Chapter 47 #2
I looked at Jesse then, because this suddenly felt like a setup. “What did you tell him?”
He shrugged, that devilish glint I knew so well lighting his eyes.
“We talked about it on the flight, remember? You said that was the plan. That you wanted to move here and take over some of her duties so she can just enjoy her life for once. I told Alex about it and we’re going to make it happen for you. ”
“I was spiraling.”
He cocked his head, eyes locked on mine. “Are you telling me you’ve changed your mind?”
“No, but I can’t actually believe you’re doing this based on the ramblings of a guy who was in the middle of a breakdown.”
Something changed in Jesse’s gaze then. A steady kind of certainty I’d never seen from him stared back at me. “Contrary to what you might think sometimes, I do know you pretty well, Will. This is what you want, so I’m going to be doing the stepping up for a change, if that’s okay?”
My eyes slammed shut. The disbelief tearing through me was so intense that I felt a little dizzy. “I honestly can’t believe you guys are actually okay with this.”
Alex chuckled softly. “You’ve spent years doing what was expected of you. Ever since you were a kid, you’ve been holding things together even when you didn’t break them. Fixing problems that weren’t yours to fix. It’s about time we return the favor, isn’t it?”
I finally opened my eyes again and focused on him. “Are you absolutely sure about this?”
He smiled at me the way he used to before he was my CEO. Before Dad dumped the responsibility of arranging everyone’s marriages in his lap. The way he used to back when he was just my big brother.
“I’m sure, Will. There’s no catch here. Congratulations, okay? I really wish we could be there, but Zach is going to livestream the wedding for me and Jane, and Dad will be getting in tomorrow morning with Harlan and the others.”
“They’re all coming?”
Jesse smirked. “Well, I don’t know about all of them, but I really fucking hope Sterling shows. I’ve still got a bone to pick with him.”
I groaned. “You’re not doing it at my wedding.”
“Fine. I’ll do it after.” He pumped his eyebrows at me, then took his phone back and said bye to Alex.
After that, he dragged me to the sitting room where Aaron had taken the others, and the five of us had the world’s calmest ever bachelor party.
We spent the night talking, joking around, and having a few drinks until Miriam finally came to tell us that the girls were done, but that I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere near Eliza’s room tonight.
It was a bummer, but by the time I woke up the next morning, everything felt somehow different. Aaron still brought my breakfast, but Jesse and Nate crashed it. We got ready together after, and for the first time in a really long time, it felt like we were all actually on the same side.
When the time came, I stood at the end of the aisle in the small church in the village by the castle. My hands were clasped loosely in front of me as I looked out at the people who’d shown up for us. Not only family and some friends, but the entire village had come out for the occasion.
Every seat was filled, more people standing along the walls, the sound of quiet chatter and soft laughter weaving through the air. It was magic. There was no other word for it.
A few seconds later, the music suddenly shifted and I drew in a deep breath, realizing that this was it. The doors at the end of the aisle opened and Eliza appeared on James’s arm. Everything else faded into the background.
Nothing else mattered. Not the people, or the noise, or the fact that my heart was currently trying to beat its way out of my chest.
She stepped forward slowly, the light shining on her in a way that felt unfair to everyone else in the room. Like the entire universe had decided to beam its spotlight on the most amazing woman in the world.
When she finally reached me, her eyes met mine, and for a second, I forgot that breathing was a prerequisite for staying alive. She was ravishing, the dress plain but gorgeous, with some twinkling crystals on the lace bodice and a soft, flowing skirt.
“Hi,” I murmured as I looked into her blue eyes and did my best to swallow past the lump in my throat. “I’m Will.”
Her lips curved into a soft, knowing smile. “I know, my love. I know exactly who you are. Now.”
Pride punched at my ribs. My chest swelled until my tux felt too tight. I took her hand and we turned toward the pastor together. I didn’t really know how long it was going to take me to believe it, but this was the beginning of our lives together.
It felt like the stars had somehow aligned to make it so that, for once, I didn’t have to step aside and Eliza didn’t have to make herself smaller.
In just two days, we’d yanked everything she hadn’t wanted from the wedding, and now, here we were, at her perfect, fairy tale wedding in the village she loved.
I would never have to let her go after all and Jesse had assured me about a dozen times that he was sure about taking over as COO. For the longest time, I’d thought all three of us had been victims, doomed to fates none of us wanted, but I’d been wrong.
In the end, we were all exactly where we were supposed to be, and I, for one, had never been happier.