Imre was walking over to the arch again, where some chairs had now been moved for the photos. The bride was laughing, her bouquet clutched to her chest.
And I saw Zoltán, frozen in place, looking at me.
He didn’t vanish hard enough.
Shame.
The photographer snapped some candid shots of the bride and then waved over the group by Zolt. “Benedek? Zoltán? The bride’s sons first, then the groom’s side.”
I stopped. The world didn’t.
Nagyi was a step in front of me, her dainty hand slipping from mine as she moved forward.
The air was charged with a deep buzz as everything continued for everyone else. The champagne kept flowing, photos kept snapping, and friends kept laughing.
But I was unwell.
I couldn’t have heard her right. Zoltán wasn’t the bride’s son.
He would have told me.
He would have known.
My glass trembled, and I had a fleeting moment where I wasproud of myself for keeping it together. It hadn’t smashed, it wasn’t broken, and neither was I.
Zoltán’s expression was.
He looked over, mouth open as if he was about to call his excuse or apology across the entire wedding. But his brother clapped him on the back, leading him to the arch.
I’d told him this was my father’s wedding. He hadn’t denied it. He’d wanted me to come.How long had he known this was going to happen? Before or after that night on the cliff?
Nagyi asked me if I was okay, and I swallowed my bile, managed to nod, and walked further down the aisle to where his smile was strained, his eyes on mine.
We took photos as separate families — his and mine.
I tried to look comfortable, happy, but my grin was fake for all to see, even when Dad hugged me and thanked me for coming.
“I’m so sorry,” he said. “I really wanted you here and—”
“It’s okay,” I told him, even if it wasn’t.“Just… if you want a relationship with me, tricking me into this isn’t going to get you far. I value honesty.”
He nodded and squeezed me tight.“I’m just so glad you came.”
And when we took our photo together, I didn’t cringe at his touch. My chest felt tight, but I smiled and tried to add warmth.
“Right,”the photographer said, gesturing with her hands.“Couple in front. Zoltán, in the middle at the back. You two on either side.”
Great.I stood inches away.
She gestured for us to get in closer, and I groaned beforedoing so.
“Look like you like each other!”
I fucking hated this monster next to me.
Zoltán snuck his arm around my waist and pulled me in. “Play happy families.”
“Don’t tell me what to do,” I snapped.
