“No worries, Harper. There’s no runaway bride here,” Quinn assures us.
Beth puts her hand on Quinn’s arm. “Honey, I have something for you, and I didn’t know when to give it to you, but I think now might be a good time.”
“What is it?”
She pulls out a small white box wrapped in a Cartier ribbon.
Steven stiffens.
“Your father—”
“Are you kidding me?” Steven growls.
The muscle in his thigh twitches, and I put my hand on it to calm him.
Beth jerks her head toward him and glares. “Don’t ruin this for your sister.”
“How dare you bring that man into Quinn’s day.”
“He’s her father, too—”
“He’s a sperm donor,” Steven barks.
Hope scrunches her face and wails.
“See what you did now?” Beth accuses.
“Don’t you dare—”
“Stop, both of you!” Quinn demands.
Silence, except for Hope’s little sobs.
Quinn holds out her hand. “Give it to me.”
Steven gasps in horror.
Beth smirks at Steven and places it in her palm. “Your father thought long and hard about what to get—”
Quinn rolls down the window and tosses it out.
“Quinn!” Beth scolds.
“Nothing is ruining my day.” She holds out her fist to Steven, and he gapes at her. “You going to leave a bride hanging?”
He chuckles and bumps her fist with his.
“Now, stop crying my baby girl.” Quinn stretches her arms, and Hope clutches her pinky.
“I don’t know why you two—”
“Leave it, Mom,” Steven warns.
She purses her lips and looks out the window.
Steven takes a deep breath, but his thigh is still twitching. His hand is on it, and I put mine next to his so our pinky’s touch.
While his mom pouts and Quinn focuses on Hope, we sneak a glance at one another. I don’t know what is going on or the story behind their father. All I know is he isn’t a permanent fixture in their life, and Steven is walking Quinn down the aisle. But I see the pain and stress in his eyes.
I offer him a small smile and stroke his finger with mine. His eyes change, and he swallows hard. The expressionless face returns, and I don’t know how to take it. It’s like he’s analyzing me. I don’t know whether to be offended or not. Nerves flutter in my belly.
The car parks and the driver opens the door. Quinn unlatches Hope and gets out first. Beth follows. Steven puts his hand on my back and motions for me to go.
I start to move off the seat but stop. “Hey.”
“Yeah?”
“Are you okay?”
“Yep. Just another typical move on my mom’s part. Well, my sperm donor’s, too.”
I open my mouth but shut it, not sure what I should say.
“You really do look beautiful.”
“Thank you. So do you.”
“It’s the tux.” He winks.
Nope. It’s everything about you.
How is it possible for a guy to be so sexy?
I step out of the limo, and he places his hand on my lower back and escorts me inside. I lean into him and try to pry myself away from him, but my body doesn’t cooperate. It molds next to his as if we’re yin and yang.
And maybe we are. But everything about his touch feels right.
He guides me to my seat, which is across the aisle from where he will sit. I reluctantly let go of his arm. Anna is in the row behind me with Mitch. She looks upset.
I lean in to hug her. “You okay?” I quietly ask in her ear.
“Mm-hmm,” she says and has a smile on her face when I pull back, but something is wrong.
“Hey, Mitch.”
He says nothing and nods at me with pursed lips.
Jackass.
She can do so much better.
I turn toward my brother. Jamie is beaming, and I’ve never seen him so happy. And if anyone deserves their happily ever after, it’s him and Quinn.
When the music starts, and everyone stands and turns, all eyes are on the bride, but I can’t take mine off Steven.
As soon as he hands Quinn off, my brother cups her face and kisses her. The guests all cheer, but the bride and groom’s eyes never leave the other. In their vows, they each promise to always make the other their number one priority and love each other above all else, more than paper.
Tears stream down my face, and I have no tissues to wipe them away with. It’s beautiful and real and unconditional. They are fully devoted to each other.
And as happy as I am for them, the sting of my failed marriage rears its ugly head.
I never had a love more than paper. And it hits me hard how badly I want it. But I don’t know if I’ll ever find it. I thought on my wedding day, Ian and I had it, but I discovered he began cheating on me within the first month of our marriage.
It makes me question if it’s him or me.
Is he just incapable of real love, or am I not worthy of being loved?
It’s not the first time I’ve asked myself this, but it’s the only time I’ve questioned things in public.
When the ceremony is over, and Quinn and Jamison walk down the aisle, I’m a silent mess. My parents step out of the row, and when I follow, Steven moves next to me, hands me his handkerchief out of his coat pocket, and puts his hand on my back. I don’t dare glance up at him. I’m afraid all my thoughts will come to light, and everyone around me, including him, will know my greatest fear, that it’s me; that I am the unlovable one.
When we get outside to the reception area, Steven leads me to a standing table as far away from the crowd as possible.
“Sorry, I think I ruined your handkerchief.”
He smiles. “Weddings will do that.”
I sniffle. “Yeah. I probably look a mess right now.”
“No, you look beautiful.” He says it with so much finality, I almost believe him.
Silence.
“I’m sorry about the car ride,” he blurts.
“You don’t need to be sorry. I’m sure you have your reasons for how you feel.”
A line forms between his eyes, and he opens his mouth but shuts it quickly.
I put my hand on his arm. “It’s okay. Really. It was actually pretty awesome to watch Quinn throw a Cartier box out the window.”
A smile grows on his lips. “Yeah, she handled it way better than I did.”
I hesitate but ask, “Does your mom get along with your father? Sorry, I mean, sperm donor?”
The blue in his eyes darkens. “You just asked a loaded question. Can I answer it a different day?”
“Sure.”
“Thanks.”
The waitress comes by with a tray of champagne.
Steven takes two and hands me one. “Cheers.”
I clink his glass. Anna comes over with Mitch. He has a moody look on his face, and Anna looks upset.
“Ma’am, can we have two more, please?” Steven asks the waitress, and she returns with two glasses. He hands a drink to each of them then sticks his hand out. “I’m Steven.”
Mitch takes a sip and nods.
Anna shakes it. “I’m Chase’s sister, Anna. This is my boyfriend, Mitch.”
“Quinn’s brother, Steven.”