Page 9 of Bound By Words

“Even though they’d only known each other for a few months, and he’d spent the night before sick after recovering from a panic attack, I knew prior to being introduced to her that Evan was desperately in love with Chase. It was written all over his face like it is now.”

“In typical sibling fashion, I teased him about it, but watching them over the last six months, I’ve seen a completely different person in my little brother. Chase has not only brought him out of his shell, but she’s also calmed him in a way even his writing doesn’t manage to do. She supports him unconditionally, not letting him take himself too seriously. And he’s shown me—much like our father has—how a man should treat his partner. With grace and compassion, and most of all love.”

“If…” I paused, swallowing past the lump in my throat. “If I’m ever lucky enough to find a man like my little brother…well, not exactly like my little brother, cause ew. If I’m ever lucky enough to find a man who looks at me with the love that Evan holds for Chase, he’s taught me that it’s worth the risk to hold on to, cherish, and take risks to protect it.”

“So, I’d like you to join me in a toast.” Holding up my champagne flute, I scanned the crowd, my eyes momentarily pausing as they locked with Nathan’s across the room. He nodded, smiling faintly, causing my throat to tense.

“May we all find someone in life to love us as much as these two love each other, and may we do everything in our power to hold on to it with all our might.”

Turning to face the bride and groom, I tipped my glass at them, trying to keep myself from crying. “To Evan and Chase, who deserve every moment of happiness life has to give them. May they have a long and happy life together.”

Evan’s lips twisted as he smiled at me, using the back of his hand to swipe at the corner of one eye. Dammit, that bastard was going to make me cry.

I flipped off the switch to the microphone, setting it on the table before I raised my champagne flute in the air, catching sight of the proud smiles my parents had on their faces as I brought it to my lips and downed the contents.

Dinner came out then, and I forced myself to eat something, listening to Miguel recount their mad dash to the hospital. Thankfully, Isobel did not give birth in the back of the car. Still, she cursed at Adrian half the ride to the hospital and told a male nurse she didn’t care who she needed to blow, but they had better send a damned anesthesiologist to her room as soon as possible.

The ache in my chest started up again, and I forced myself to plaster on a smile as the dancing started, watching Chase and Evan spin around the dance floor with envy. As soon as I could slip away, I’d make a beeline for the bar. Maybe sobering up before the wedding had been a bad idea because I needed some liquid courage to make it through the rest of the night without completely breaking down.

NATHAN

Minneapolis

My cover had been blown.

“Just go talk to her,” Talia whispered as she flicked the side of my neck. I’d been leaning against the bar, watching the bridal party on the dance floor. Kelly was being spun around the dance floor by her father––at least, I assumed it was her father because he was the older version of Evan, his hair was just a bit darker, liberally laced with grays.

“I’m not going to talk to her.” I wanted to—God, did I want to—but I couldn’t. After my inattentiveness had blown up their book release party last year, I’d finally reached a good point in my friendship with Evan. He never held it against me, but I’d felt like shit after we’d tracked him down and again when I’d realized that he’d had a full-blown panic attack.

I knew what it was like to walk on eggshells to avoid someone’s triggers. My entire adolescence was one big minefield. I typically prided myself on being considerate of other people’s limitations. My whole life was constructed on maintaining and respecting boundaries.

Watching Kelly Stineman from across a crowded ballroom was as good as it would get for me, no matter how disappointed my dick was at my restraint. The image of her in that red lingerie was burned into my retinas for the foreseeable future.

But it wasn’t just her physical beauty that appealed to me. I’d been captivated by her speech. Evan may have written novels for a living, but she’d talked with an open heart and candid honesty, something hard to do in a room full of people. She was charming in a way that pulled you in to listen to every word that slipped past her luscious red lips.

Smart, funny, persuasive women had always been my weak spot, and Kelly was quickly checking all the boxes of what I wanted in a partner. But that didn’t matter because she wasn’t an option. She was in Chicago, I was in Boston, and my entire life was there.

We’d barely spoken, we didn’t know each other, and our interactions were brief and superficial, but I couldn’t keep my eyes off her.

“Seriously, go.” Talia pushed my shoulder, and I turned to give her a pointed look. “Sorry, fine. Be stubborn, but you’ve got to stop staring at her if you won’t do anything about it. You’re rapidly descending into creepy voyeur territory.”

“We both know why I can’t.” My response was terse. “I’ll leave the voyeurism up to you.”

“My word, you’re so freaking dramatic,” she laughed. “Go ask her for a dance. No one’s asking you to marry her.”

“Don’t you have your own date to harass?”

“It’s much more entertaining to sit here and tease you,” she grinned.

“I’m going to tell Emory you’re being a brat again,” I warned.

“And he won’t be surprised. We’re not playing this weekend, so I can be as obnoxious as I want without repercussions.”

“To him, maybe. I don’t recall signing up to be the target of this obnoxious behavior.”

The music changed, and she was gone when I glanced over to the dance floor. The wedding party had returned to their seats, but hers was empty, and other guests were starting to fill the dance floor.

“Where did she go?” Talia asked as she saw where my attention had been redirected.

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