As the wedding erupted with cheer and applause, I spared a look around, keeping an eye out for any loose doves or surprise nonsense. I spotted Cole from across the room, his gaze locked on mine.
Is he watching me? How long has he been staring at me like that?
The look on his face was completely unreadable, his mouth in a straight line. I didn’t have time to overanalyze Cole’s expressions, though, not when the wedding was still unfolding in front of me. I brought my attention back to the aisle, now spotting Amber walking down it, looking as beautiful as ever. She flashed a bright smile my way, tears spilling down her cheeks, mouthing a smallthank you.
And my heart felt so full that it wanted to burst.
Even though there was a good chance I was going to pass out from the stress, nothing made it clearer that all of this wasworth it. There was a golden glow spilling over the wedding now, the sun setting in the background of it all. It served as a gorgeous backdrop for Amber to exchange her vows with Doug, both of them looking like they were made for each other, goofy grins all around.
The reception would be starting soon.
I steeled myself for it as I rose to my feet. Once again, I looked around the room, catching Cole’s eyesstillon me. It felt like he had something on his mind, but it wasn’t up to me to decode it all the way from over here. If he were trying to figure out how to let me down easy, he could save it.
I’d be leaving by tomorrow, anyway.
We didn’t need to have some grand goodbye. In fact, we never had to speak to each other again.
I pretended like the thought didn’t break me, my attention shifting towards the reception area, my feet already ahead of me.
12
COLE
“Where are you right now, Cole?”
Levi sat down next to me at our assigned table, a drink already in his hand. “Please, don’t tell me you’re still going over McMillan shit in your head! We’re at our sister’s wedding.”
“I… don’t care about the McMillans right now.”
“Damn. Really?” Levi chuckled. “Then, what has you so out of it? Do you actually think about anything else besides business?”
I tried to laugh along with Levi, but I could barely think. I’d been staring at Dylan during the entire wedding, watching him shift from anxious mess to confident mess back to anxious mess. He made everything look so easy, even though I could tell things were only going so smoothly because he was pushing himself to his limit. And while I was in awe of him, I knew that wasn’t why I’d been so infatuated with him.
The real reason I’d been staring at him is because I couldn’t get him out of my head.
The more I’d thought about last night, the more I realized that things I’d said in bed were things that I meant. I wanted Dylan to bemine. I didn’t want anyone else to touch him like that. I didn’t want anyone else to see him like that.
I wanted to be the person he was most comfortable with, the one he could let down his guard around.
I wanted to make him feel safe. I wanted to keep him safe.
I…
I wanted…
“It’s okay.” Shane’s voice shook me out of my thoughts, as he settled in next to me.
“What?” I shook my head, confused. “What’s okay?”
“It’s obvious you have feelings for someone, Cole,” he continued, with a shrug. “And I’m telling you that whoever it is, it’s okay. I know you might be… scared… after your divorce. But you shouldn’t be. You deserve to love and be loved. And I’m here to support you, no matter what.”
“What the hell, Shane? Where did that come from?” Levi laughed again. “Cole’s barely been back on the field, man. How would he have feelings for someone?”
My eyes met Shane’s, exchanging a quiet, knowing look.
“Oh, my God. Is Shane right?” Levi’s mouth fell open. “Cole! Congrats, man! I told you that all you had to do was get back out there!”
Levi leaned closer to me. “Are they here? Like at this wedding? Is it someone we know?”
