Page 70 of Merry Little Sugar Rush
“They’ll appreciate that.”
He slaps me on the back of the shoulder and gives it a squeeze. “Good to see you. I’m about to go have my first view of the bride and prepare to walk her down the aisle.” He looks at his youngest daughter and smiles. “I’ll see you in there in a few minutes.”
Joy nods and accepts a kiss on her cheek from her dad. When he leaves us alone, stepping inside one of the closed doors to the side of the space, she returns her attention to me. “I should get back in there. The ceremony will be starting soon.”
I bring our linked hands to my mouth and place a kiss on her knuckles. “I’ll see you in a bit.”
She goes up on her tiptoes as she leans in for a kiss. I oblige willingly, wishing we were alone so I could ravish her. That would probably be frowned upon in the middle of a church on Christmas Day, so I keep my actions PG and break the kiss before I can act on the inappropriate thoughts plaguing my brain.
I watch as she walks away, entering through the same doorway her dad went just a short bit ago. When the door is closed soundly behind her, I turn my attention to the church. Instantly, I recognize almost everyone here. John, the groom, is standing in the middle of the main aisle, smiling and shaking hands with everyone who enters.
As I approach, he turns his attention my way. “Burk, glad you could join us.”
“Appreciate the extended invite.”
“We don’t have sides, but I believe Ray and Cindy asked for you to sit behind them,” John informs me, surprising me with the gesture.
John walks toward the front of the church and points to a pew. “Ariel is going to join you in a few minutes. I believe she’s in with my bride. Oh, and thank you for making the arch. It’s absolutely beautiful work.”
“You’re very welcome. I was happy to do it.” I slip into the pew and move toward the end to ensure there’s plenty of room for anyone else. I feel odd sitting so close to the front, especially when there are other people who are close to the bride and groom. I’m just Joy’s friend, but even as I think that, it doesn’t sit right. I’m her friend, yes, but my heart screams for more.
Iammore than just a friend.
I’m the man who fell in love with her.
Soft instrumental Christmas music fills the room as everyone takes a seat. My eyes are pulled to the back of the room as Ariel exits the small room housing the bride and makes her way toward me. She pauses, giving John a hug and a kiss on the cheek before sliding into the pew. “Hi, Burk,” she greets.
“Ariel, good to see you again,” I tell her.
All eyes move to the back of the chapel as John escorts his mom and grandma down the aisle. He leads them to the front, directly behind where he will be standing, and gives them both a big hug and kiss on the cheek. Next, he returns to the back and offers an arm to Cindy, Joy and Eve’s mom. He does the same for her, escorting her to the other front pew and accepting a big hug from his future mother-in-law.
Then, he walks to the altar, directly in front of the arch I made for them and turns his attention to the back of the room. His old friend, Linus McCaffrey, joins him as his best man, and together, they wait for the bride.
My eyes are drawn to the back of the room, as if sensing Joy’s appearance. She steps out of the room, wearing a beaming smile and tears in her eyes as she slowly makes her way to the frontof the chapel. She glances my way and winks before stepping opposite Linus and watching for her sister’s arrival.
The music changes to “The Wedding March,” and everyone inside the small church stands. On the arm of her father, Eve steps into the chapel and walks toward John. While the bride is absolutely stunning, I find myself looking toward the groom. To the man who is about to commit his life and love to this one woman for the rest of his life. Envy fills my soul, not because of who he has, but simply what.
He has the woman he loves for the rest of his life.
My eyes move to Joy, who has tears streaming down her face as she watches her sister approach the groom. There’s so much happiness radiating off her, so much love for her big sister, I can feel it all the way over here.
She deserves this.
She deserves to be loved.
She deserves to hear me say the words.
I’ll be honest, I don’t really pay much attention to the ceremony. I’m focused on the maid of honor. I memorize everything about her, the curve of her body, the way her hair frames her face, the way she bites down on her bottom lip when she’s trying to hold back more tears. The way she smiles at John when he’s reciting his vows to Eve. I take it all in, committing every single detail to memory. In fifty years, I may not be able to recall the wedding, but I’ll be damned sure I’ll recollect everything about Joy Campbell.
Every. Fucking. Thing.
I realize in this moment I want Joy.
I want her tomorrow.
I want her forever, if she’ll have me.
There’s no way I can leave her. It would be equivalent to cutting my heart from my chest and walking away from it. I can’t—no, I won’t do it.
