Everyone laughs, but the damn nagging in my chest pulls tighter. Thumping now. Like it’s trying to wake something up I’d rather keep buried.
I rub at my chest, willing it to settle. My brain must be short-circuiting with all the love talk.
I take my place in line with the rest of the groomsmen, suddenly restless. I tug at my collar, letting the breeze hit my skin, then roll my neck side to side until the tension eases. Slowly, I start feeling more grounded and finally take in the setup.
I know Rain’s been talking about this nonstop for the last few months, but I’m a visual person.
Rain went all out. It’s… kind of unreal.
Everything’s soft and floaty—lots of tulle dancing in the wind. Massive floral arrangements overflow with flowers in every shade of pink imaginable. Tea candles line the path from the resort down to the beach, leading to an arch made of flowers and hockey sticks where the officiant waits.
And Xander—Mr. Everything Just Clicks—is sweating through his dress shirt.
Oh, shit. Is he freaking out?
I lean in, unable to help myself. “Whoa, brother… You nervous?”
“Shut up, Miles. I’m about to marry my soulmate,” he mutters, jaw tight, like he’s barely keeping his emotions in check.
“Aww, that’s sweet. But she’s already got you by the balls. You know that, right?” I grin.
He huffs, then smirks. “If you only knew.”
“Ugh, fucker. I don’t need that picture of you and my sister in my head,” I say, disgusted.
Xander throws his head back, laughing. “Never start shit you can’t handle.”
The violinist kicks in, the wedding march carrying over the water, and everyone turns as River and Rain appear at the end of the candlelit path.
Xander sobers, straightening his shoulders. I watch his Adam’s apple bob as he takes my little sister in.
Rain looks… yeah. Beautiful doesn’t even come close. She’s in this flowy dress with off-the-shoulder sleeves, and tiny flowers decorate her hair.
River walks beside her, expression locked down. I know he’s happy for her—he’s told me so—but you wouldn’t know it looking at him. Nothing gets through. It makes me wonder if he’s been carrying everything for so long that he doesn’t even know how to put it down anymore.
I love giving him shit, but I want more for him than that.
As Rain gets closer to the altar, I scan the guests. Everyone’s smiling, their attention bouncing between her mischievous grin and Xander barely holding it together.
“You good, bro?” I ask quietly.
His gaze stays locked on Rain, but he cocks his head to the side. “I just… have this overwhelming feeling like my entire universe is walking toward me. How the hell did I get so lucky?”
He dabs his eye with the side of his finger, and without missing a beat, his dad passes him a tissue.
I drag my attention away from them and scan the guests instead. That’s when I spot Penny Levine sitting in the front row beside my mom and Granny.
I’ve known Penny for years. She’s always been fun. Easygoing. The kind of person who can make an entire room feel lighter.
But lately—ever since we started working together on Xander’s ice rink—I’ve started noticing her differently.
She’s smart. Beautiful too. Actually, she’s gotten more beautiful over time. Her hazel eyes catch the light when she laughs, little gold flecks flashing. The way one eyebrow lifts when she’s waiting for an answer gets a reaction out of me every damn time. She’s polished— always dressed to the nines, not a strand of hair out of place, high heels all day long. I can’t help but wonder if she’ll still show up like that once we break ground. Doesn’t seem practical. Or safe.
My gaze drifts lower before I can stop it, and when I look back up, she’s already watching me—brow arched like she’s calling me out for looking at her titties.
Busted.
I clear my throat and tug at my collar again, letting the sea breeze cool me off. By the time I turn back, the officiant is already singing the couple’s praises.
