Page 74 of Sins and Secrets

“Good of you to make it to your sister’s big day,” she says with a sneer.

Angie didn’t even notice he was late. I noticed. I got a text when he left the airport. He wanted to go home and wash off the travel swampass. I try not to stare at him when he comes in. Be cool, Waverly. Oh, look, there’s another painting of Mary with a lamb and a baby. It matches the six others in the church. Hmmm, there’s a dent in the wainscoting. Yep, my eyes travel over everything but Lukas.

The wedding planner claps her hands, ordering us to get ready. I mean it’s not hard, I come in after Kyle’s sister and before Angie, walk slowly and smile.

The guys stand at the altar. I notice Darren first since he’s wearing a bright, Hawaiian shirt he bought to horrify Angie’s mom. Kyle’s shaking, trying to hold back laughter and losing.

Only Lukas is taking this seriously. He’s still, his hands folded in front of him, as I march, focusing on Jesus on the cross, not Lukas. Jesus and his six pack. Not my boyfriend who no one knows about. How long is this aisle, like six miles? Don’t look at him. Keep gazing in the general direction of where I’m going and, sure, if I happen to see him in my peripheral vision, that’s fine, but other than that, keep staring at our Lord and Savior. Yep.

Once I reach the altar, I take two steps and situate myself. Kyle high fives me. “Nicely done, Waverly.”

“Didn’t trip once! It’s like I spent most of my life walking,” I say.

Kyle moves his head slightly to the right, and boom: Lukas. His lips curl, and I’m rewarded with a smirk. Lukas smirks are worth a million Kyle high fives.

The music changes and Angie takes her turn. It’s an Amanda Chase song, one of her ballads about first love and knowing it’s real. All of Kyle’s goofiness stops as soon as she starts her trek.

He whispers, “It’s really happening.” His eyes turn glassy and he clears his throat. Angie’s wearing a light blue party dress, nothing she hasn’t worn a billion times, but to Kyle, every time is the first time.

At my best, I never looked at Adam that way, and he sure as hell didn’t ever see me as special.

But Lukas catches my eye and time slows down. I could live a million lifetimes in one glance. I am his. We have a future together. Not just tonight, but tomorrow and longer. It was never about sex with him. Lukas knows sides of me no one else does. In the past three weeks, I’ve been happier with him than I was in the last six years. I have a real future with him, and he wants that with me.

Angie walks up the aisle and waves to her husband to be before handing over the teddy bear she’s using as a stand-in bouquet.

I pull the bear close to my chest and stroke his ear. Angie’s had this bear since she was five. It’s lost all its stuffing and fluff, and it’s a breeding zone for germs, but Angie loves it. Hell, I’m not even sure what kind of animal it is—a bear, a bunny, maybe a cat. Angie had a million stuffed animals, but this one she always held close. Like it was holy.

The priest goes over the list of readings and speakers, and what to do when. I try to focus on his droning words but, once again, my secret boyfriend steals my attention. He’s looking at me and he mouths the word ‘Mine.’

My stomach drops, heat burns my cheeks, and my insides turn to a puddle. My brain screams, ‘You’re mine. Tonight, and always.’

His lip flickers again, not quite a smirk, but he turns his head toward the priest.

He doesn’t turn in my direction for the remaining time, but Carol keeps making snide remarks under her breath. How I ruined the wedding that hasn’t even happened yet, so I don’t know how she knows I will.

Kyle and Angie walk back up the aisle, laughing. I loop arms with Kyle’s best man and brother, while Lukas is partnered with Kyle’s sister—who I’m thinking about hiring to do the social media for the hotel—and we follow Kyle and Angie.

Lukas overhears his mother grumble something. He pauses the walk and towers over her. “All Waverly did was dump Adam. It’s not like she married him, got pregnant, and, two years later, flew to New York to have an affair with a wealthier man, got knocked up again, and abandoned her first husband and son.”

Angie’s mom pales and loses her footing, dropping heavily into a pew.

Lukas says nothing else, and continues out of the church.

The drama goes completely unnoticed by Angie and Kyle, which is great. Because this is their day and it should be about them.

About thirty seconds after Lukas leaves, I get a text.

Lukas: Be at my place in two hours. I left a bag in your car. Wear it.

Lukas: Here’s a YouTube tutorial on how to put it on.

Followed by a picture I should NOT be looking at in church.

ChapterThirty-One

Lukas

I’ve gota whole bunch of pent-up energy surging through my body. It’s always a strange set of emotions seeing my family, and my mother’s cruelty toward Waverly made me unleash twenty years of repressed aggression. Honestly, I’m lighter with the burden and resentment off my chest. Now, I can focus on Waverly.

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