We hug, both patting the other one hard on the back.
The baseless hope I had when I saw them draft Jason Amara returns with a rush. Before today there was a shithead in my path back to Green Bay. Well, that path has been cleared. I could float away from this spot. Things are working out exactly the way they were meant to. This is why I haven’t signed with the Hurricanes again. I saw that draft pick and I read Jared Clark’s ego like a book. He was never going to stick around and train his replacement. He’s too important and special for that. No. You can’t fire him because he quits. Classic asshole move.
I pull my phone back out and click on my agent’s contact to shoot off a quick text.
Before I hit send, the wedding coordinator calls, “Okay, gentlemen. Time to get dressed. I’ll be back in five minutes for photos of Mom pinning your boutonnieres.” With that, she’s back out the door.
Grant jumps to me and pounds on my back, knocking my phone out of my hand. “Let’s go, boys! Showtime!”
There will be time tomorrow when we’re waiting at the gate to finish that text to my agent. It’s Henry’s wedding day.
I mean, it’s not like everything is going to change overnight or something.
Chapter Fifty-Six
NASH
I take the program from the young man in a suit as I walk in through huge glass doors. “Thank you.”
The inside of the venue is white with brick flooring. The ceiling is dotted with chandeliers casting a subtle glow.
I drove the little green Kia here since Wyatt took his truck, and his parents came before me. So it will just be me in the audience by myself.
Great.
Only two hours until I can reunite with Wyatt and not feel like such an outsider.
My heels click on the brick flooring as I walk toward where the ceremony will happen. The sounds of a softly playing string quartet meet my ears as I enter the large space, music carrying in a graceful way through the wandering guests looking for their friends or family.
The flowers are bursting from vases at the beginning of the seating where the aisle leads to the altar, and I stop to smell them as I walk past.
“Nash…” I turn to see who could be calling me. I know almost no one here.
“Oh, Layla,” I say and walk toward her. I guess sitting with my fake boyfriend’s ex-girlfriend for the ceremony is better than sitting alone. Like Wyatt said, they were kids when they were together, and she seems happy with Grant now. There’s no reason for me to believe she has any misguided notions about Wyatt or me.
She pats the empty seat next to her. “Come sit by me.”
I collapse into the chair she offered. “Thank you. I don’t know anyone else here.”
“Oh, I know everyone,” she laughs.
I smile back. It was wrong of me to instantaneously dislike her for being Wyatt’s ex. I need to get control of my jealousy. After all, it will be misplaced when we go back to Houston and back to being just friends.
Why does that thought make me want to barf?
My quick issue with his ex, my jealousy over the idea of any other woman looking his way… I’m in this deep.
I’m about to find out just how deep because the music has changed, and the officiant is heading down the aisle. I watch as Henry comes next, dressed to the nines in a navy-blue suit with matching tie, his parents on each arm. The music changes again and we turn back in unison to watch Wyatt come down the aisle alone as the best man. When he takes his first step around the corner, my breath is stolen from my lungs at how handsome he looks. His big frame and his broad shoulders draped in the rich navy color perfectly offsets his blonde hair and blue eyes. I never want to see him in anything else again. I thought the football pads and helmet were hot, but this is another level. I’ll never be able to unsee this. Every night when I dream it’s going to be seeing him dressed like this. I watchwith rapt attention as he strolls down the aisle to the slow melody of the music. He smiles at people he knows as he passes, looking like a natural. Like he’s the center of attention every day—and maybe in Wisconsin he is.
When he’s even with our row, the smile and wink he throws my way has me melting in my chair. How long is this walk? It feels like it’s been minutes since I took a breath, but it’s probably only been seconds. I would happily suffocate if it meant spending every moment in his presence.
Finally, he walks up the three small steps to the altar, clapping Henry on the back and politely greeting the officiant. He takes his place next to his brother and clasps his hands in front of him.
Everyone around me turns back to see the rest of the bridal party walk down the aisle in pairs, but I cannot force my eyes away from Wyatt. I haven’t had enough of him. It’s like he can feel the heat of my gaze on him because now he’s looking back at me. Somehow through this sea of people his ocean blue eyes find me. He looks down at my dress, a red number he’s never seen before, giving my whole body a slow and sensual perusal that makes my stomach swoop. When his eyes meet mine again, he mouths just one word,wow. I smile so hard it hurts my cheeks, and I cover my face with my program so I don’t disturb the other guests. There’s something in his eyes I don’t recognize. Like he’s looking at me through a different lens. Maybe it’s the soft summer glow glancing through the trees and filtering in from the windows casting everything in heavenly light. Maybe it’s my dress. I don’t normally wear red because I find it too flashy, and that it clashes with my height for attention, but for this I figuredfuck it. Go big or go home.
Hazel’s sister looks stunning in the sage-colored, off-the-shoulder gown she chose. The earthiness of the green bringsout the darker streaks in her brown hair. We follow her with our gaze as she moves down the aisle and to the altar before turning back to see the ring bearer and flower girl coming down together. The crowd chuckles as we watch the young girl attempt to throw the petals, but managing to only put down about three the entire way.
The music stops for an abrupt moment as it switches to the correct song for the bride. “All rise,” the officiant asks, and we do. The sound of all of your friends and family standing to greet the bride, the anticipation of the moment right before you see the star of the show for the first time, is my favorite part of weddings.