Page 60 of Bridesmaid to Bride

We fall into a rhythm, his hands steadying the vases while mine arrange the flowers. It should be comfortable. It’s always comfortable. Or it was as two friends working together. Except it’s not that anymore—not since last night when our bodies whispered all the things our lips hadn’t dared to.

“Remember when we built a sandcastle that the tide wiped out before we could finish?” I blurt, desperate for conversation.

West chuckles. “Mother Nature—a heartless bitch.”

“True.” The tension eases a fraction, and I risk a glance at him. He’s focused on the task, his brow furrowed in concentration. Or maybe it’s something else?

“West?”

“Yeah?”

“Are you—I mean, is everything cool?” Do I want him to bring up last night? Or don’t I? I don’t even know what I want. God, this is such a mess, which it’s not supposed to be.

“Just got a lot on my mind.” I miss the warmth in his eyes.

“Good, good. Me too. Lots of wedding stuff.”

“Looks great.” He steps back and leaves me feeling oddly cold despite the balmy air.

“Thanks,” I say, deflated. And it’s not about the flowers. There’s an elephant in the room, and we’re ignoring it. “Let’s just finish up,” I murmur, focusing on the petals and not the palpitations in my chest.

“Yup,” he says, and here we are. A crevasse between us that’s filled with unsaid things and last night’s memories.

I glance up to catch him shoving a hand through his wavy hair, an exasperated sigh punctuating the air.

I can’t take it anymore. “West. You’re a million miles away.”

He gives me a half-smile. “Sorry, just—parent stuff, you know? They’re drowning.” He picks up a ribbon and examines it.

“Has anything gotten worse?” I ask.

“No—it’s the same, just trying to figure out a solution.”

“Adulting sucks.” I attempt levity, but my wobbly voice betrays me. “I’ve got my own family shit. My dad’s retiring from his firm for health reasons.”

“I’m so sorry, Eva. But I’m glad he’s prioritizing his health.” West blinks, his features tightening as he braces for impact. “So. You gotta head to New York?”

“I think so.” My heart contracts so hard I feel like I can barely breathe, and it’s taking everything in me to keep up this facade that everything’s okay.

His gaze darts away, meeting mine again for a brief second, and we’re like crossing comets—drawn together by gravity but destined to fly by without touching. “Eva…” he says, closing his eyes. When he opens them, he finishes, “I got the Groomsman to Groom offer.”

“Oh, wow. Congratulations,” I rush out. Okay, so that’s why he’s being so weird. “That’s great news. You’re now able to really help your parents. And you’re a wonderful son.” I nudge him with my elbow, but he’s like a cardboard cutout version of his usual self.

Family first—a commitment we both share, along with countless other things.

Now it’s his turn to gaze into my eyes. “Our plans. Everything is coming together.”

“It is,” I say, wondering why it feels like it’s all falling apart. I can’t stomach the thought of him kissing and doing God-knows-what with thirty other women.

He blows out a long, jagged breath. “Look—can we put that all aside and just enjoy these moments together? Just us. Doing what we’ve always done, which is having fun with whatever we’re doing?”

“Deal,” I agree, swallowing hard. Translation: these moments are ending, so we better not waste any of them. And if I think too hard about that, I’m going to cry. So I move on, saying, “Last night. It was...” I trail off, searching for a word that doesn’t sound like a goodbye.

“Hot?” he supplies, finally meeting my eye, a smirk playing on his lips.

“Scorching.”

“Absolutely.” He sighs happily. “So, where do these ungodly vases go?” He holds up an ostentatious thing that Paige selected, and I let myself get lost in the simplicity of the question.

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