Chapter 24
Cal
The photographer called for the bridal party just as I finished adjusting the cuffs of my jacket.
Jalen wandered over and stopped beside me, following my gaze toward the stone staircase that overlooked the terrace where everyone would be taking pictures.
"You good?" he asked quietly.
I forced out a small smile.
"I think so."
He looked over at me before shaking his head.
"You're a terrible liar."
I laughed under my breath, fully prepared to come up with some sarcastic response, but the words never left my mouth.
Movement at the top of the staircase stole every ounce of my attention.
The conversations around me faded into the background, the music suddenly became nothing more than distant noise, and the only person I could see was Nia.
She slowly descended the stone staircase with Mars and the rest of the bridal party beside her, and for a second, I honestly forgot how to breathe.
The satin hugged every curve of her body before flowing effortlessly to the ground with each step she took.
The warm burnt orange satin against her skin was enough to stop traffic.
Her curls framed her face beautifully, cascading in soft, effortless layers that somehow revealed more of her than they usually did.
For once, nothing hid the delicate curve of her jaw, the high cheekbones that caught the afternoon sunlight, or the warmth in her brown eyes.
She was beautiful.
Painfully beautiful.
I couldn't stop looking at her.
She reached the bottom of the stairs and laughed at something Mars whispered.
That laugh.
I'd missed hearing it more than I realized.
It settled somewhere deep inside my chest and instantly reminded me of everything I'd spent the last month trying to outrun.
She looked up, and the moment our eyes met, everything inside me went completely still.
For one impossible moment, it felt like we were the only two people standing on that entire terrace.
I couldn't tell whether she was smiling because she was happy to see me or simply being polite, but either way, I found myself unable to look away.
The photographer's voice eventually broke through the silence hanging between us, pulling me back to reality before I completely lost myself in the moment.
"Alright, everybody! Wedding party first!"
The next twenty minutes became a blur of camera shutters and repositioning.
Every few minutes, another combination stepped forward while everyone else laughed and waited their turn.
I caught myself stealing glances whenever I thought she wasn't looking.
Sometimes she'd already be looking back.
Other times she'd be laughing with the girls or fixing Mars's train without realizing I was watching.
Then Mars asked for one with just Nia and me.
Of course she did.
I shot Jalen a look, and he had the nerve to shrug like none of this was his idea.
Everyone stepped aside until only the two of us remained beneath the floral arch.
The photographer smiled.
"Don't force anything. I just want you two to relax."
Easier said than done.
Nia stopped beside me, and for a second, neither of us knew where to put our hands.
I smiled to myself; some things never changed.
I stepped closer first, close enough to catch the soft scent of her perfume.
Without thinking, my hand settled gently against her waist.
She didn't pull away.
Instead... she leaned into me almost instinctively.
Just enough for me to notice.
"You look amazing," I whispered.
She smiled.
"You don't look half bad yourself, Mr. Sinclair."
I laughed quietly.
"I'll take it."
The photographer lowered his camera.
"No. Stay exactly like that."
He started shooting immediately.
Click.
Click.
Click.
I barely noticed.
My attention stayed entirely on the woman standing beside me.
The photographer circled around us.
"Perfect. Now, Nia, I want you directly in front of him.
Cal, wrap your arms around her naturally."
Naturally.
If only he knew.
I stepped behind her and slowly wrapped my arms around her waist.
She fit against me perfectly, like she'd always belonged there.
My chest rested lightly against her back.
I could feel the slow rhythm of her breathing.
For one dangerous moment... I closed my eyes.
Not all the way, just enough to remember.
Remember what it felt like holding her.
Remember what it felt like believing maybe one day she'd be mine.
She rested her hand over mine.
It was such a small gesture, and she probably didn't even realize she'd done it, but my heart nearly gave out anyway.
The photographer smiled.
"There it is. Don't move. That's the picture."
The shutter fired several more times, and then it was over.
She stepped away and so did I.
The space between us immediately felt too big.
Almost cold.
The photographer thanked everyone before directing us toward cocktail hour.
I walked away with the rest, forcing myself not to look back her way.
Because if I didn't, I'd spend the entire night staring.
Within the next hour, family from both sides slowly filled the ballroom.
Jalen's teammates began arriving with their wives and girlfriends, while current and former players wandered between cocktail tables, shaking hands and catching up.
Our cousins laughed loudly near the champagne wall while aunts, uncles, and family friends hugged people they hadn't seen in years.
The live band shifted from jazz into smooth R&B as servers moved effortlessly through the crowd carrying trays of champagne and smoked old fashioneds.
I barely stopped moving.
Every few minutes, someone wanted to congratulate me on ESPN, talk football, or ask to come on the podcast.
I smiled, shook hands, took pictures, and introduced myself to people I'd somehow never met despite hearing about them for years.
The conversations came easily.
My attention didn't.
Every now and then, I'd catch a glimpse of Nia across the ballroom, but then she’d disappear behind another group of people before I had the chance to say anything.
Maybe it was for the best.
Eventually, the event coordinator invited everyone toward the reception.
Guests slowly found their assigned tables while soft music continued floating through the room.
I glanced down at the thick ivory escort card resting beside my charger plate:
Caleb Sinclair.
I pulled my chair back, and then my eyes drifted to the place setting directly beside mine:
Nia Kingsley.
A smile found its way onto my face before I could stop it.
Out of hundreds of seats tonight, she’d be sitting right beside me.
Maybe that didn’t mean anything.
Maybe Mars had simply been trying to keep the bridal party together.
Either way, for the first time all day, I found myself looking forward to dinner.