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Stubborn like her sister, she refuses. “Just say it,” she says, and I can already hear in her voice she knows what’s coming.
I think deep down, we all knew that this was coming. Why else would he put his job over his wedding? A wedding that’s been in the works for months? We didn’t want to believe it. I know I didn’t. I was pissed at him putting her second to his career. I told him as much. However, in a million lifetimes, I never imagined he would do this. At least not hours before they were supposed to promise to love each other for a lifetime.
Yeah, definitely going to be kicking his ass when we get home.
The guys and I surround Liam as he breaks the news to Audrey that Lincoln’s not here, and he’s not going to be. He’s a coward. She argues that he was on his way, and I bet a year’s salary he was never on his way. He didn’t drive halfway and turn around.
He lied.
Audrey loses her battle with her tears, and the look on Liam’s face can only be described as devastation. That’s when I realize that he’s in love with her. The way he’s looking at her, the heartache at seeing her tears, he’s crushed that the woman he loves is in pain from his jackass brother. We all know that Liam met Audrey first since he was saving Lincoln’s ass back in the day on their first date. Liam had to cover for him because his ass was running late. He should have whisked her away from that restaurant. The look on his face tells me he’s thinking the same thing. Fury and pain, all wrapped into one. That’s what the younger West brother is feeling at this moment.
Charlotte pulls Audrey from Liam’s arms and hugs her tight. She whispers to her sister as she closes her eyes, and a lone tear trails over her cheek. I tighten my fists at my sides to keep from reaching out and capturing it with my thumb. Lincoln is breaking more than one heart today.
I’ve known Charlotte Krause since our freshman year of college. I’ve seen her pissed, happy, smiling, studious, focused, and determined. I’ve never seen her sad. The sight of that lone tear has all of my protective instincts I didn’t know I had, standing tall.
They stand tall for her.
Audrey pulls away from her sister and begs for Liam to go. I can see the anguish on his face. The last thing he wants to do is leave her when she’s upset. She tells him again that she needs him to leave. She’s frantic, and it’s like a knife in the chest to watch her pain.
I put my hand on Liam’s shoulder. “We can do that,” I tell her. I know without prompting, Liam won’t leave her, but that’s what needs to happen. We need to let her sister and her friends support her through this while we take care of everything else. I tell him that, and he gives a slow nod.
It’s Charlotte who speaks.
“Thank you,” she says softly, and she places her hand on my arm, giving it a gentle squeeze. It’s the softest she’s ever spoken to me in all the years I’ve known her. The heat of her small hand against my arm is searing. It’s the first time she’s ever touched me on her own accord.
I want to hold her. I want to pull her into my chest, wrap my arms around her, and tell her that it’s all going to be okay. I know she’s not the one that was getting married, but I feel as though I need to be the one she leans on while she holds the weight of her sister's pain on her shoulders.
With a nod, the guys and I guide Liam out of the suite. His shoulders are tight, and he’s walking with purpose. Part of me wishes Lincoln were here to be on the receiving end of his brother’s wrath, and then the other part knows that wouldn’t be a good idea because Charlotte’s lone tear pops into my mind, and my vision blurs. He wouldn’t be faring well if he were here.
Knowing that Liam’s barely holding on, I guide him outside and around the building. He lets out a roar and smashes his fist against the building. “Motherfucker!” he roars.
Ty, Jasper, and I stand back and watch as he bows his head, his chest heaving with anger. We don’t interfere, letting him do his thing. When he finally lifts his head, his eyes are wet with emotion.
“How?” His voice is raspy, and he doesn’t try to hide the broken pieces. “What kind of man stands the woman he’s supposed to love up on their wedding day? How could he do this to her? To Audrey? If he didn’t love her, he should have told her. He should never have let it get this far. Fuck!” he screams and runs his fingers through his hair.
“We all agree with you, man,” Ty says, his voice low and even.
“He’s a coward,” Jasper says.
I know I should speak up, but I can’t. All I can see is the devastation on Audrey and Charlotte’s faces. I’m sure the other ladies were just as upset, but those two were my focus. My mind keeps replaying that single tear rolling down Charlotte’s cheek, and I fight the urge to run back to her to make sure she’s okay. Not that she would let me.
“We need to tell your parents and their aunt Miranda,” I tell Liam.
“I’ll tell my parents.” Liam sighs.
“I’ll go with you,” Jasper tells him.
“We’ll go talk to Miranda,” Ty speaks up.
I want to tell him that Jasper can go with him. That’s all I need, for another member of Charlotte’s family to hate me right now. Knowing I don’t have a choice, I nod my agreement. I told her that we would take care of everything outside of the suite, and I meant it.
“I have the wedding planner’s number,” I say, already reaching for my phone in my pocket. As best man, Charlotte and I had to talk with her more than I liked, but now, I’m glad that I have a way to reach her without having to search the entire resort to find her.
Liam nods. “I’ll talk to Mom and Dad and then call you to see where you are. I don’t know if the wedding planner will need help, but there are guests that are here from out of town, and someone has to break the news to them. I don’t know how to get the word out, and maybe the wedding planner has a contact list and room numbers.”
“If we have to go door to door, that’s what we’ll do.” I made Charlotte a promise, and I intend to keep it. She’s going to text me and want an update, and I want to be able to assure her that I’ve got it under control. All she needs to worry about is being there for her sister. We can clean up our friend’s mess, but it’s the last fucking time. In fact, if he ever does get married, he can count me out. Fuck this. He knew. I know that he knew, and he waited until the last possible moment to tell us, so we could be the courier of his bad news. Lincoln and I have been best friends since college, but fuck me. I really don’t like him right now.
“Let’s get this over with,” Liam mutters. He digs his phone out of his pocket and taps at the screen before placing it to his ear. “Hey, Dad. Where are you?” He listens, and his eyes find mine. “Okay, the guys and I are coming to join you.” Another pause to listen. “See you soon.” He ends the call and slides the phone back into his pocket. “They’re having breakfast. Miranda is with them.”
