Page 43 of The Love Chase

My dad should have been here. He should have been standing next to me, ready to walk me down the aisle and place my hand in Liam’s. He should’ve been wiping away tears of his own while I hugged his chest as tightly as I could.

But that was a dream that could never be because my dad wasn’t here anymore.

A sharp pang pierced through my chest, and I briefly debated turning around and running back into the house.

I didn’t know what I was thinking. I couldn’t do this. I couldn’t—

A shadow moved in my periphery before an arm suddenly looped through my right one, and I looked up, surprised to find Jameson in his tux. A second later another arm looped around my left one. It was Maya this time.

“What are you guys doing?” I whispered, knowing the musicians—a lovely quartet that I had to admit Bridget did a great job choosing—would be starting the wedding march any second. They were supposed to be waiting at the end of the aisle, not standing here with me.

“We know how hard this is for you,” Maya said, squeezing my wrist.

“Mom wanted to walk you down the aisle,” Jameson explained, “but her legs aren’t strong enough today.” There was a glimmer in his eyes that gave away his concern for Mom. “Maya and I talked, and we wanted to be the ones to give you away, Em. You’re everything to us. Will you let us walk you down the aisle?”

My own eyes filled with tears, and I blinked furiously to keep them back so I didn’t ruin the makeup Elsie had so masterfully applied. I had opted for her subtle makeup instead of the over-the-top makeup artist Bridget had hired. I rarely wore makeup—I hated the feel of it on my face. I wasn’t about to get married feeling like I was wearing a mask.

I didn’t miss the irony of that thought.

I swallowed down the emotion in my throat.

“That would mean the world to me,” I finally managed to say.

Both of them sniffled, as they rested their foreheads against the side of my head. We were a family, and I’d never been so thankful for them to be mine.

Bridget wouldn’t like this sudden departure from her carefully curated plan, but I didn’t care. If I was going to lose out on a real wedding, having to settle for this farce, at least there were pieces that were real—that meant something.

There was a giant pause in the music followed by the swell of strings signaling the start of the wedding march.

This was it.

Before I could brace myself, the ushers opened the doors, and the breath caught in my throat.

I barely even noticed the beauty Bridget had created between the velvet runway, or the twig seats covered in peonies, or the stunning archway at the end of the aisle. No, my attention went straight to the man waiting in a tux.

His blond hair was in its usual style, reminding me of a 90’s boy band, and I found myself grateful for that little bit of familiarity.

But it wasn’t the way he stood there, confident and handsome, that had my eyes locked on him and the breath escaping from my chest. No, it was the way he was looking at me.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen Liam look at me in such a way. A way that made me feel beautiful—like I was the only woman on earth that he wanted to look at.

My footsteps faltered as Jameson and Maya started leading me down the aisle. I didn’t even spare a glance to see if Bridget was annoyed at the change.

Liam’s gaze was locked on mine, and it was all I could do not to stumble forward with each step. My brother and cousin held me tightly, maybe even expecting me to make a run for it, but now that I was here, now that I saw Liam and was experiencing what it felt like to have him look at me like that, running was the last thing on my mind.

My mom was in her wheelchair in the front row, and she rolled herself forward so she could place her hand on mine as I reached the end. I leaned down so she could kiss my forehead.

“I love you, Emma. You are a beautiful bride.” Tears glistened in her eyes, and she pulled me down to whisper in my ear. “Don’t give up hope, my dear.”

I blinked at her. Why would she say that? I’d never told her this wasn’t real, so why would she tell me not to give up hope? Maybe she was saying it because she knew how hard this was for me without dad here.

I didn’t have time to ask as she patted my hand again and rolled back into her spot. Both Jameson and Maya gave me a hug before my brother led me forward and placed my hand in Liam’s.

Some kind of silent bro conversation passed between the men before Liam nodded, his fingers closing around mine. And then Jameson was gone, dissolving into his place at Liam’s side as his best man.

I stepped up so we were face to face, my chest squeezing as I met his gaze once more. His brows were lowered over his eyes like he was deep in thought about something.

Mr. Bob cleared his throat, finally forcing Liam’s fierce gaze to falter. He looked down at my hand while the officiant began speaking, his thumb tracing a line across the back of it. Such a small touch shouldn’t have sent lightning through my veins, but I might as well have been a tall metal pole in Liam’s thunderous embrace.

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