Dirty Secret

Did she already have it altered?

Or am I seeing what I want to see?

Her eyes catch mine. Her lips curl into a sad smile.

I nod hello.

She nods back and returns to her sister.

Indigo steals everyone else's attention. She's gorgeous in her bright white dress, but I can't keep my eyes off Sienna.

She looks beautiful, hurt, angry, sad.

Then she turns to her sister and her lips curl into a big, authentic smile. She teases Indie about something. Teases Ty.

The three of them laugh. She forces Ty to introduce her to a friend of his. Flirts just enough to make him growl.

Her eyes flit to me. So I know it's for my benefit. Or so I know she's moved on. Or maybe just to say hi.

I don't fucking know.

It doesn't matter.

I stick with Ian, even though Eve keeps shooting me loaded glances. He takes up the mantle as the life of the party, offering embarrassing stories about Ty through cocktails and dinner, standing to toast over dessert.

He raises a glass of champagne. "To true love."

Everyone toasts, drinks, laughs.

Ian looks to me. "Anything to add?"

Fuck, my head hurts. But I know how to play my role. I stand. Look to Ty. To my cousin, my closest confidant, the person who's done everything for me.

And to the love of his life. The woman who lights up his sky. Who will do anything to protect her family. To protect her sister.

This is fucked up, yes, but it doesn't have to stay that way.

Sienna and I can be friends. We can pretend this never happened. No matter how much it kills me.

I give my toast. "To Ty, making men everywhere proud thinking with his—"

Indigo cuts me off. "We know."

"Too much for polite company?" I toast to Ty's mom.

She laughs. "You turn fifty and everyone thinks you forget what sex is."

Indigo blushes.

"You know the rest." I raise my glass to both of them. "I'm proud of you." I mean it. I'm proud of him. Not just for finding someone who likes what he likes. For finding someone who loves him, all of him, the dark and the light.

Chapter Fifty-One

Sienna

It's incredibly painful watching Cam from afar, but I manage.

This is what he wants.

And I respect what he wants.

Even after I have one too many Blue Sapphires and walk my sister to the elevator and hug my future brother-in-law goodbye.

I say goodbye to friends and family. Wait for the room to clear.

Then I return to the table to collect my purse, head to the elevator, prepare for a deep, deep sleep.

One with some why can't I have him dreams, but still the sleep of total and complete exhaustion.

I step into the elevator.

The doors slide together.

At the last minute, someone stops them.

Cam.

My heartbeat picks up. My stomach flutters.

He slips inside.

Like when we first kissed.

Well, kissed for real.

He's so tall and handsome and broad and hurt.

And offering something to me?

"You forgot this." He hands me the suit jacket. His suit jacket.

"Thanks." I slip it over my shoulders.

"It looks good on you."

"I had it altered. Is that okay?"

"It's yours."

"Yeah, but… I was kind of hoping to give it back to you one day." It's still oversized, but in a more intentional way.

"Don't." He hits the button for the lobby and turns to me.

The car descends. "Yeah?"

"It would break my heart."

Words rise up in my throat. I try to swallow them. It's not the time, and it's not the place. "Really?"

"Irrevocably."

And then the words spill from my lips. I can't stop them. "I love you."

Surprise spreads over his face.

"I'm not saying it to convince you of anything. I… I'm not trying to convince you of anything, Cam. I just… I wanted to say it. It's selfish, I know, but I… I had to say it. In case I don't see you tomorrow."

"You think I'd miss the wedding?"

"I don't know. Probably not. But anything can happen."

He nods true.

My heart thuds against my chest. "So, I, uh, don't say anything… if you have something to say. Tell me after the wedding. I want to believe it's good news for a day. Okay?"

The elevator stops at the lobby. The doors slide open.

I take a deep breath.

He motions after you.

I step into the lobby. Look at him for a response.

He mimes zipping his lips.

God, he's so adorable and so Cam and so handsome.

And I really fucking love him.

Whatever happens, I know that.

Chapter Fifty-Two

Cam

All night, Sienna's words echo through my head.

I love you.

I'm not trying to convince you of anything.

I just had to say it.

Just in case.

Anything can happen.

She's right. The world can change in an instant. She's lost both her parents. She knows that better than anyone.

And I—

I'm not ready to be what she needs.

I'm just not.

But maybe that's not permanent.

Maybe it's a problem with a solution.

Saturday is filled with wedding prep. The time passes quickly. When I arrive at Ty's, I fall into it completely.