Page 55 of Wedding Bet

She let out a low chuckle, and just then, the string quartet at the front corner of the room started up with music. Almost all of the chairs were full now, and the wedding was about to start.

“My lifelong husband and high school sweetheart Gerald died six years ago, unexpectedly, from a sudden heart attack. Healthiest man I ever knew. Healthier than me, by far. But after three years of feeling like my life had been swallowed up and spit out, I found love again. Buying potatoes at the farmer’s market, for heaven’s sake.”

“That’s beautiful, Marianne,” I said softly. With the backdrop of beautiful classical music, her little story was even more moving.

She gave a nod. “Close yourself off to love, and you close yourself off tolife,” she told me, fixing two radiant green eyes on mine. “I learned the hard way. Oh, goodness, they’re starting to walk out, sugar! Hush up for the ceremony.”

As I turned backward again, I saw that everyone was finally taking their seats, getting ready to watch the aisle. My eyes scanned the seats for Jamie, but I couldn’t find him. It wasanother minute before I finally saw the tuft of his hair, tucked in the far back corner of the room, as he sat down in one of the last remaining seats.

Something settled instantly in my heart.

Knowing he was safe.

Knowing I hadn’t completely ruined his day, just because I’d had no clue what to do with him or say to him earlier. Being in the same room as Jamie felt better than being without him, and it was a scary thing to realize.

No more falling for people, I’d told myself a year ago, and I had meant it.

You fall so hard, so fast, and it always ends up with you hurt.

So then why did it feel impossible that Jamie could ever hurt me?

After the music had been playing for a bit, Marianne let out a soft sob as Chase’s mom walked down the aisle next to him, leading him down to where Adam stood at the front.

I glanced over to Jamie and saw him wipe away a tear, and as expected, Marianne had tears streaming down her face as well. I even spotted Parker and his new fiance, together at the back of the room, their eyes welling up. Shawn, Nathan, Emmett, and the rest of the Fixer Brothers crew were all smiling and crying at the same time. The whole room seemed to erupt into emotion.

I stood there, proud, wishing I could cry.

I was so happy for Chase and Adam that I could feel it in my bones, but the tears wouldn’t come. Had something truly broken inside me for good a year ago?

As the ceremony continued, Marianne reached over to grab my hand. I held hers, and we watched as Adam and Chase read each other their vows.

It was everything I used to want so badly. And now, I just felt numb.

After they were declared married and kissed, the room rang out with applause. It had gone by in a flash, and as the wedding party left the room, Marianne cheered. Some tension inside me released, knowing I wouldn’t have to be trapped in this beautiful ballroom with my ex, the sweet person I’d hurt earlier today, and myself.

“Now it’s time for the best part,” she leaned over and said to me. “Cocktail hour, then party time. And Idoplan on having a good time tonight.”

I smiled, grateful for her company. I nodded once. “I’m ready to party, too. I’ll walk over with you.”

I accompanied her down the hallway to the bar lounge. Cocktail hour was being held here, and for the first time all week, the big, wooden double doors at the far end of the lounge were wide open, revealing a hall set up with tables, a dance floor, and more flowers and twinkly lights than I’d ever seen in one place.

It was stunning. Floor-to-ceiling windows covered the walls in the reception hall, with some of the most beautiful views of the mountains I’d ever seen.

“Isn’t thatmagical?” Marianne mused. “It’s like a dream.”

“No kidding.”

“Oh! There’s Helen and Jennifer. I have to go say hello,” she told me. She turned back to me, squeezing my hand. “Thank you for your company, Landry. And remember, don’t ever close your heart to love. That’s some southern, old-lady wisdom for you, and you won’t regret it.”

I squeezed her hand back. “You’re a joy, Marianne. I’ll find you later on the dance floor.”

She nodded sharply, her hat dipping. “You better believe it,” she said. “I never miss a chance to dance. Bye now.”

She floated off to greet her friends and I leaned over the bar, which was one big, round oak circle at the center of the room. Igot a whiskey on the rocks and leaned back, letting my eyes close as I took the first sip.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and when I turned, I saw Jamie’s face.

He looked better than ever. His outfit for the wedding was a perfectly fitted slate grey suit, one that brought out the blue of his eyes like they were two oceans against a storm. The faint dusting of freckles atop each of his cheeks was enough to pull me back under his spell.

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