Page 53 of Nashville Cowboy
Each bridesmaid held a fake bouquet filled with bright ribbons and Jackson noticed Eve’s hands were shaking. Either that, or some critter was caught in the arrangement.
He reached for her hand and squeezed it. “I’ve got you, baby.”
This earned him a wistful smile.
The line moved, and ahead of him, Sadie’s friend Lucy took the arm of Lincoln’s best friend, Wade, and they moved down the line.
“Let’s do this,” Jackson said quietly, and offered his arm.
Eve linked her arm with his and slowly walked beside him in time to the organist. Her arm felt soft and warm. She appeared to be in some sort of trance. Her eyes were staring straight ahead, no smile, walking zombie-like to the altar.
This moment was probably hardest on her. When sides were taken, most everyone rallied to his defense. At the time, he’d appreciated it. Now, not so much. He felt very protective about Eve and on the actual wedding day, if anyone dared say a word to her or so much as snicker, they’d have to deal with him.
He and Eve separated at the altar and she went to the bridesmaids’ side, while he joined the other groomsmen. The organist played the wedding march and everyone’s attention went to the bride as she prepared to walk down the aisle and join Lincoln. Everyone except for Jackson, who was watching his brother. He had such a gobsmacked, love-struck look on his face that for a moment Jackson thought he’d be sick. His stomach clenched uncomfortably while the rest of the family stared with awed smiles and starry eyes. He should be happy for Lincoln but instead he was terrified for him.
He could lose her. Lose everything. Maybe not today, or on the wedding day, but later. Marriages didn’t always work out. His parents were a perfect example. Eve’s parents, too. For those that actually made it to the altar, fifty percent of them ended in divorce. He didn’t see how everyone else could be so damn hopeful. He looked to Eve, and she was equally starry-eyed as she smiled at Sadie, her eyes shimmering.
That hit him harder than he would have imagined. Eve, after all she’d been through, believed in love. Believed in forever.
Finally, the ordeal was over, and they all filed out again. At the back of the chapel, he was one of the first to rush through the chapel doors where he could catch his breath. A small crowd dispersed to their vehicles, and Jackson did a fairly good job ignoring the fact that Eve piled into a car with Mima and Beau, Sadie’s very single brother. Jackson drove Hank to the Wild Rose, where they’d be having the so-called “fancy” dinner.
He walked in front of Hank, opening the door for him. Then Jackson strode over to the no-host bar and ordered himself a double.
He found Lincoln, already taking a seat next to Sadie at the main table. Others were still milling about, chatting, and finding their seats. Sadie’s parents and Beau, the other bridesmaids and groomsmen. All people he knew but hadn’t seen or talked to since he’d been back.
“You’re really doing this,” Jackson said, clapping Lincoln on the shoulder. “Gettin’ hitched.”
“Can’t wait to make this woman my wife.” He tenderly kissed Sadie.
“Y’all won’t have to wait much longer.”
“You okay?” Lincoln asked.
“Sure.”
Jackson narrowed his eyes. Eve now had her hand on Beau’s shoulder, leaning in to say something to him. He needed another stiff drink. Maybe he’d get his Dad to drive them back.
They’d be eating soon, and Jackson figured he’d get another drink in the meantime. He noticed that Eve had walked over to the bar alone, and it was as good a time as any.
“White wine spritzer, please,” Eve ordered and then she noticed him. “Hi again, you.”
“Hey, you.” He ordered a single shot this time, deciding to pace himself. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, and so do you. I mean, handsome. Not…not beautiful.”
“I don’t know about you, but that was easier than I thought it would be. Walking down the aisle with you.”
“Oh, me too. So easy.”
“Eve…”
There were a million things he wanted to say to her. He wanted to ask her whether she’d ever consider coming out to Nashville to visit him. Whether she’d ever consider giving them another chance.
He was one sick puppy. Lovesick, and getting way ahead of himself. Eightyears. They’d spent eight years apart and frankly weren’t the same two people anymore. There was no getting around that fact. She was still dealing with the repercussions from her past, and so was he.
“What?”
I love you.He wanted to have the guts to say it when she was wide awake.
