As we walked down the hallway towards the stairs all that could be heard was the swish of our dresses as we walked, and the violin music coming from outside near the specially built gazebo where the wedding was taking place.
Butterflies were flying around in my stomach as we walked downstairs towards Mia’s father, who was waiting at the bottom for his daughter. He saw me and looked nervous.
As he took hold of Mia’s hand, he turned to look at me. “Thalia, I owe you a huge apology.” He paused, gulped, looked out through the window then met my gaze again. “I wasn’t myself, although there isn’t really any excuse for the trouble I caused between you and Jack. I’m sorry, and I hope that we can put it behind us, especially today for my daughter’s wedding.”
He certainly sounded like he meant the apology. “Apology accepted.” I held my hand out to him, which he took and shook gently.
“Thanks Dad. Now I have an appointment with my groom.” Mia took her dad’s elbow and dragged him towards the patio doors, then looked over her shoulder at me, winked, then asked, “You staying there?”
“Guess not,” I mumbled.
Mia and her father walked out into the garden in front of me, so after they came to a stop, I slipped in front of them and waited for the music to start. My stomach quivered with nerves and excitement, and then hearing the music my legs carried me up the aisle.
Halfway up the aisle I worked the courage up to look at Jack, and when I did, I met his eyes that were so full of love for me. He was so handsome in his formal wedding suit; my knees felt weak and my panties were wet. I couldn’t look away.
I took my place to the side, turned to wait for Mia, but still couldn’t look away from Jack. I took Mia’s flowers from her, and then turned towards the front, while I tried to get my emotions under control, because I was seconds away from blubbering.
Chapter 63
Jack
Standing next to my brother, my eyes were only for Thalia as she walked down the aisle towards us. She nearly brought me to my knees. She made eye contact and then stayed focused on me. I’d let her see everything I felt for her in my gaze, and I’m pretty damn sure she let me see what she felt for me, which filled my heart with hope that not all was lost. God, I loved her.
Liam nudged me, which had me turning to face the front with him.
My brother was getting married in front of me, and all I could think about was the woman standing on the opposite side of the bride to me.
She was stunning, and I’d missed her like crazy these past couple of days. I know I’d spent time away from her before, when I’d been trying to do right and not get involved with her. But after sharing our beds, I couldn’t sleep without her. She was there under my skin and in my heart. She was there to stay and I planned on telling her that after my brother finished saying his vows.
Yesterday I‘d gone to the bank and retrieved my grandmother’s engagement ring, which I planned on sliding on to Thalia’s finger before the day was over.
Mia also had an engagement ring from my other grandmother, my father’s mother, to wear so both ladies should be happy.
“Jack, where the fuck are you? Ring,” Liam whispered under his breath.
Shit. I quickly reached into my jacket’s inner pocket and retrieved both wedding bands. “No sweat.” I handed them over and caught Thalia, looking at me with eyes full of mirth.
I winked at her, and watched her whole face light up.
“Will you get a grip,” Liam whispered again.
“Hurry up,” I grumbled, which Mia heard and chuckled.
Not long after, Liam was kissing the happy blushing bride, and walking back down the aisle with her. Then it was my turn to walk Thalia down the aisle behind the happy couple. I held my arm out to her; she slid her arm through mine, and offered me a smile.
I grinned back, unable to get my vocal cords to work. I pulled her in closer as we walked down the aisle, the bottom of her dress wrapping around my legs, keeping us together.
No sooner had we reached Liam and Mia, the photographer was pulling us all away for photographs. Something I’d been looking forward to because it would mean I’d get Thalia in my arms again, even, if it were only for a short while.
The photographer had other ideas of course and kept dragging us apart; Thalia on one side of the branch, and me on the other. Why we had to be separated by a fucking tree branch was beyond me. I had to keep reminding myself that it was Liam’s day and to keep my mouth shut.
The photographer finally announced that he’d finished for now so with a huge sigh of relief I walked over to Thalia. She turned and watched me approach with a nervous smile on her lips.
Having her hands in mine made me want to jump for joy, and I realized I couldn’t wait another minute. “Please come and talk to me. I was going to wait until later, to get you alone, but I can’t. I need to talk to you now. Please come with me.”
She had tears in her eyes. “Phoenix, I’d go anywhere with you,” she whispered.
She used ‘Phoenix’. She hadn’t used Phoenix since I’d been a bastard to her. I moved in to kiss when we both froze, having heard my mom shouting at us.