Instantly, Sophie’s face came into my head as I understood exactly what Joshua was saying. But her expression when I’d suggested she shimmy out of the window this morning would haunt me for eternity. Why was I such an idiot?
Evan gathered his younger brother into a bear hug. “You big softie.”
“I know you guys can’t see it, because you don’t have it yet.” Joshua looked at the three of us. “It’s everything, she’s everything. I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with her.”
I could have had it, but I blew it. Big time.
Regret seeped out of my pores. This weekend could have been the opportunity to tell Sophie how I really felt, but I had to blow it by drinking too much with my buddies.
A chorus of chatter from the door signaled time for us to begin our duties. Trent and I turned, and we walked towards the guests, getting ready to seat them.
Although we’d done some practice at the rehearsal dinner the previous evening, suddenly doing it for real felt different.
Trent and I escorted the guests to their seats, linking arms with the aunts and female cousins, and the children, chatting and joking with the uncles and the other male guests. There was much laughter, and smiling, and happiness. For the most part it was genuine, but at times it seemed hollow to me.
As if nothing meant anything if it wasn’t Sophie.
Shortly before the ceremony was due to start, I spotted her. Flanked either side by Autumn and Jodie, she looked… I couldn’t even begin to describe it.
The rest of the congregation melted away, and it was only Sophie and I in the room.
Exquisite. Elegant. Beautiful. Perfect.
Her blonde hair was fastened in some kind of half-up, half-down style, blonde waves cascading over her shoulders. She reached up to tuck a strand behind her ear, and I instantly wished I could do it for her instead. The dress she wore matched the color of my cravat identically, almost as if she had planned it. Of course, Brianna would probably have shared her ideas for a color scheme. It was typical Sophie that she would have picked up on it. The neckline emphasized her creamy neck and skin; I wanted to feather kisses along that line.
She was so refined. So sophisticated. Classy.
Why would she even want to be with me?
After this morning, it was less of a possibility than I could ever have thought.
I couldn’t help but stare at her, until Trent slapped me on the shoulder.
“You okay, buddy? Lost you there for a minute.”
Shaken back to the present, I shook my head and brought the rest of the room sharply back into focus.
We approached Sophie, Autumn, and Jodie.
As luck would have it, it looked like I was the one escorting her to her seat. My mouth broadened with a smile.
At the last minute, she stepped aside and took Trent’s arm, leaving me to walk Jodie or Autumn down the aisle. My sister graciously let Jodie take the privilege, waiting for Trent to get back.
My gaze bored into the back of Sophie as she and Trent walked down the aisle to the remaining seats. Whatever he said made her giggle, and she turned to look up at him with an adoring smile taking over her features.
What the fuck did he think he was doing?
So wrapped up in whatever was going on between the two of them, I almost crashed into the back of them and came to an abrupt stop.
“Thanks, Max.” Jodie stroked my arm. “Maybe we can get a drink later?”
“Sure, yeah, why not?” I nodded, my mouth answering without consulting my head.
Sophie let out another giggle as Trent stepped away from her. My eyes narrowed as she reached out and gripped his forearm, leaning in close and whispering something in his ear.
I swallowed down the jealousy threatening to rise in my chest and turned away. Before I said or did something that would make Joshua and Brianna’s wedding memorable for all the wrong reasons.
There was no chance to speak with Trent before the ceremony started, as we needed to get the remaining guests seated as quickly as possible. Joshua had raised his wrist and tapped his watch, indicating we needed to hurry up. When everyone was settled, we joined the wedding party at the front of the room.
The ceremony itself was exactly what I’d anticipated. Joshua and Brianna had written their own vows, so there were elements of humor to the occasion, as well as the heartfelt emotion I’d expected.
Every so often, my gaze would drift across the assembled guests, more often than not landing on Sophie. She dabbed at her eyes with a tissue, laughing and crying at the appropriate times, Autumn and Jodie whispering to her.
I wished I’d been sitting next to her to pull her in close to me for comfort, to share those whispered remarks.
When we’d been snuggled together in bed last night, we seemed to fit, her body spooning into mine perfectly. I should have dealt with it differently this morning. I shouldn’t have pushed her away. The memory of our “second first kiss” fluttered into my head. I meant everything I’d said about taking her out. I’d known her long enough to know what she’d like to do on a date.
But Sophie wouldn’t look at someone like me. A fancy ass lawyer would be more her style, not a mere construction manager.
And she certainly wouldn’t look at me now, not after the way I’d treated her.
Once the ceremony was over, there was some
