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I glare at him. Isla absolutely did not need to know that. In fact, it was one of Noah’s rules, and now I’ve broken two of them in the space of twelve hours.

“Don’t look at him like that, Rob, I already knew,” Isla breaks in.

How?

“She knows everyone’s business. Jake and Luke are up to something as well, apparently,” Theo says.

Well, I’d guessed that one. They haven’t exactly been subtle, with Jake sleeping at Luke and Katie’s for the past week. But that’s none of my business. Much like Noah and I are none of Isla’s.

“Noah didn’t want to be in your cottage alone, so I let him stay in my guest room,” I lie. “That’s all.” Another lie. They just keep coming. If Noah decides to tell Richard the truth, I’m fucked.

What would I even tell him? Sorry, Richie, your little brother was wearing my T-shirt, and I forced him to watch a romantic movie, told him I’d kiss him in the rain, then tried to pounce on him when he was wearing just a towel around his little waist.

Okay, that really makes me sound predatory.

“I’m sure that’s all,” Isla says, in a tone that says she doesn’t believe me in the slightest. “Don’t worry, I haven’t told Richard. He’ll only try to stick his nose where it doesn’t belong.”

“Oh, Isla,” Theo chides. “I believe that’s the textbook definition of the pot calling the kettle black.”

I nod in agreement.

“I haven’t said anything! But if you want to know my opinion, Noah’s a terror, and Robbie would have his work cut out.”

“And Robbie doesn’t do relationships, anyway,” Theo adds.

“That too. I don’t need to tell him not to do anything stupid, because they’ll both fuck it up before anything starts.”

I scowl at her. The fact she’s right—that I have already fucked it up—just adds salt to the wound.

“He is standing right here,” I snap. “Is it time to go? I want to go.”

Theo chuckles and shoves me out the door. “Yeah, we can go.”

NOAH

“You nervous?”

“Not in the slightest,” Richard replies as I fix his tie. I look into his grey eyes to find he’s telling the truth. He smiles at me. “Thanks for being here … after pulling in opposite directions the past few years, it’s good to have you with me again.”

“I wouldn’t miss your wedding, Dick.” I pat his chest. He rolls his eyes but doesn’t tell me off for using the nickname he hates.

Good for him being the bigger man.

“Boys, are you almost ready? The cars are outside.” Dad pops his head through the door. His hair is a little greyer than when I last saw him at Christmas. We lock eyes, and he gives me a gentle smile. I don’t return it, looking back at Richard, waiting for his go ahead.

“Yeah,” he breathes, showing the first sign of nerves. “Let’s go.”

I ignore the woman waiting for my father at the bottom of the stairs. Sarah. Out the front, Richard and I get into one of the waiting cars, Dad and Sarah get into the other..

“Have you not even said hello to her?” Richard asks.

“No.”

“Come on, it’s been ten years. It’s not her fault⁠—”

“I never said anything was her fault,” I bite back. “It’s my problem, I can’t stand seeing her with Dad, so let me pretend she doesn’t exist, alright?”

“You need to grow up and accept that she makes him happy.”