similar version of Erin’s dress, only designed for a child. I scan the room until my eyes lock dead on Antonio’s. He stands next to Camillia and Vincent, his parents. The room is too dark for me to make out his expression; all I know is, as soon as our gazes connect, he quickly diverts his to the front.
A pang of hurt courses through me. God, I am such a fuck up, but know is not the time for me to think about it. It’s time for me to take hold of my big sister’s hand and walk her down the aisle to the handsome man dressed in black.
All the emotions inside of me fade away as I listen to Adam recite his vows to my sister. She deserves happiness more than anyone. Her road to meeting this man has been a long one, a road no one should ever have to endure... but she’s here. I don’t stop the tears that flow freely down my face as the minister pronounces them husband and wife.
Erin throws me a wink as she and Adam each take one of Sierra’s hands and the three of them walk down the aisle. The perfect family portrait has everyone sniffling. Even Luke and Bubba have unshed tears in their eyes, I notice, as I make my way behind the trio on Luke’s arm.
When I walk past Antonio, he is staring down at the ground. What the heck happened to the demanding man from last night, the one who all but forced me to talk to him? This man looks beaten, almost like a lost little boy. My heart actually breaks when he doesn’t look up from the floor at all as we glide past him and his parents.
************
“I must say, I am impressed with dinner, Adam,” says Markus, finishing off his steak and lobster.
“Thanks, man,” says Adam somberly. “McGuire’s was my mom’s favorite place to eat, and with her being gone, it was my way of having her here with all of us.”
The room instantly turns quiet at the mention of Adam’s mom, Judy. Erin leans in and places a tender kiss on his cheek. After an awkward silence, Shayne clears her throat and with tears in her eyes tells everyone how happy she is, knowing Judy would be so joyful that both she and Adam have found love and happiness.
After the caterers remove all of our plates, we all stand up to see Erin and Adam off as they have a flight to catch and their drive to the airport is nearly three hours.
“The wedding was absolutely perfect! Small and quaint, just like we wanted it. Thank you for sharing our special day with us,” Erin beams as Adam places her cape around her.
Sierra runs into her parents’ arms as they say goodbye. This must be so hard for them right now. Erin has never left Sierra like this before. She peers at me through shimmering eyes.
“She’ll be fine,” I whisper into my sister’s ear as I hug her tightly, saying my goodbye. “This is your honeymoon. I want details when you get back.”
“Details? I don’t think so, you ass. Like you said, this is my honeymoon. I’m not sharing details, not even with you.”
“You dip shit. I don’t want to know those details. Good God, no, you horny bitch. I want details about Adam’s reaction when you tell him about the baby.”
Her smile spreads so wide across her face that it makes me want to snatch it up and plaster it across mine, as genuine and infectious as it is.
“Oh! I plan on telling him as soon as we get to our hotel.”
Erin pulls me off to the side as if she has to tell me a secret. She looks serious-minded, all joking cast aside as she grips both of my hands.
“Hey. Listen to me for a minute before you interrupt, okay?”
I nod curiously.
“I’m not oblivious or blind, Shelby. You really need to talk to Antonio. He came here alone. Do you hear me? Alone, and I know it’s because of you.”
I roll my eyes thinking, not this again . I go to speak and she cuts me right off.
“No. Listen to me!” she hisses. “You may not notice the way he looks at you, but I do. Now I am not saying you have to jump in bed with him and give up what you have been holding onto for so long.
A pang of hurt courses through me. God, I am such a fuck up, but know is not the time for me to think about it. It’s time for me to take hold of my big sister’s hand and walk her down the aisle to the handsome man dressed in black.
All the emotions inside of me fade away as I listen to Adam recite his vows to my sister. She deserves happiness more than anyone. Her road to meeting this man has been a long one, a road no one should ever have to endure... but she’s here. I don’t stop the tears that flow freely down my face as the minister pronounces them husband and wife.
Erin throws me a wink as she and Adam each take one of Sierra’s hands and the three of them walk down the aisle. The perfect family portrait has everyone sniffling. Even Luke and Bubba have unshed tears in their eyes, I notice, as I make my way behind the trio on Luke’s arm.
When I walk past Antonio, he is staring down at the ground. What the heck happened to the demanding man from last night, the one who all but forced me to talk to him? This man looks beaten, almost like a lost little boy. My heart actually breaks when he doesn’t look up from the floor at all as we glide past him and his parents.
************
“I must say, I am impressed with dinner, Adam,” says Markus, finishing off his steak and lobster.
“Thanks, man,” says Adam somberly. “McGuire’s was my mom’s favorite place to eat, and with her being gone, it was my way of having her here with all of us.”
The room instantly turns quiet at the mention of Adam’s mom, Judy. Erin leans in and places a tender kiss on his cheek. After an awkward silence, Shayne clears her throat and with tears in her eyes tells everyone how happy she is, knowing Judy would be so joyful that both she and Adam have found love and happiness.
After the caterers remove all of our plates, we all stand up to see Erin and Adam off as they have a flight to catch and their drive to the airport is nearly three hours.
“The wedding was absolutely perfect! Small and quaint, just like we wanted it. Thank you for sharing our special day with us,” Erin beams as Adam places her cape around her.
Sierra runs into her parents’ arms as they say goodbye. This must be so hard for them right now. Erin has never left Sierra like this before. She peers at me through shimmering eyes.
“She’ll be fine,” I whisper into my sister’s ear as I hug her tightly, saying my goodbye. “This is your honeymoon. I want details when you get back.”
“Details? I don’t think so, you ass. Like you said, this is my honeymoon. I’m not sharing details, not even with you.”
“You dip shit. I don’t want to know those details. Good God, no, you horny bitch. I want details about Adam’s reaction when you tell him about the baby.”
Her smile spreads so wide across her face that it makes me want to snatch it up and plaster it across mine, as genuine and infectious as it is.
“Oh! I plan on telling him as soon as we get to our hotel.”
Erin pulls me off to the side as if she has to tell me a secret. She looks serious-minded, all joking cast aside as she grips both of my hands.
“Hey. Listen to me for a minute before you interrupt, okay?”
I nod curiously.
“I’m not oblivious or blind, Shelby. You really need to talk to Antonio. He came here alone. Do you hear me? Alone, and I know it’s because of you.”
I roll my eyes thinking, not this again . I go to speak and she cuts me right off.
“No. Listen to me!” she hisses. “You may not notice the way he looks at you, but I do. Now I am not saying you have to jump in bed with him and give up what you have been holding onto for so long.
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