seemed harsher. “If this is what love feels like, then I want nothing to do with it,” he sighed and left as quickly as he appeared, leaving me standing in the bathroom, swaying on my feet.
“Stella, are you in there?” David called. The door was closed but not locked, so he knocked and opened it. “Was that Mason coming out of the bathroom?” he asked, face red, hands balled at his sides.
I couldn’t even come up with a good excuse, my brain refusing to work after it had been put under another fog. My silence was enough of an answer for him, and he stepped inside and closed the door behind him.
