Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Emily

The ceremony looks beautiful. It's small, intimate, cozy... There are probably only thirty guests in this reception. Most of whom are unfortunately related to Adam, since Josh's entire family has disowned him because of his sexuality. I mean, two or three of his cousins are here but that's it.

I can't help but think if I will be like Josh too, if I ever end up getting married. Who will show up? Adam and Josh, sure. Melanie would be there. Sabine might show up if she's not a rockstar yet... Elsie... if she doesn't hate me by then. Fuck, I'm definitely going to end up like Josh.

At least he doesn't look miserable.

Adam, on the other hand, has more than fifteen cousins and some colleagues and college buddies. Everyone, except him. He hasn't showed up yet. And I keep looking at the door, hoping that he'll walk in at any moment now.

My heart beats faster at the thought of our encounter. What's it going to be like? Is he going to ignore me? Is he going to walk in with a date?

My heart drops at the thought. I know that he's gorgeous and funny and kind and anything that a girl would want in a guy, yet, I pray that he hasn't found anyone yet. That I can still... get us back or whatever. I don't know.

"Emily, right?"

My thoughts are interrupted by a deep raspy voice.

Noah.

I'm taken back for a second. "Hey... Yeah, but you can call me Em."

He smiles - dimples. I take a moment to register the resemblance between him and Logan. His eyes are a soft caramel brown, in contrast to Logan's emerald green orbs. They have extremely similar features overall: the sharp jaw, high cheekbones, lashes that shouldn't be real. The only striking difference is that Logan's nose is a bit crooked, and that Noah's hair is way more curly.

Goddamn those Emerson genes.

Nevertheless, Noah looks nervous. He's fidgeting. "How are you? It's nice to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you."

From Jade. From Amy. From Adam. But not from Logan. Of course, not from Logan. I shouldn't let my thoughts go there. Because he hasn't been thinking of me. Has he?

"Same goes to you," I let out a small smile. "Golden boy of the Emersons."

He chuckles. "I hate that nickname. Too bad, it seems that it has a ring to it because everyone keeps calling me that."

"It does, actually."

Noah says something but my heart stops when I see him walk inside. Hair slicked back, white shirt, no tie, green eyes lighting up the room. He's here.

My stomach churns tightly as his eyes scan the room before they stop on me. God, in all the times that I've pictured our encounter, none of them entailed him looking like this.

Should I walk up to him? Should I say hello?

My eyes are frozen. I can't seem to look away. Not when his eyes are staring back at me. Not one when I thought that this day would never come. Not when today might be the last day I ever see him.

"Oh," Noah says when notices Logan. "I better leave you two to it then. It was nice meeting you."

I manage to nod back at him.

I take a deep breath and force my feet to walk towards him. I need to talk to him. I need to tell him that I still love him. That I want him back. That the new football coach sucks and the team misses him. That it's not too late.

Except that two steps later, someone calls him. The spell is broken.

Someone with crazy curly blonde hair, stunning blue eyes, straight out of a magazine.

It all hits me like a train. Mar. Of course.

She's in NYC. He's in NYC. She told him everything in the first place. Of course, they're still together. That makes so much sense. I don't know why my heart clenches tightly or it's too fucking hot in here. I don't know why it's difficult to breathe or why this dress suddenly feels tighter.

It's not like he would have waited for me. It's not like he still wants me.

So I take a deep breath and walk back, ignoring the feeling of my heart shattering into a gazillion pieces. Even though I've been there and done that before, he still has that power over me: the power to break me in a millisecond.

I spot Adam and Josh dancing, and they motion for me to join them.

I put on my fakest smile and try to bury all the hurt aside.

I look anywhere but him. I dance and sing and do my best to be happy for Adam.

But dinner hasn't even started yet and I can't help but feel the strong urge to puke my guts out.