Page 9 of Mine for a Moment

Dad smiles and leans over, startling Zane as he straightens his bow tie and the rose boutonnière on his suit. “You’re about to become my son-in-law. It’s not so odd that I’d want to have a word with you beforehand, is it?”

Zane shakes his head, and I straighten in my seat, a tinge of hope settling in my chest. God, I hope he makes my sister happy. I hope he saves her from herself. No one but him can do it, and fuck, between the two of us, she deserves happiness most. At times, it’s like we’re both cursed, and there’s nothing I wouldn’t do to take on her pain, to see her smile again. “The day Celeste introduced you as her boyfriend, we took you out to the garden,” I remind him. “Do you remember what you promised us then?”

Something flickers in Zane’s eyes before he looks away—something that looks a lot like the love he used to look at my sister with. Back then, he promised us that he’d love her with all he has and that someday, he’d make her his wife. He promised us that he was going to make her happy, despite everything standing in their way. It’s a promise I need him to keep, now more than ever.

“I remember.”

Dad reaches for the bag we brought with us and pulls out the bottle of whiskey. The way Zane looks at it tugs at my heartstrings. It’s a bottle that belonged to his late father, and I know it wasn’t easy for Zane to part with it.

“I’ve been saving this for today,” Dad says, and the edges of my lips turn up slightly as I reach for the glasses Dad put in the bag for this moment.

Zane is quiet as Dad pours him a glass, clearly more overcome with emotion than he cares to admit. “It won’t come as a surprise to you when I tell you that you’ve let me down,” Dad says, and Zane instantly tenses. “I don’t know what happened between you two, Zane, but I know my daughter isn’t blameless. For years, I watched you try to hurt each other, and I know it won’t stop anytime soon. The only question I have for you today is this: Do you, underneath all that hatred I now see in your eyes, still love my daughter?”

I raise a brow, having expected that question about as much as Zane had. Zane remains silent and runs a hand through his hair, pure conflict crossing his face. He takes a deep breath before raising his face to look my father in the eye.

“Yes.”

This time, I can’t suppress my smile. Relief washes over me, and I lean back in my seat. I’d known he still loved her, but hearing him admit it is still reassuring. I nod at him and hand him a glass.

“Then this is what we’ll do,” I tell him, placing my full faith in him once more. “Each time we see you, we’ll share a glass. By the time this bottle is empty, you’ll need to have fulfilled your promise, or I’ll do what my sister doesn’t have the heart to—I’ll fucking annihilate you, consequences be damned.”

He nods slowly, clearly not wanting to make a verbal promise. I know what he’s like, and I know how much Zane and Celeste havehurt each other. He might think there’s no way forward, but I know he’s wrong.

Dad sighs and taps his glass against Zane’s, and I follow suit. “For real this time,” I tell him, reciting the same words I once told him. “Welcome to the family, asshole.”

Zane grins, no doubt remembering the first time I said those words. I just hope I won’t come to regret saying them this time.

Nine

Archer

I stare at my phone as I take my seat at the front of the aisle, where Zane’s four brothers have already gathered. It’s odd just how much Serenity and that damn list of hers have been on my mind. She’s single-handedly taken away all my worries about facing my grandfather, and she doesn’t even know it.

I barely notice him sitting one row over when, normally, I’d have been anxious, worried about every word I say. This time, I’m a lot more concerned about how short Serenity has been in her text messages. It’s clear she feels awkward about the whole situation, and fuck, I don’t know how to handle this. Do I pretend I never saw her list, like she asked me to, or do I acknowledge it so we can talk about it?

All of a sudden, an unwelcome thought infiltrates my mind, showing me images of her in bed with some nameless man who won’t give a damn about her. Something I’ve never experienced before settles in my stomach. It’s not quite protectiveness, but it’s something close to it. Whatever it is, it fucking infuriates me.

I don’t snap out of my thoughts until Zane enters the room,reluctance written all over his face. His brothers all collectively breathe sighs of relief, clearly having thought he might not show at all. I put my phone away as Zane’s youngest brother reluctantly hands one of his older brothers a fifty, and I can’t help but smile. I suppose some things never change—including their penchant for placing bets amongst themselves.

Music begins to play, and we all rise as the doors open. Everyone turns to watch Celeste enter on Dad’s arm, but I keep my eyes on Zane, praying I wasn’t wrong about him. He swallows hard, his eyes widening. Every last shred of reluctance and hatred melts away, until all that’s left is that same expression he used to wear around my sister—utter devotion.

Something about it reminds me of Serenity and the conversation we had. This kind of unwavering devotion…that’s what she deserves, and Theo will never give it to her. He doesn’t deserve to have her to himself when he doesn’t appreciate her the way he should.

For one single godforsaken moment, I wonder what it’d be like if I truly did take her virginity like she wants me to, taking what he doesn’t deserve. I push the thought away as quickly as it came and clench my jaw, refocusing my attention on my sister. That fucking list. It completely messed me up, and I’m starting to think I’ll never quite forget about it.

Dad places Celeste’s hand in Zane’s, and he takes it carefully, like he’s scared the moment will break. He hasn’t taken his eyes off her once, and the way he’s looking at her makes me wonder if he’s even aware of anything but her.

I sigh and run a hand through my hair, hoping this marriage truly will be the remedy I told Serenity it would be. It’s been years since I last saw my sister smile genuinely, and fuck, I can’t even remember the sound of her laughter. Her world is cast in shadows without Zane, but she’d never admit it.

I watch them carefully throughout the ceremony and draw a shaky breath when Zane says I do. Celeste’s hand trembles as he pushes a wedding band onto her finger, and when it’s her turn to say her vows, her voice breaks, her heartache bleeding into it.

Zane smiles at her so tenderly that I can’t help but put my faith in him—a man that looks at my sister like that won’t hurt her. He might pretend to, but her heart will be safe in his hands. The officiant tells Zane that he may kiss his bride, and his gaze drops to her mouth. He looks at her like he can’t quite believe this is real, that they’re standing at the altar together.

Zane leans in to kiss her, and Celeste rises to her tiptoes, deepening the kiss. I grin and cheer along with everyone else, snapping them out of the moment. The way my sister just kissed Zane back eviscerated all my remaining worries. It’s clear their journey isn’t going to be easy, but they’ll walk it together, and I know exactly what’ll be at the end of it: the samehappily ever afterthat Serenity wants so badly.

Mom takes my arm as we’re led into a large reception hall, her expression only barely disguising her concern. “She’ll be happy, won’t she?” Mom whispers, and I wrap my arm around her fully.

“Yes,” I tell her resolutely. The love between Zane and Celeste is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, and if they can’t make it…fuck. Then what hope is there for the rest of us?