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The man looked like he was unraveling with each step Brynn took toward him. He only had eyes for her, and if I wasn't seeing things, I swore they were glittering with what looked a lot like happy tears.
The sight of my friend completely reduced to a speechless love-struck man had my chest tightening, and I swallowed hard.
Brynn finally made it to her spot in front of Weston, and there was no denying how gorgeous she looked. Pride swelled in my chest as the officiate started the processions. Two of my best friends were finally getting married after years of dancing around their feelings for each other.
I’m certain Ethan and I had a bet ten years ago that this would happen, but I couldn't remember the stakes.
And it didn't matter.
What mattered is that they had finally done what we all knew they wanted to do.
I turned around, glancing over my shoulder at Asher, Ethan, and Gareth, finding them smiling just as hard as I was. As much shit as we loved to give Wes over how long it took to finally acknowledge his feelings for his best friend, we couldn’t be prouder of him. There was no one better suited for him, and now they were getting to start the beginning of their happily ever after together.
As the officiate continued with the standard ceremonial rituals, I couldn't help but wonder how my two friends made it look so easy? The act of choosing a partner to be with for therest of forever didn't seem like an easy decision to make. I mean, honestly, how did they know that in four months they'd still want to hang out with each other, let alonesleeptogether? How did they know that one or the other wouldn't leave after growing bored with the antics that came with such a high-profile lifestyle like we lived? How could they trust the other person to keep their deepest, darkest secrets, the small confessions one made to such a person in the middle of the night when doubt and fear took over every other emotion?
Those types of confessions I'd always kept to myself, never even burdening my sister with some of the shit that crept up in my head.
It had always been me.
Ever since my parents passed away and I’d inherited the family empire, entrusted to keep it running and growing like it should. Just me. It’d been me who’d taken care of my teenage sister, comforted her during the grieving process, was strong for her during the more intense parts of healing, while never once letting her see how worried I was about failing. About taking what our parents had so graciously left us and ruining it.
Every single day, I lived with that weight. And yeah, maybe I used my adventurous lifestyle as a way to drown out the pressures that I constantly felt, but wasn't that better than entrusting my entire, very heavy baggage to somebody else? Somebody who might end up leaving me in the end anyway?
My eyes traveled across the audience, most of them teary-eyed and smiling at our friends, until I found Aspen.
My paid-for date.
My fake girlfriend.
The one I couldn't help but grin at as she pantomimed crying and then stealthily pointed at me, silently indicating that I was a big baby.
I checked myself, discreetly brushing away theonesliver of emotion I'd let show. But she’d made me smile. She seemed to have a knack for that. Then she covered her heart with her hands, swooning at me, and it was all I could do to not laugh out loud.
This girl.
She was nothing if not surprising, and the way she was so unapologetically herself did something to me.
I couldn't wait to find out what she was going to say or do next, and it made this little arrangement of ours incredibly interesting. It didn't help that she was also incredibly gorgeous, her body filling out that dress in a way that showed off every single one of her curves.
Curves that itched to be under my fingers.
But it was more than that. I genuinely liked being around her. Even during the plane ride over, when we'd had our crash course in personal history and dating facts, I never had the urge to put distance between us like I usually did with strangers. It was new for me.
Normally, especially on trips across the country, I found reasons to put my headphones on and lock into work.
And of course, that could be because the prior dates I’d had were casual, no-strings hookups. There’d been no reason to go in depth like Aspen and I had on the way over here.
This was all incredibly new to me. And part of me found it exciting, the unknown. But there was another part of me that was just as curious if Aspen would be acting the same if this were a real relationship. Or was she so funny and endearing and understanding because I was paying her?
I guess, in the end, it didn't really matter, did it? Because this wasn't a real relationship, and Iwaspaying her.
I never thought I'd need to remind myself of that fact.
Applause erupted from the audience, everyone standing from their seats as they clapped for the newly crowned bride and groom. I returned my attention to my friends just in time to see them clasp hands and walk down the aisle, smiling and waving to their family and friends as they headed out of the main room.
Ethan took center stage and informed everyone where to go for the reception, just a quick walk outside to the veranda that had been fully transformed into a white silk tent and twinkle light fantasy, complete with champagne and appetizers and a live band.
I waited my turn and walked down the aisle behind my friends, only slowing to extend my arm for the designated bridesmaid that paired up with me, one of Brynn’s cousins who was a charming woman expecting her third child any day now. I walked her all the way to her assigned table and settled her in a cushioned seat, grabbing her a mocktail before I left her side.
