Chapter 27
Oliver
My starched shirt sticks uncomfortably to my skin and I can’t get comfortable in my seat.
I shuffle in position, crossing my legs at the ankles before moving them beneath the chair.
I undo the top buttons on my shirt, thankful I didn’t wear a tie, then fiddle with the ribbon on the bouquet tied to the chair in front of me.
There’s an orange rose in the centre of it and I pull it out and run my finger over the silky petals and down to the sharp spike of the thorn. All the while, I keep my eyes downcast.
Music plays and I look up in time to see Caiden walk down the aisle, taking his seat next to Jamie.
The officiant stands in the middle of the stage, the other groom to his right.
All eyes are on the door and my heart clenches painfully when Darius enters.
He notices me immediately, his eyes lighting up for a brief second before they dull again, though there’s no surprise in them, as if he knew I was here – I presume Caiden told him I was.
We stay locked on to each other as I’m hit with a flash of memories.
Of us laughing. Kissing. Happy. Together.
Of all the things we did and still had to do.
I told him I hated him for what he did to me, to us, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.
He may have betrayed me, but he will also always be the best thing to have ever happened to me.
Having him in my life for those few short months was better than never having him at all.
I break our gaze, looking to the side of the room where a large window shows the heavy clouds have broken, rain pouring down like tears from the sky.
Out of the corner of my eye, I see Darius move away, and then I finally allow myself to look at him again.
He’s wearing orange and black – I can count how many times I’ve seen him wearing black on one hand – I’m surprised he isn’t in something more colourful, more him, for his big day.
I try not to think of the beautiful lace he probably has on under that suit.
Does Floyd love it as much as I do? Does he love Darius as much as I do?
When he reaches the front, Darius takes his position and the other man smiles at him.
He doesn’t return the gesture, and there’s this uncomfortable feeling in my gut that tells me something is wrong.
I bat it away, no longer trusting my intuition.
I mean, he cheated on me for how long and I never once got the feeling it was happening.
I still can’t even wrap my head around when, how, or why.
Darius’s eyes meet mine once again and this time, he’s the first to look away when the officiant speaks.
My heart beats frantically as my world slowly closes in around me.
When the officiant asks if there is anyone who objects to the union, it’s almost comical how quickly Darius, Caiden and Darcey all look my way.
I bite my lip and look at my hands, clenched together on my lap, the rose discarded on the floor.
The room remains silent for a moment before the ceremony continues.
It’s short and perfunctory and when it’s announced that the two men are now married, I stand up and walk out.
I don’t care that my chair scrapes loudly on the wooden floor as I do, or that I let the door slam a little harder than necessary behind me.
Outside, I stand in the storm, letting the rain soak through my clothes until I’m shivering, then I start my slow journey home.
I got my closure and it hasn’t made an ounce of a difference.