AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Ithinkthearborshould go over here,” I suggest, walking to the edge of the glass in the conservatory.
“Yes, that could work,” the wedding planner agrees, tapping her pen to her cheek before writing it down.
“This way Rory can walk through the doors, round her way past the fountain, and continue down the aisle—are you even listening?”
“That works…for…me…” Rory says. Each word stretches before it grows into almost a question by the time she reaches the end.
I huff, and my gaze flashes my irritation at her lack of interest; I mean, this isherwedding, after all.
As if Rory can sense my annoyance, she slowly cranes her neck back over in our direction and away from the glass windows. The action is like when you stretch a rubber band though. It’s as if she’s being tugged, but everything in her wants to go back in the other direction.
Rory only had a minimum amount of interest, to begin with, but now it’s nonexistent as her head finds its way back to its front. Her back is once again to us.
I charge past the wedding coordinator, silently apologizing, and am about to round my friend and tell her she’s being rude when my feet come to a screeching, shrill halt—
My brows bank together, and my already furious eyes go large.
One of the thick bushes around the exterior of the property has shifted, and then it does it again. The light from inside the conservatory gives enough of a glimpse as to what’s going on outside.
My head tilts and in my peripherals, I can tell Rory’s does the same as one, two, three dark shadows emerge from behind the tall foliage.
Two, I’m positive, are people. It’s the third that’s dangling, wiggling between the others like a hammock, that takes my eyes a few extra seconds to figure out. It isn’t until they drop, kicking their feet free, that I’m certain it’s another person.
Hushed curses push past the glass and Rory and I share a curious glance before our ogling resumes back outside.
The person in the back still has the hold of the shoulders of the individual in the middle. The longer my eyes have time to adjust to the darkness, I am able to pick up on who they each are.
Eli’s in the back. The light blond of his hair is a giveaway as he grips his hostage by their collarbone. Finn’s frame I’d know anywhere, with his wide build and cocky stature. He’s now empty-handed, leading as he walks in front.
My mouth swishes on a half smirk at the way he scratches at the back of his scalp, checking. Finn’s head had been the one almost kicked from his neck by what I’m certain was Cole’s shoe.
The trio walks right past us, not a one bothering to share a glance this way. Oblivious, all of them stay in our sights. To be fair, Cole is completely blinded by some sort of black sack, but the other two?
Idiots, juvenile idiots.
Cole’s vision may be obscured, but Rory and I can see just fine.
“This has Finn written all over it,” I grumble to no one in particular as soon as they rush past, scurrying out of sight.
Even the wedding coordinator’s face seems unsure. Her lips are a bloodless shade, unknowing of what’s going on and if she should be afraid she’s next.
Rory smacks her hand to the glass. “Those assholes!”
Through the thick walls, I hear a howl of a laugh and I’d know the deep richness of it anywhere. A long time ago, the sound used to make my chest tight.
It seems a bigger part of me isn’t willing to let it go. Without my permission, goose bumps break out across the back of my neck.
Blinking, I have to force myself to focus on the inside instead of the echoed laugh that continues to sting in my eardrums long after it’s left.
I come back in time to notice Rory’s already spun on her heel and is basically to the exit.
“Hails!” Rory barks, and my lashes flutter. Blood rises to my cheeks as my face turns hot.
Focus.
Quickly I catch up, and all wedding things—including the coordinator—are forgotten.
“Did you see where they went?”
