Page 71 of A Moment for Us
“That being like this, pretending that neither of us feel something more than this, is what’s hurting us both.”
* * *
“To the bride and groom!” Grayson lifts his glass, and we all follow the gesture.
I glance over at Delia, who is drinking sparkling cider from her champagne flute. She looks so happy and carefree. I hate that the only reason she’s happy is because she’s around everyone other than me. Delia and I were doing fine before today. I was keeping my head down, working on the renovations, and doing everything humanly possible not to think about my current mess of a life.
Stella and Jack head my way. My sister looks absolutely stunning with a smile showing her joy.
I extend my hand to my new brother. “Jack, really happy for you.”
“Thanks, Josh. I’m a lucky man.”
“That you are.”
Stella shrugs. “I am a treasure.”
“So you say.”
We laugh, and he kisses her cheek. “I’m going to grab Kinsley and convince her to dance.”
“Good luck,” I tell him. All of her uncles have already tried to get her to dance, and she told each of us that she was keeping her options open. She’s so her mother’s daughter.
Jack heads off, and Stella grabs a drink from the bartender.
Sure enough, a minute later, Jack has his daughter on the dance floor, a wide smile on her face as her father spins her.
“He’s a good dad,” I say, wondering if that will be me one day.
“She makes it easy to be. I will never be able to express the joy she brings us.”
“I’m glad, Stell. You deserve it.”
She smiles and then lifts her hand to my cheek. “As do you, big brother.”
“I’m getting there.”
She rolls her eyes before turning her attention back to her husband and daughter. As the song ends, she turns back to me. “You look sad, Josh. I don’t like seeing you this way.”
“How could I look sad when I’m so happy for you and Jack?”
“That’s not what I mean, and you know it. You keep looking over at Delia.”
Like a moth to a flame, my eyes go there again. “I hurt her again.”
She takes my hand in hers. “Then stop denying you’re in love with her and that you’re not worthy of love. Now, before you launch into some stupid excuse, I came over here for a reason.”
“And what would that be?” I ask.
“Would you dance with me as my big brother who gave me away?”
“It would be my honor.”
I know it was difficult for Stella not to have our father here. Regardless of the fact that he’s a piece of shit, she loved him. We all did. My brothers and I did what we could to make the loss easier, which means anything she asked for, she got.
The DJ comes over the system, asking for everyone to please make their way to the dance floor as the bride is going to dance with her oldest brother.
“Why is he announcing this?”
