l brought my hands up, ready to play, and he did the same.
“Best out of three?” I asked.
He gave a sharp nod.
“Rock, paper, scissors, shoot,” we said in unison.
Movement pulls me from the memory as a couple takes a seat in front of me. The man wraps an arm around the woman’s shoulders, and she leans into him, pressing a quick kiss to his jaw.
My brow furrows.
Matt won that round of rock, paper, scissors.
But I never moved in.
We broke up a few weeks later, before I ever packed a single box.
Fitting. Matt’s never believed in fate anyway.
I used to. Back when I was young and naive and everything felt simpler.
Thank God I don’t anymore. Because sitting here, in this pew, with a ring on my finger after all these years?
Old me would have called thismeant to be.
I scoff quietly to myself, and seconds later, Cole walks by with an older woman.This must be Cece.
“Cole,” I whisper sharply.
He cranes his neck as he passes, stopping when he sees me. His sad eyes go wide with surprise, then fill with moisture, andmy God, it’s excruciating.
His chin quivers. “Is Matt here?”
Cece stiffens beside him, and her lips press into a tight, disapproving line.
I smile softly, my own eyes filling, threatening to fall if I so much as blink wrong.
“Yeah,” I say gently. “He is. He’s out front somewhere. He’ll be here soon.”
He looks up at his grandmother. “Can I sit by Matt?”
Her chest rises with a deep breath before she glances at me, her eyes dropping to the ring on my hand. She pauses, then says calmly, “You should be seated in the front.”
His shoulders sag.
“But,” she adds, “if you want to sit next to Matt, then why don’t we ask—” She looks at me and waits.
I startle. “I’m Jordan.”
I extend a hand, and she takes it, giving it a firm shake. “Cece,” she says. “Cole’s grandmother.”
She turns back to him. “Why don’t we see if Jordan and Matt would like to sit in the front with us.”
Cole doesn’t smile, but some of the ache etched in his face seems to disappear, erased by the comfort of knowing Matt will be by his side.
I’m already standing. “Sure. We’d love to sit by you.”
I follow them both to the front pew and take a seat, leaving a space between me and Cole.
