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“Something I said?” Austin wrinkled his nose and turned back to face his brother. “Josh?”
His gaze lifted, catching Austin’s. “I’m gonna ask you a question. And I need you to tell me the truth, okay?”
Austin swallowed. “All right.”
Josh nodded and cleared his throat. “Were you with Mavis yesterday?”
The sudden ringing in his ears drilled holes in his brain. Austin blinked, working to bring his brother back into focus from the fog clouding his eyes. He coughed, dragging his hands along the back of his neck.
“I was...” Locking eyes with Josh, Austin stepped forward. “We said goodbye. Buried all our shit in the sand. For good.”
Josh returned his stare, biting the inside of his cheek, his eyes inviting more.
“I swear it, Josh. Whatever the hell we—” Austin shook his head. “Closure, all right?” He shrugged.
“Closure,” Josh repeated. His body straightened, the trance-like state of his dark eyes lifting. “You’re sure?”
Austin nodded. “Not the best timing, I know,” he muttered, stepping forward to adjust the yellow rose pinned to his brother’s jacket.
Josh inhaled and nodded, stepping forward over the fallen log in the path.
“I’m sorry, Josh. I need you to know that I’ll always be sorry. I never should have done... well, anything I did.” He shook his head again. “I’m sorry.”
Josh turned, standing in front of a burlap sign. Austin dragged his gaze across the message.Too late to run because here she comes!Pulling a small smile to his lips, he pointed at the sign.
“She’s coming foryou. Not me.”
Josh snorted, turning to read the sign for himself. “And you’re sure?”
With a nod, Austin stepped forward and guided his brother down the path. “If there is one thing I’m sure of, it’s that you’re about to marry the girl you always should have.” He smiled, elbowing him in the gut as they stepped to the edge of the forest.
The strings of a violin met their ears, the familiar melody of wedding preludes drifting in the breeze as the brilliant afternoon sun brought the meadow to life. White wicker chairs lined the aisle in rows, each seat filled with a guest ready to celebrate.
Austin pressed a toe to the white aisle runner and turned, grinning at his brother. “Ready?”
Josh smiled, inhaling a breath before stepping forward and aiming for the beautiful white arbor Mitch had built just days before. The orange blooms of the California poppies rested intricately in the maze of wood, standing tall at the end of the aisle.
Austin followed Josh, waving politely at the guests as they followed the path of white fabric. He took his place at the front and stifled a grin as Josh got suckered into a hug by an ancient aunt in the front row. Cringing, Austin snorted as she planted a bright red kiss on his brother’s cheek.
With wide eyes, Josh straightened and bolted to his side, rubbing his palm against his skin.
“Who is that again?” Austin whispered, eyeing the lipstick stain on Josh’s cheek as he rubbed furiously.
“Great Aunt Millie? Mildred? Mamelda?” Josh snorted. “I don’t know... but she smells.”
Austin leaned forward and inhaled the reek of the old woman’s perfume clinging to Josh’s jacket. He grimaced but giggled, slapping him in the arm. “Who knows, when Mavis smells you, she might just marry me instead now.”
Josh rolled his eyes and snickered, the shared laughter lifting the lingering discomfort from the conversation in the forest.
Austin breathed in the ease of the moment, his best friend standing beside him. His gaze dropped to his feet as he wiggled his toes, already aching inside the fancy rental shoes—a small price to pay to feel the happiness exude from Josh, their relationship no longer cracked at the seams.
“You have the rings, right?” Josh turned, sudden panic swirling in his eyes.
Austin stuffed his hand in his right pocket and smirked, pulling out the two wedding bands. Stacking them atop each other, he brought them to his eye and peered at Josh through the center. “One ring to rule them all.”
An elbow jabbed him in the gut as he doubled over, catching his mother’s eye as she settled into her seat in the front row. She glowered, the look of disapproval radiating from her piercing stare.
Josh gulped and pulled Austin upright. “Almost thirty years old and that look still scares me...”
