Page 31 of Always a Bridesmaid

All three sets of eyes went back to Elle. She was still standing with his sister and they were in an intense conversation. Probably talking about wedding things such as color palettes and seating arrangements, but he hadn’t built up the courage to approach her. Because he hadn’t decided the right move.

“I’m just happy it’s you and not me, bro,” Jake said.

“A woman like that? I’d risk it,” Enzo said, and Henry shoulder-checked him. Enzo laughed. “It’s your funeral.”

“It’s smart business, she’ll see that,” he defended.

“If you say so,” Jake said.

Before he could respond, someone called his name. It was a familiar and unexpected voice, and Henry’s entire body tensed at the unwanted nostalgia it brought on. He didn’t need to turn to see who it was. The instantaneous anger roiling in his gut and looks of uncertainty on his mates’ faces told him who had joined the conversation.

William Norris.

“What the bloody hell are you doing here?” Henry asked.

“It’s good to see you too, son,” his old man said, sticking out his hand. Henry shoved his hands in his pants pockets.

A part of him, the part of him who was still the fifteen-year-old kid who desperately wanted his dad to come home and make it all better, almost stepped into his arms to hold on tightly. But that kid had died a long time ago. He’d been suffocated by the weight and responsibility of being the man of the house at such a young age.

“Aren’t you going to introduce me to your friends?”

When Henry didn’t jump when his dad wanted him to, Will did what he always did, he inserted himself, to ensure he got what he wanted. “Jake, Enzo, I’m Will Norris. It’s great to meet you.”

“Likewise, sir,” Jake said, that southern drawl and homebred manners coming through. He took William’s hand, but his gaze flickered to Henry, cataloguing his state of being.

“Call me Will.”

“Ciao, Will,” Enzo said, shaking Will’s hand. But Henry kept his firmly rooted in his pockets as if they were cemented in concrete.

A few more niceties were exchanged but Henry was too busy scanning the club for his mother and sisters to listen. He had to find them before this imploded. Only as he scanned the crowd, he found half the club looking back, waiting for the fireworks to go off. It was no secret that Henry and his father were estranged or the reasons why. Thank god that someone had insisted no phones were allowed in the building. Otherwise this would be on TMZ within the hour.

He gave the room one more glance and when he couldn’t find his family, he turned toward his dad.

“You need to leave before Sarah sees you and gets upset. This is her night and I refuse to let you ruin it.”

A big smile overtook his father’s face. “Sarah invited me.”

“Bullshit.” Sarah would never invite him. And if she did, she would have warned Henry.

Will reached into his pocket and it wasn’t until he pulled out the shiny black key card invitation that the reality of the betrayal hit like a wrecking ball to the chest. His hands fisted, which was exactly what his heart did.

He knew Sarah wasn’t all that great with uncomfortable topics, but she should know that Henry would always try to meet her with some kind of understanding. Although he didn’t know if he could understand anything that was happening at present.

His dad was here. At Sarah’s hen party. Where his whole family?—

Everything came to a screeching halt.

“What about Mum?” The words flew out of his mouth. “She can’t see you.”

This wouldn’t just ruin her night; it would set the tone for the rest of her week. She should be enjoying her role as mother of the bride, not dealing with the baggage from her past.

“She already has. We said hi and went our separate ways. It was very cordial and brief.”

“You said ‘Hi’?” His blood was boiling. After everything he’d put Henry’s mother through, he thought a cordialhiwould cut it. Oh how that must have broken his mum’s heart.

Of their own accord, his hands fisted into tight balls and he took his first step forward. But before he could raise his arm, a warm sense of peace surrounded him like a blanket.

“You must be Mr. Norris,” the sexy upper-crust voice said. “I’m Elle Vaughn, one of Sarah’s bridesmaids.” Then there was her hand, sliding across his lower back, not in a sensual way but to provide comfort and support. Her other hand was shaking his dad’s. “Sarah has told me so much about you over the years. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you.”

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