Page 141 of Return to Us
“Jack, you were going on and on about some girl.”
“She’s no one. I honestly don’t remember half the night, and I . . . it’s nothing.”
“She doesn’t sound like it.”
Jack’s entire demeanor shifts, and he smiles widely. “We’re not talking about drunk hookups today, brother. It’s your wedding, and it’s about damn time we get out there. I see the Jeep coming down with your bride now.”
I want to push him, but this is Jack, and I know him well enough to know that it’s pointless to keep at it. Whoever this girl is, she clearly has him torn up, and until he’s ready to deal with it, he’ll just deny it.
Josh, Alex, and Oliver walk over in their sapphire-blue suits that match mine and Jack’s. The only difference between our outfits is that they have gold ties and mine is white.
We didn’t go all out with the wedding, but we wanted some of the traditional things to still happen.
I see Stella get out of the car, and she waves.
“It’s amazing that none of the guys we’ve chased away from her have pressed charges,” Josh notes.
Jack huffs. “Yeah, no guy wants to be in between you idiots.”
Damn right. We know Stella is beautiful and too good for any man.
“Which is why we left Gray here to make sure the wolves didn’t descend.”
I roll my eyes. “Please, I think Stella is the wolf.”
Oliver shakes his head. “He’s not lying. She’s scarier than the four of us.”
“Well, five if you count Jack, he’s like a brother.”
Jack laughs and nods. “You could say that.”
Next is Delia, and I look at Jack, who is staring at the girls. He hasn’t taken his eyes off them. I’m starting to think Jess was right when she said that he has a thing for Delia.
Josh clears his throat. “Aren’t you supposed to go help your bride?”
“I don’t know, Jess said something about no aisle and that she was going to walk here?”
Oliver slaps me on the back. “Way to fuck up your wedding before it starts. Didn’t you pay attention?”
“No,” I groan. “I was too busy making sure you fuckers didn’t get so drunk you couldn’t get here.”
Before I can argue or try to think about what the hell the directions were, Amelia hops out of the car, her hands going back and forth quickly as if she wants me to walk to her. When I move to take a step, I hear a chorus of, “No!”
“See, I am to stay here,” I say as though it was my plan.
And then . . . then my heart stops. The world stops turning as she exits the car.
The sun is behind her, peeking through the trees and casting the most beautiful halo around her, making it seem as if she’s glowing.
I know I’m supposed to stay here, but my legs want to go. It’s not until I feel Jack’s hand grab my forearm that I realize I was moving.
Jessica takes Amelia’s hand.
My sister comes toward us first, and when she gets to me, she kisses my cheek. “I’m proud of you.”
I laugh. “Thanks.”
Then she smiles at the rest of the crew behind me.
