Me included.Ugh. I turn away, shifting in my seat.
‘All right, all right, keep it PG,’ I mutter into my beer.
Theo breaks away to shoot me a smug-arse grin, arms still locked around his woman.
‘All right Grinch, quit the scowling and tell me: you’ll be my best man, right?’
I roll my eyes, but my chest tightens anyway.
‘Yeah,’ I say. ‘Who else’s gonna keep your rings safe, right?’
Sadie, still crying, turns to Taylor. ‘And you’ll be my maid of honour, sis?’
Taylor smiles wide, eyes glistening as she sets Lottie down and rises, her dress settling against the curves I know too well. Every inch killing me softly with all that I can’t have.
‘I’d be honoured.’ She pulls them into a warm embrace. ‘I’m so happy for you both.’
And just like that, it’s happening.
Another family forming. Like it’s easy. Like it’s normal. And not the happy miracle I’ll never get to touch.
‘Just no funny business between you two,’ Theo jokes, pointing between me and Tay and I choke on my beer. ‘Best man and maid of honour cliché? Not happening on my watch.’
Taylor snorts. ‘Please. I’d rather make out with the cake.’
I manage a smirk. ‘Good. Because I’d rather make out with the caterer.’
Lies. Every damn word.
Because even as they laugh and slip back into celebration, my eyes find hers again: vibrant, shining, still lit from the moment.
And the truth presses down, heavy as stone.
She’s it.
The only woman I’ve ever truly wanted – and the one woman I’ll never let myself have.
Not in this lifetime.
Not even close.
I tear my gaze away and head to the kitchen. Desperate for a breath that ain’t saturated with her and this… this crazy feeling crushing me from the inside.
But I don’t make it there alone; Taylor sidles up to me, all sickening sparkle and?—
Oh, God.
‘You look far too grumpy for a man who’s just been asked to be best man,’ she purrs, reaching up and planting the reindeer antlers square on my head. ‘There. You’re festive now. Can’t have the Grinch ruining the mood.’
I raise one brow. ‘You do realise the Grinch tried to steal Christmas?’
‘Mm-hmm.’ She leans in, close enough that her breath disturbs my beard, her perfume feeding my pulse. ‘But in the end, his heart grew three sizes… and he gave it all back.’
The words hang between us like a dare, her eyes softly probing…
One beat. Two.
Fuck.
