CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX Johanna
CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX
Johanna
“TURN TO STONE” — INGRID MICHAELSON
Present Day
The Zofran and Advil I took this morning might’ve dulled the nausea and kicked the headache, but it did absolutely nothing for the embarrassment burning under my skin after realizing what I’d texted Brandon last night.
I can’t even look at him.
At this very moment, I’m walking down the fucking aisle at my brother’s wedding and all I can think about is how it feels like I’m walking towards him.
How everyone else in the room has faded into nothing and the only thing that exists is the weight of his attention—his eyes on me, waiting for me to look up and make the connection.
I can’t do it.
I want to—but I know the second I do, I’m screwing myself.
For the millionth time, I remind myself this day needs to be about Grayson and Mia.
It absolutely cannot be about me, or Brandon, or anyone else.
There won’t be any more emotional confrontations on the terrace.
No longing looks from across the room. No more heartfelt speeches loaded with underlying subtext.
Just the celebration of two of my favorite people in the world.
Just the love that survived everything life threw at them.
At last, I reach the altar without tripping, which feels like a victory in itself.
I find my place beside Rylee and turn to face the aisle as Mia glides towards us, her face glowing with pure love. I grip my hands around my bouquet like I’m hanging on for dear life, anything to keep my focus away from the man just a few feet to the left of me.
Don’t look.
Don’t look.
Don’t—
The last lines of Collapse Into You ring out as Mia reaches Grayson.
He turns to face her and she slips her hands into his.
I’ve only ever seen Grayson this emotional one other time in our entire lives—the night of Mia’s car accident.
If he’d lost her that night, I don’t think he would’ve ever come back from it.
It makes witnessing their vows today all the more special, and that’s what I need to focus on right now.
Not how completely swoon-worthy Brandon looks in his tux even though I’ve barely allowed myself to look, or how the deep, rich green color of his tie makes his eyes glow, or—
Fuck.
The amount of sex appeal—pure, rugged masculinity—this man has should be illegal.
The officiant clears his throat, and the room settles.
“We’re gathered here today to celebrate a love that doesn’t quit. To witness the union of two people who, according to those closest to them, truly deserve every ounce of happiness they’ve found together. Join me as Mia Michele Alexander and Grayson Makai Harris exchange their vows.”
He gestures to Grayson, who turns to Eric and takes Mia’s wedding band. He slips it onto her finger with careful precision, his thumb lingering there for just a beat longer than necessary before he looks up at her and smiles—soft, genuine, unguarded.
“I used to think love had to be loud,” he says. “That if it wasn’t chaotic, dramatic, and heavy, then I wasn’t doing it right.”
My throat tightens as I force myself to stay present—to listen to my brother instead of giving in to the pull of the person I know hasn’t taken his eyes off me since I started walking down the aisle.
“Mia… when you came back into my life, I didn’t just fall in love with you,” Grayson continues. “I fell in love with music again.”
“Somewhere along the way, I forgot why I ever picked up a guitar or wrote a song in the first place. But you’ve always been right there, cheering me on, believing in me even when I didn’t know how to believe in myself. Being onstage with you makes anything feel possible.”
Mia lets out a shaky breath, and even though I can’t see her face, I know she’s smiling through her tears.
“Since you came back into my life, the world has felt a little less heavy because I know we’re standing in it together.
When everything around me felt like it was burning to the ground, you were my guiding light.
You bring that light into every room, into every person you meet—and because of you, I fell back in love with life. ”
He pauses, voice thick but steady as he gathers himself.
“With our life.”
The room feels impossibly still as I force myself to take a breath.
“Loving you doesn’t hurt,” Grayson says softly. “It doesn’t scare me.”
His eyes never leave hers.
“It feels like coming home.”
He’s so reverent. So sure. Meanwhile, I feel the nausea creeping back in.
“So today, I promise to cherish you the way you’ve always deserved. To stand beside you through every high and every hard day. I promise to never walk away—and to choose you, again and again. I’ll love you till the end of time, sweetheart—or at least as long as you’ll let me.”
It takes everything I have to not allow the tears forming behind my eyes to spill over. All my willpower evaporates as I finally give in and look at Brandon. His eyes are glassy, just like mine, and I know without a single doubt—
He’s hurting just as much as I am.
The officiant gestures to Mia with a soft smile. She takes a breath, steadying herself the same way she does when she’s about to go onstage.
“Grayson,” she says. “I love the way you love me. I love the way you see me. Not just the parts I’m proud of—the messy ones, too. You never let me hide when things get hard. Never ask me to be less than I am. You’ve only ever encouraged me. Only ever asked me to be honest.”
Brandon’s eyes never leave mine.
I feel more exposed than I ever have—stripped bare under the weight of it all. Every truth I’ve ever swallowed is written across my face for him to read like a fucking book.
“I have a life I never knew to dream of,” she continues, emotion coating every word. “Because of you, I’m brave in life and in love. You’re my place to land when the world gets too loud. You’re my home. You’re my very best friend.”
My chest tightens and the words echo deep in my bones.
Home.
Safe.
Chosen.
Everything I feel for Brandon that I’ve never been able to name out loud—to him or to myself.
I don’t look away. I can’t.
The space between us is charged and fragile all at once, like one wrong breath could shatter the control I’ve been clinging to all day.
Mia squeezes Grayson’s hand before slipping his wedding band I’d absentmindedly handed her onto his finger.
“I promise to keep choosing you,” she says. “I’ll always show up for you. I’ve loved my career, and I’ve been given so many amazing opportunities—but by far, my favorite role this life has given me is being your biggest cheerleader, and now, being your wife.”
My vision blurs.
Don’t fucking lose it now, Johanna.
“I love you, Grayson,” she murmurs. “Always, forever, and then some.”
Grayson moves forward to capture her in a kiss before the officiant stops him and says, “Not yet.”
“Get on with it then,” Grayson grumbles.
The whole room echoes with laughter.
“Grayson, do you take Mia—”
“Yes,” he interrupts immediately, grinning like he’s the luckiest man alive. “I do.”
“Mia, do you take Grayson—”
“Absolutely,” she says as she wipes the last of the tears from her cheeks. “I do.”
“Then by the power vested in me by the state of California,” the officiant announces. “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
“Now?” Grayson asks, eyebrow arched.
“Now,” the officiant confirms.
At last, Grayson scoops Mia in his arms and kisses her like the world is about to end—and for me, it might be.
Because even though my focus should be on the bride and groom, my attention is still locked on Brandon fucking Jackson.
Because I don’t know how much longer I can lie to myself.
No matter what situation I’m in, no matter the time or place, I’ll always want to find him.