“Oh.”
“Oh? That doesn’t sound promising.”
“It’s just that I told Gwen I’d have dinner with her this Friday. I’m sorry. I must’ve forgotten or something.”
“It was a last-minute thing,” he mumbled. He really hoped Eric wouldn’t take it upon himself to attend the dinner with Gwen as well. “You can still make the wedding, can’t you?”
“What’s the date again?”
“The Saturday the following weekend.” He closed his eyes, praying she could. He didn’t know why it felt so important, except that it felt a little like a competition between them. David versus Goliath. Naturally, Jordan was David.
“It’s locked in.”
“Good,” he said, as his entire being seemed to exhale in relief. “I think it’ll be fun. James and Rachael have been working hard to get all the details ready.”
She laughed. “I like how you pretend James has been working hard, when we both know who the real organiser is in that relationship.”
“It’s going to be a great day,” he promised.
“I’m sure.”
Two weekends later, his breath hitched as EJ walked into the stone church, followed by Harriet. She took a seat in the wooden pew, then looked at the front where he stood with the other groomsmen, smiling when he caught her gaze. She was beautiful.
Her dark blue dress made her eyes more luminous, her skin fairer, her lipstick a beacon to her face. They hadn’t seen each other since he’d dropped in when she’d been sick, with last weekend’s showers putting a literal dampener on any Saturday morning run and this morning being far too busy. Three weeks without EJ felt far too long.
He was best man but couldn’t wait to offload his partner, Rachael’s sister and matron of honour, to her husband so hecould talk with the woman he wished to spend the rest of the day with. The rest of his life with.
He swallowed, trying to find moisture for his suddenly dry mouth, as the realisation swept across him. Maybe it was wedding fever, but he couldn’t stand the thought of EJ with someone else. And as vows were spoken and promises exchanged, he knew he could promise the same for EJ. Because he had loved her in sickness and in health, for better or for worse. He’d been doing that all his life.
He ducked his head, forcing himself to focus, to fulfil his best man duties in handing over the rings, signing the register, and walking the matron of honour down the aisle before hundreds of photographs were taken.
His cheeks were sore by the time he finally could speak to the person he most wanted to. “Well, hello.”
She smiled. “Well, hello to you too.”
He took her hand and encouraged her to twirl. “Very nice.”
“Only very nice? I’ll have you know that this is a genuine Dolce & Gabbana.”
“I’ll have you know I genuinely don’t care what kind of dress that is; you look beautiful.”
“Thanks.” Her eyes met his, her smile wavering a little.
“What is it?” he asked quickly.
“Oh, nothing. It’s just you seem in a really good mood today.”
“That’s because I am. I’m here with you, and what can be better than that?”
Her shoulders dropped a little, as if she relaxed, her features settling into a more genuine smile too. His heart hammered. Was this the time, when romance was all around, to see if he could somehow nudge this relationship beyond the friend zone?
Her breath caught, and he followed her gaze to where someone he’d hoped never to see again stood, grinning like aCheshire cat, his arm around a tall brunette. “Wow. I didn’t expect to see Neil here.”
“Good to see he’s moved on, right?”
“Right.” And a real relief to know he wouldn’t be pursuing EJ anymore.
EJ smiled at him, and again he felt the desire to tell her how he felt. To let her know she was his Miss Right, and hoped that one day she might consider him as her Mr. Right too. He opened his mouth—
