When he’d seen Lucas sitting in the pew next to her, his gut clenched. When she’d walked up to Mitchell and kissed him, he felt like his whole world was being ripped apart.
Doesn’t she know I love her?
How could she know? He’d been so cold to her ever since the breakup.
It’s all my fault.
She would never be able to forgive him. It would be best for him to just fade into the background and let her have a future with his brothers. He could picture them having a happy life together—Phoebe in between Lucas and Mitchell, walking around town, smiling and holding their children’s hands.
I could never face that. The last three years without her had been horrible, but seeing her in the arms of his brothers without him—that would be tragedy.
I won’t be able to stay here. I will have to leave Destiny and my brothers. I will have to leave Phoebe.
He curled his hands into fists and closed his eyes. How long he stayed that way, he wasn’t sure. Seconds? Minutes? Who knew? Every moment without her was like an eternity of emptiness.
The sound of the wedding march started up.
Not wanting to think anymore about the hell he was facing, Jason walked back into the chapel. The place was packed to standing room only. He moved to one of the columns in the back, his eyes zeroing in on Phoebe, still sitting by Lucas.
Mitchell and his band played When I Fall In Love, one of the standards they always performed at weddings. But Jason had never heard it sung by Wolfe Mayhem’s new lead singer, Kaylyn. Her voice was like an angel and reached deep into him, transporting him back to a time when he’d dreamed of being with Phoebe forever, of sharing the love of his life with his brothers.
His gaze never left Phoebe, even when Jena shared her personal wedding vows to Matt and Sean, her two grooms. The trio were outsiders, new to Destiny, but had found love. Why can’t I have my dream? Growing up here, he’d fallen for Phoebe so long ago that he couldn’t remember a time not loving her.
As Matt began his vows, Jason’s mind drifted to the wedding talk with Phoebe and his brothers. He could picture the whole thing in his mind. He would stand in between his brothers facing their bride, the most beautiful woman in the world.
Suddenly, the band fired up the wedding recessional tune, snapping him out of his thoughts.
The service was over.
He wasn’t the groom.
This wasn’t his wedding.
Phoebe wasn’t his wife.
As the attendees turned to watch the new family head down the aisle, his eyes locked with the woman of his dreams for a moment.
She wasn’t his. Not anymore. Not for a long time.
He broke free of her stare.
Phoebe deserved a chance at happiness.
Lucas and Mitchell will give her a good life.
He slipped out the back, once again, needing time alone—time to think.
&n
bsp; * * * *
Phoebe couldn’t hold back her trembles. Seeing Jason walk out the back door of the chapel crushed her heart.
“What’s wrong?” Lucas whispered, pulling her in close.
“Jason saw me kissing Mitchell. I didn’t know what to do.”
“I’m sure he’s confused and upset.”