Page 65 of Perfect Score

It's been a few hours, and Brent didn’t return to the hotel room. I wanted to see him before the rehearsal, but I let the time elapse for too long, and if I stay up here any longer, I’ll miss the rehearsal. I walk out of the door, heading for the lobby and then the main hall.

I head down the hall and take the elevator down to level one. When the doors open, Brent stands waiting for the elevator to go back up to our room, I presume.

He stops the second he sees me.

“Hi,” he says.

“Hi.” I smile back.

“Are you headed to the rehearsal?” he asks, carrying two small plastic bags in his hands.

“Yeah, are you going up to get ready?”

He nods. “It won’t take me long,” he tells me and then passes me on the elevator.

“Okay, see you soon.”

Brent is back down ten minutes later, and the rehearsal starts without any issues.

I stand in the back of the gorgeous hall, decorated in more Christmas twinkle lights and pine tree garland and wreaths all decorated in ribbon with my sister’s wedding colors.

The backdrop where they will exchange their vows is a large open-face fireplace with large cream candles of varying heights. These candles will be lit and burned during the ceremony, putting off a warm glow in the feet in front of them.

Rows of chairs are already laid out, creating the aisle for the ceremony.

I snap photos as the wedding procession begins.

First, David walks down the aisle with his dad. Then, the mothers of the bride and groom walk down next.

It's crazy to think a year ago, this was almost Liam and me.

The wedding party is all lined up to go next. Liam and Brent both leave room between the two of them, and they’re both sporting frowns.

I want to elbow them each and remind them that this is the biggest day of my sister’s life, but making a scene won’t help things. I stay back in the left-hand corner of the space where I can get a wide view of everything.

Liam, the best man, and our cousin Christine, who took my place as maid of honor at the last second, walk first. She and I are the same size, and she looks great in the dress as Liam leads her down the aisle.

It tugs at my heart a little to see Liam walking down the aisle. One year ago, I imagined it would be me walking down the aisle to him, but that day never happened.

When I look back at the wedding party waiting for their turn, I see Brent’s eyes on me. He watches me trail Liam’s every step, and his facial expression is impossible to read.

Then Brent and Sarah, Phoebe’s best friend since third grade, start walking down the aisle together. As soon as Brent gets into position behind Liam off to the left of the groom, his eyes find me again.

I snap photos of Ben next in line walking down with Abigail.

When I look back up to the end of the aisle, my stomach flips to see Brent and Liam staring at me, watching me intently.

What have I gotten myself into, and what will I do to get out of it?

After another couple of walk-throughs, the rehearsal commences with no major issues because my sister is a perfectionist.

Brent makes a beeline for me from the top of the aisle the second that the ordained minister releases us all, and my heart thuds wildly at seeing his eyes lock on me.

Brent has always had this look of pure determination and brute force when he plays on the ice. Like no matter what stands in his way, he’ll make the block or make the shot.

As if nothing and no one is going to stop him.

Seeing that aimed at me is a new experience. He’s never looked at me like that before today.

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