Chapter 24: : Chapter 24

The bridesmaids are gathered downstairs for the procession. The guests are all waiting.

There’s nothing left to do but walk down the aisle.

My mother helps me with my train as I walk down the hall and to the elevator. Mimi is waiting there. “You look beautiful!” Mimi says to me as we crowd my big ol’ Cinderella dress into it.

“Thank you, Mimi.”

“But am I wrong, or are you not happy?”

I force a smile. “What do you mean? I’m happy. Just nervous.”

“I agree.” My mother gives me a sideways glance. “I know you when you’re nervous. This isn’t it. There’s something bothering you.”

Of course my mother knows. Other than Eva, my mother is my best friend. “I’m okay.”

My mother scans my dress from top to bottom to make sure I’m perfect. Then she leans over and kisses my cheek. “It’s never too late, you know.”

“For what?”

My mother smiles. “To change your mind.”

I look at both of them. They can’t be serious. “Of course I wouldn’t—”

“Well, your grandmother and I have been talking. And we know how some of this can seem a little like a boulder, rolling downhill. Gathering momentum until you can’t do anything to stop it. But it’s not.”

I titter. “Oh, please. Tell that to Dad. He’d kick my ass if I backed out now.”

My mother shakes her head. “He’d agree with us. The last thing he’d want is to see you unhappy. Besides, divorces are expensive, too.”

Mimi nods. “And this? It’s just money. It means nothing. Love? That means everything, sweetheart.”

The elevator doors slide open and they’re staring at me, as if expecting me to tell them something.

I wave them out the door. “Thanks for the advice. But really, the only thing I’m worried about is not tripping up the aisle. This is going to be great.”

They’re still eying me suspiciously, as if they don’t believe me.

“Honestly! Now shoo!”

They shrug at each other. They each give me another kiss and head through the lobby, to take the arms of the ushers who are waiting to guide them to their seats. Beyond the double doors, I see rows and rows of people, dressed in their best, and the bridesmaids, all waiting for me.

This is it.

I close my eyes and suck in a breath. You can do this. You will become Mrs. Aaron Eberhart and your dreams will come true.

Before I can take one step, a hand clamps around my arm and draws me down a darkened corridor. I stumble over my gown and find myself in a coat closet, face-to-face with Miles Foster.

My heart starts thudding crazily in my chest.

He smells like soap and shampoo, so he must’ve had the time to shower. He’s wearing the same gray suit I helped Aaron pick out for all of his groomsmen. I realize I’ve never seen him in one before. Damn him for looking so irresistibly edible.

Then I notice the angry black eye and busted lower lip. “Oh, my god. Are you—”

I try to touch him, but he flinches. “Don’t. It’s okay.”

“No, it’s—”

“It is, Lia. But don’t worry. I didn’t hit his face. So your pictures will be perfect.”

I want to sob at how he’s always thinking about me and what I must want. “I don’t care about that!” I cry, my eyes stinging immediately.

“Look. Eva said you wanted to talk to me, and I wanted to talk to you, too. I’m sorry about everything. It was so wrong, what I did. I know that. I shouldn’t have told you when and how I did. All the same, I’m not sorry I said it.” He takes a breath. “I wanted you to know that after tonight, when I give the best man speech, I’m gone. I won’t intrude. I’ll never see you two again. All right?”

I shake my head. I know why it needs to happen, and yet every part of me is refusing. “I’ll never see you again?”

“Yeah. I think I owe you two that. I’ve done enough damage.”

I shake my head more. “No. You can’t. You just can’t.”

He steps back and his gaze drops from my eyes, to my lips, to my dress and my veil, as if he’s committing it all to memory. “God, Lia, you’re the most beautiful bride I ever saw. The most beautiful woman, period. I never stopped believing that.”

More tears prick the corners of my eyes. “Miles—”

“And you are special. What did you say before? You needed this wedding because you had nothing else going for you?” He shakes his head. “You are everything, Lia. Sweet, kind, beautiful, smart, and a hell of a good chess player, too.”

My face crumples because I’m trying not to cry. “So are you. Miles, you’re—”

He hands me a handkerchief. “I’m sorry. Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you cry.”

I dab at my eyes, but the waterfall is starting to flow. He’s the only man who’s ever had that effect on me.

I want to say a thousand things and feel like all my energy is focused on not crying right now. On not pressing into him and begging him to make everything go away.

He cups my face, then sweeps his lips over my forehead, very gently. “I wish you and Aaron every happiness,” he murmurs, with such a heartbreakingly sad smile. “My two favorite people in the world.”

Then he steps away from me and smooths his jacket, his tie. “I’ll see you in there.”

He starts to leave, his shoes sweeping on the hardwood floor, and all I can think is that I’ll never see him again. He’ll be walking out of my life, for good.

I can’t let him go.

“Miles!” I shout, my voice hoarse. The tears are coming harder now.

He stops and turns.

“I love you,” I whisper. “I love you, too.”

The heartbreaking smile returns. But he doesn’t say a word.

He simply turns back, opens the door, and walks away from me.