Panic and relief and…oh, holy shit.
She’s gonna run.
My brother looks at me, his eyes wide as he realizes what’s about to happen.
“Her name is Indie,” I murmur quietly as Beau shifts in his seat before placing his car keys in my hand.
“What?”
“The one you’re eye-fucking. Her name is Indie. She'll help you straighten out this mess.”
“Who says I'm about to straighten out any mess?” he says wryly, but we both know he will.
He truly can't help himself—oldest brother and all.
And like it’s happening in slow motion, Pen’s gaze returns to Carter’s before she grabs handfuls of her dress and turns for the aisle.
Gasps and murmurs fill the room, but I barely hear them.
Because I’m running too.
2
PEN
My heart beats wildly in my chest as I walk down the aisle toward Carter. This should be the happiest day of my life, but the warning bells areblaringnow as each step brings me closer to the man I’m supposed to love forever.
What am I doing?
I’ve never felt so alone, walking by myself with hardly anyone I recognize staring back at me, a fake smile firmly in place.
I can do this.
Carter’s expression is picture worthy but it does nothing to ease the way my stomach dips the closer I get to him. I want to look for my best friend but I don’t.
Ican’t.
What if he’s not here?
The thought makes me want to puke because even though we’re still not okay, I want him here. Ineedhim here.
I can do this.
My smile is wide and bright as Carter takes my hand, and I pass my flowers to his sister who was volunteered to be my maid of honor by their mother. She gives me an encouraging smilebecause shegets it,and I appreciate the hell out of her in this moment.
Blood pounds in my ears as the officiant starts to speak, Carter’s expression never changing as his gaze flicks to me and then her. I should probably be doing that, but all I can do is hope that it looks like I’m staring adoringly at the groom.
I’ll be on my honeymoon in no time.
This is fine.
“…one of trust and fidelity and lifting each other up…”
“…one of trust and fidelity and lifting each other up…”
“…one of trust and…”
It’s like someone threw a bucket of ice water on me, the freezing cold somehow managing to get through all the layers of the dress to soak my skin. Panic hovers on the edge of my psyche as the words get stuck on a loop in my mind.
