Seduction - Chapter 29 #2
“What, you thought I’d stop with the fun nicknames once I got hitched? Not a chance.”
I was actually kind of happy about that. Rob was the brother I’d never had. The very inappropriate brother. I gave him a hug. I wanted to thank him for everything he’d done for me after my wedding. How he’d been my rock. But I didn’t want to remind him of that. So I just said, “I love you.”
“Hitting on me on the day of my wedding, huh? It’s too late for us now.”
I punched his arm.
“Everyone line up, right this second!” Justin screamed. “We’re late, we’re late!”
I swore he’d come out of nowhere.
“And don’t look that way,” Justin said and grabbed Rob’s arm, forcing him to look down the aisle at the empty altar. “Daphne is already en route.” He pulled Rob toward the chairs and pushed him to make him start walking up the aisle.
I turned my gaze to James. He was staring at me, his hands shoved into the pockets of his tuxedo jacket. He glanced over at the willow tree and then back at me. And then he raised his eyebrow.
Was that him propositioning me? We had a wedding to attend in one minute. So I just stuck my tongue out at him.
He put his hands over his heart like I’d wounded him and I laughed.
“Alina, you’re with James,” Justin said. “Maid of honor and best man, hold hands this instant!”
Alina slid her hand into my husband’s.
After last night, I did not love that. Honestly, I’d never love that.
“Penny, you’re with what’s-his-name.” Justin gestured over to Matt.
“His name is Matt,” I said.
“Yeah…Mike. Whatever. Hold hands, please and thank you.”
“I think Justin hates you,” I said and grabbed Matt’s hand.
I expected Matt to laugh. But he didn’t respond at all. He was just staring straight ahead at the altar.
“Matt?” I squeezed his hand.
“Hm?” He looked down at me.
“Are you okay?”
“I’m…working on it.”
I pressed my lips together. What did he mean by that? “Don’t tell me you’re having flashbacks to my wedding night too?”
He frowned. “Don’t picture that, Penny. Living in the past can do ugly things to you.”
“Yeah.” He was definitely right about that.
“You’re shaking,” he said.
“I’m sorry.” I didn’t realize I had been.
He dropped my hand and put his arm around my shoulders, spreading some of his warmth to me.
“You know…” his voice trailed off as he hugged me into his side. “I always thought I’d be the first of my friends to get married. I used to want a big family. All of that. A long time ago.”
Used to? I looked up at him. “I can’t picture you getting married first. I thought you loved playing the field. Or whatever you guys call it.”
James and Alina started walking down the aisle.
“I can barely picture it anymore either.” Matt took a deep breath, his chest rising and stretching the fabric of his tuxedo. And then he slowly exhaled. “Right now I’m looking forward to being an uncle.” He smiled down at me.
“Me too,” Mason said.
I looked over my shoulder at Mason and Bee holding hands. They were lucky that they got paired up. Behind them were Kristen and Brendan.
“A nephew is fun,” I said to Mason. “But a good uncle would give him a cousin to play with.”
Mason laughed. “Maybe. But we’re not getting married any time soon.”
Bee was right. He definitely thought those two things were the same.
Bee rolled her eyes at me.
“You two look awfully cozy,” Mason said. “Get ready for James to lose it.”
I laughed and turned around. After last night, James had to know I belonged to him and only him. “Tonight is going to be fun,” I said to Matt, ignoring his brother.
“Mason is right. James is probably already pissed at me for having my arm around you right now,” Matt said. “Might as well make him really mad. Save me a dance?” He smiled down at me.
“Always,” I said with a laugh. James wasn’t upset about my friendship with Matt. We were all friends. Matt was the other brother I’d never had. And Mason the other older brother I’d never had. James had nothing to worry about.
“You two are up,” Justin said and snapped his fingers in my face. “Mattias, you’re doing it all wrong. Hold her hand!”
Why did Justin keep messing up Matt’s name? At least Mattias had Matt in it.
Matt laughed and dropped his arm from around my shoulders. He squeezed my hand. “No thinking about the past today, okay? We’ve got this.”
I nodded and he escorted me down the aisle.
It was hard not to feel safe when I was beside Matt. He’d been lost in thought, but when he’d seen that I was scared, he put his whole attention on that. He really would make a great husband to some girl one day.
Speaking of great husbands…I locked eyes with James who was standing to the side of the altar.
His eyes were trained intently on me, like he was taking me in. He looked amazing in his tuxedo. Seriously, no one deserved to look that good in clothes. And the way the sun was setting behind him made him almost look ethereal. Like I’d dreamed up the perfect man.
He glanced over to the willow tree again and raised his eyebrow at me.
Was he trying to make me blush?
I waved at James’ sister, Jen, and James’ father who were sitting in the front row. I wasn’t surprised that James’ mom wasn’t here. I hadn’t talked to Rob and Daphne about it…but I kind of assumed his mom wasn’t invited. And I was relieved not to see her. She gave off some serious Isabella vibes.
Matt gave my hand one last squeeze as we split in front of the altar.
I felt James’ eyes on me and looked over at him instead of down the aisle.
It was easy for me to read him today. There was a heat in his gaze. An electricity in the air. And I knew without a shadow of a doubt that before the end of the night James was going to have me right against that willow tree.