Page 56 of Keeper
“Good because nothing can get me down today, baby bro. My future wife is fucking incredible.” He wraps his arms around me and pats my back with a hearty hug.
I can’t help but laugh. “Because she agreed to marry you?”
He shakes his head. “She went into the hospital early this morning, saved a twenty-nine-week-old foetus, and she’s back there looking more fucking beautiful than the day I fell in love with her.” His happiness is boiling over.
I clench my teeth and smile. “I’m happy for you.”
“Let’s get married,” he says and gives me a shove toward the makeshift altar.
I rejoin Sidney while Poppy and Andrew sit on the other side of the aisle directly across from us. She continues to avoid my gaze as the preacher asks us all to rise.
The guitar duo’s amp erupts into a stunning instrumental version of U2’s, “With or Without You.” The music swells, their rhythmic strumming echoing off the empty seats of Tower Park. Goosebumps crawl up the back of my neck.
When the male’s voice begins crooning, Belle appears from the tunnel. She’s dressed in a red floor-length gown, her long dark hair swept off to one side. She looks beautiful, but she’s just standing there crying. Full on crying so hard that she’s stuck in her tracks, trying to collect herself enough to move. Indie rushes toward her, and I glance back at Tanner, whose face is contorted with emotion. But he remains firmly in place at the altar, stoic as he can be with tears streaming down his face.
Indie reaches Belle and nods at her in encouragement. The two share a quiet word and then Belle grabs Indie’s hand. They walk the rest of the way together. Strong. Loving. A friend giving away a friend.
When they pass by me, my eyes find Poppy, who’s no longer avoiding my gaze. She’s looking at me, her eyes pools of tears as she watches me with a sombre expression. Andrew whispers in her ear and then takes her hand in his, squeezing.
She shouldn’t be with him.
She should be with me.
She should be in the chair beside me.
She should be holding my hand.
She should bemine.
And that thought terrifies me.
The preacher says some words. Belle cries some more. Tanner wipes her tears. They exchange vows. They make promises. They put rings on each other’s fingers.
And then…they kiss.
Music erupts. Hugs are exchanged. Congratulations are given. And I’m just floating around all of it, trying not to get too close. If I give way to what I’m feeling, there’s no telling what might happen.
After the service, the photographer takes clusters of people away for more photos while the rest of us congregate at the bar. Sidney is latched onto my arm, but I’m so far inside my head, I don’t even know if I’m responding to her at this point.
A glass of red wine is shoved into my hand and then Sidney drags me over to the table where Poppy and Andrew are sitting. Poppy looks better now. No longer emotional. Her eyes are narrowed on Sidney as we approach.
“Poppy McAdams, how are you?” Sidney peals and reaches out to hug her. “Or do you have a new last name?” Sidney looks over at Andrew. “Are you Poppy’s husband or…?”
Hearing the word husband attached to Poppy has me grinding my teeth.
“Friend,” I bark out, though I’m not convinced he deserves that title.
Poppy eyes me. “Date,” she deadpans and then turns to smile sweetly at Sidney. “This is Andrew William. Andrew, this is Sidney Carmichael.”
Sidney’s smile is tight. “Nice to meet you.” She diverts her eyes back to Poppy. “It’s been years, Poppy! I hardly recognised you with that interesting haircut. What brings you back to London? Last I heard, you were living in Germany.”
“I got a job teaching German to Year 7’s in Hoxton,” Poppy answers, sipping her wine.
“Oh, how exciting!” Sidney exclaims, folding her hands on the table. “And where are you living?”
Poppy lets out a loud laugh and then looks at me with wide, blinking eyes. “Booker didn’t mention that I’m his flatmate?” She continues to laugh like it’s the funniest thing in the universe.
Sidney looks as though she’s been slapped. Smiling around the rim of her wine glass, she replies, “No, it didn’t come up. We’ve been busy catching up. It’s been a few months since I saw him last.”
