Chapter 2 #2
No, the Chapmans are genuine friends. Now V, her brother, Collin, and Lizzy are too. They are real friends and couldn’t care less about any of that stuff. And even Sutton too, I’m glad he’s here. I’d even list Grace as a friend, but I don’t think that’s quite the right word.
No. I think she’s something else entirely.
And that’s why I’m going to power through and be here for their wedding today. Even if there’s a certain distraction looming around here that I clearly haven't been able to get out of my head over the last seven months.
It’s just a few hours and then I can go back to my nice, quiet, calm life.
I have to give Tanner and V credit. When he said she’s a fanatical planner and detail oriented, he meant it.
She spent the last two days with her best friend, Lizzy, transforming the open living space of my house into an intimate wedding venue.
My large living room, entryway, and dining room with the floor to ceiling windows looking out over the mountains now has seating for forty.
I told them they could probably invite more, but she said she was keeping it small and with the way she laid it out, the house looks like it was designed as a damned wedding venue.
Standing in the kitchen, I keep my distance, quietly nursing a beer and watching the last guests trickle in.
“Shouldn't we get seated? It looks like everyone is here,” Sutton whispers.
I look over to shoot him a glare, but he’s still focused on putting the finishing touches on the hors d’oeuvres for the casual cocktail hour they wanted instead of a formal dinner.
“Yeah. You’re probably right.” I take the last sip of my beer and toss it in the recycling. “You sitting on the groom’s side?”
Sutton nods, but keeps his attention on perfectly placing the last garnish on the tower of bite sized snacks. I groan, clearly impatient waiting on my friend.
He chuckles to himself. “Hold your horses. You’re awfully antsy for someone that doesn’t even like going to these kinds of things.” He finishes and wipes his hands off on his apron before taking it off and setting it aside. “There. All done.”
I shake my head and start to make our way to our seats. Sutton is right behind me when we take two spots in the back row. From here, I have an even better view of how V and Lizzy decorated my place.
The seats are laid out to capitalize on the angular shape of the room, almost making it look like a cathedral to the mountains outside, with the small, white altar right in front of the windows.
Sprigs of evergreens are placed throughout the space and with it being late in the afternoon, facing the Northwest like this, the mountains are framed by the glowing sunset.
I always joked with the architect about the million dollar views from every room, but shit, this is a billion dollar view. And it should be, as much as I spent on building this place.
“Do you think our boy, Chap, cries?” Sutton whispers playfully into my ear, grabbing my attention away from admiring the view that never gets old.
The corner of my lips tug up into a wry smile and I elbow him in the ribs. “My money’s actually on Clay. I think he’s the closet softy after seeing him with Lizzy when they stayed with me in Bend.”
Sutton starts to say something, but I ignore him when the guests quiet down. I turn around to see Collin make his way from the back of the house and lead the way down the aisle to start the ceremony. He takes his place at the altar as the officiant, fitting since he's also Tanner’s best friend.
I turn back toward the hall just in time to see Grace walk in next, arm in arm with Collin’s boyfriend, Walker.
I feel my heart stop and my mind blocks out every sound around me, just like the moment before I would go on stage for a concert.
Her long, bright colored hair is up in a crown of braids.
Her dark purple bridesmaid dress accentuates her tall, toned body.
Some of her tattoos that are still etched into my psyche are peeking out of the low cut back and slit on the side.
She practically glides across the room, smiling at everyone her eyes meet, looking around the room at her friends and family on Tanner’s side of the aisle.
Her eyes meet mine for just a second and she drops them to the flowers in her hands.
Even with her makeup, I swear I see a hint of adorable pink stain her freckled cheeks.
When she looks back up, her eyes are focused forward toward Collin, like I don't even exist.
I don’t even notice when Lizzy and Clay or V come into the room. My eyes never leave her.
I’m transfixed by her.
The smile she’s wearing is the same bright, playful one that she flashed at me like a siren song to get me on stage to do karaoke at a shitty dive bar with her.
She looked like a dream earlier today when she showed up to the guesthouse. Christ. I doubt she could ever look anything but stunning. But as she stands there next to the altar, I can’t help but notice what looks like the slightest glimmer of worry in her eyes.
Whatever it was, it’s gone before I can blink and that wide, bright smile is back and I just can't look away from her. The way she’s silhouetted with the sunset behind her, the vivid hues matching the streaks of color in her hair. She’s perfection.
“Hey there, buddy.” Sutton whispers into my ear after he elbows me in the ribs, snapping me out of my trance.
“Are you really that cliché, man? I know she's a bridesmaid, but she’s the Chapman brothers’ baby sister.
You know, the two giant six-foot-god-knows-what mountain men we're friends with? They won’t give a shit that you’re a rockstar.
They’d still murder you and I have a feeling Chap knows where to hide bodies around here. ”
Fuck my life. I need to get my shit together.
I should be thinking about the eight figure real estate deal in Seattle that I know Jake is busy working on right now. I should be celebrating with my friends at their wedding. Or maybe I should be thinking about reviving my dormant music career.
But I should definitely not be fawning over Grace like a lovesick puppy.
I take a deep breath and lean toward Sutton, still keeping my eyes forward. “I don’t know what you're talking about,” I mutter, taking one final glance at her. “And again, retired rockstar.”
“Yeah, keep telling yourself that.” He chuckles to himself and I focus back on the ceremony.
If Sutton can notice her throwing me off my game like this, I’m clearly being too obvious.
Does she even have a clue what she does to me?