Page 234 of Make the Play

Taking a step forward onto the aisle, I finally raise my gaze to meet his and find those perfectly blue eyes waiting for me at the other end.

Chase is in a dark blue shirt, top button undone, sleeves rolled up and showcasing his ridiculous forearms. But when his eyes lock on mine and his grin deepens, everything in me quiets. No nerves or panic. No hesitation.

God, I hate him.

Wait, no I don’t.

“Let’s go, bride.” Lulu grins and gestures forward.

I don’t even realize I’ve moved until I’m halfway down the aisle. Chase hasn’t taken his eyes off me once, doesn’t even fucking blink. He just watches me with that infuriatingly soft smile that makes my pulse stutter and my brain glitch.

I pass Logan, who is seated with his arms crossed and eyebrow raised. Tamara’s holding a napkin to her face like she might cry, while Eli’s looking at her as if she’s finally lost the plot. Charlie’s bouncing Theo on her lap, mouthinggo slow, he’s gonna lose it,while Jake ruffles Noah’s hair and winks at me as I walk by.

Even Reid is here. Holding a mimosa, wearing sunglasses and the kind of deeply unimpressed expression that only got worse after he was assigned petal throwing duties andcomplied.

As I reach the end of the aisle, Chase reaches out and takes my hands, his thumb brushing along the inside of my wrist to steady me.

It’s not until I reach him, until I’m standing right in front of him in the middle of this backyard, surrounded by paper decorations and Solo cups and this unhinged group of humans, that I consider a runaway bride moment.

But just as I open my mouth, a tiny, sparkly blur darts in front of us.

“DEARLY BELOVED,” Meadow shouts, popping up between us on a bright pink step stool, holding a plastic wand.

Everyone jumps and Chase’s grin grows wider. I slowly close my eyes, regretting every choice that led me to be the bride for this weekend’s edition of wedding brunch role play.

“We are here today for my wedding of Auntie Zoe and Uncle Chasey that I planned with my brain.”

Somewhere behind me Logan cheers audibly, clearly delighted he’s finally managed to dodge a betrothal to Eli’s sister after a four-week streak of brunch matrimony.

“You may now do the vows,” Meadow declares, “but only if you mean them with yourheart.”

Jake claps loudly and far too enthusiastically. “Go on,Chasey! Give us something good!”

Charlie elbows him in the ribs and Lulu, positioned just behind me as maid of honor and spiritual guide, leans forward over my shoulder. “Brace yourself.”

Chase squeezes my hands and then, without a single goddamn flicker of hesitation, he launches in.

“I promise to always let you steal my fries,” he says, eyes locked on mine. “Even when you say you’re not hungry and order a salad, which we both know is a lie.”

There’s a snort from the second row. Reid, probably.

“I promise to let you win arguments in public—so I can win them in private.”

“Wow.”

Our friends laugh, but he’s still looking at me, completely unfazed.

“I promise to love you even when you leave your fake lashes on the bathroom counter like spider corpses, and I promise to provide enthusiastic feedback on all nail art designs. To bring you coffee and croissants when you're cranky, and rub your back when you're stubborn, and to never,everlet you walk through anything alone.”

The teasing falls out of his voice so fast it makes me stumble a little. He’s still watching me, still holding my hands as his voice goes soft.

“But mostly I promise that when this is real—because it will be, sweetheart—I won’t forget how lucky I am to have you.”

There’s a lump in my throat I definitely didn’t approve.

“Also,” he adds, “you look really hot in pretend wedding dresses.”

I know this is a game, Iknowit is. But Chase Walton doesn’t play fair.

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