Rafe and Ethan are next in line to walk down the aisle. They link arms with their mum, guiding her graciously. She waves at everyone like the queen she is.
I jump when Cole says, “Now that we’re friends again, why were you being so weird on the phone this morning?” He chuckles at my expense.
“I’ve been out of sorts all day, that’s all. Absolutely nothing else was going on.” I give him my best side eye, and he barks out a laugh so loud that the last few rows turn around to glare at us through the door. I hit his arm. “Shh, you idiot.” But it isn’t long before I’m laughing too.
Nate takes Hayleigh's arm as they walk down the aisle together, and I can’t help looking in awe at how perfect they look together.
Cole notices the dreamy look on my face. “Honestly, is everything okay with you, Lace?”
“It’s our turn. Walk me down the aisle, friend?” I smile, praying it reaches my eyes, but even I can hear the sadness creeping into my voice, because the sad truth is that while a piece of Cole is mine now, I know it won't be long before I lose him forever.
Chapter 2
Cole
Just over a year ago, I let myself dream. I believed that I could give in and have it all. I’d been staying with Lacey for almost three months after I’d been attacked whilst sleeping at the worksite our company had been working on. We fell into a comfortable and easy routine. Our mornings were spent going for a walk or a jog, mainly me, seeing as Lacey is allergic to any form of fast exercise. We spent our nights binge-watching movies and TV shows; she would cook, and I would clean.
That’s when the thoughts started to creep in. What if I stayed? What if we gave in to those fleeting glances? What if I chose to finally be happy instead of filling my time with meaningless moments?
Then, one night, whilst watching an old rom-com where the female lead becomes pregnant, reality came crashing down like acold bucket of water and plunged my heart into the abyss where it belonged. Lacey had been so animated talking about babies and what she would call her baby when she had one. All the while, I smiled and nodded along, but as each moment passed, my tongue turned to ash and my insides died a little as I realised those dreams I had could never be a reality for me. I could never give her what she wanted and what she deserved.
I was unable to have children.
An accident when I was younger saw to that. At first, the consequences didn’t register, but when I realised Lacey felt the same way about me? Well, I had to put a stop to our budding romance there and then, because I knew that if I were selfish enough to keep her, she wouldn’t ever have the family she craved so much.
So, I moved out and got a place of my own.
Fast forward to four months ago, when I met Gabby. From the get-go, I was honest with her. I told her I didn’t intend to be in a serious relationship, that this would never lead to marriage or a family. She understood and wanted a casual thing too. I told her that Lacey was my best friend; Gabby thought it was endearing.
Of course, that must have all been lies. Recently, she has been hounding me about moving in together and taking the next step. Whenever I say I’m seeing my family or checking on Lacey, she ends up either ill or books something for us to do.
And what do I do, like a complete idiot, you ask? Well, I go along with it.
It’s easier to suffer through Gabby’s games than to disappoint Lacey by telling her the truth.
Only, my sparing Lacey’s feelings backfired, and now, we’re further apart than ever. I can’t stand it.
When she opened the door to her room earlier, my tongue nearly rolled out of my mouth, and it took everything in me not to storm in there and kiss her without stopping.
She is so beautiful, it makes my heart ache. To see that look in her eyes, filled with such disappointment and loneliness, all aimed at me, it almost broke me.
We walk down the aisle together, and every single one of my brothers, my parents, and our friends are beaming at us—everyone, except Gabby. If looks could kill, then we both would have been struck down.
My attention snaps back to the ceremony. As well as a shitty boyfriend and best friend, I’m also a shitty brother.
The registrar proclaims them husband and wife, and Cas dips Emmy and kisses her like they’re the only two people in the world. A smile spreads across my face as I watch them both, so in love and so happy, even after everything they have been through.
My eyes clash with Lacey’s. Her smile is just as wide as mine. She puts her thumbs up, and I do the same, only I can’t seem to look away and neither can she. That is, until Archie jumps on my back and ruffles my hair, shouting, “They did it! God, I love, love Cole!”
He jumps back down and sprints into the crowd as the bride and groom still kiss. Hayleigh shouts for them to get a room, and Cas breaks away and tells her they’re already in one, causing them both to crack up laughing.
I look back to where Lacey stood, but she isn’t there anymore. I look around to try to find her, but she’s gone. Before I can take another step, Gabby appears in my field of vision.
“Hey, handsome,” she purrs and tries to pull me in for a kiss a little forcefully. I give her a quick peck, not wanting to piss her off or cause a scene, but she huffs anyway. “I saw you making googly eyes at Lacey earlier. Could you be any more obvious, Cole?” Her sneer transforms her face.
“We aren’t doing this here, Gabby. It’s my brother's fucking wedding, do not test me. Lacey is part of this family, whether you like it or not.” I can’t help the bite in my voice.
She’s just about to respond when my mum floats over to us. That woman can sense an argument brewing a mile off. Guess it pays off to have six boys to wrangle.
