Page 135 of Harrison's Wedding

Hayden sighs. “That’s a shame. We don’t really have time to go back for it. Will you be okay?”

Will I be okay? Heather will be here tonight. I just need to get through the paparazzi. I nod and force myself to breathe slowly.

“I can do this.”

“Yeah, you can,” Hayden agrees.

The limousine pulls up to the hotel, and Michael opens the door for us while Jesse ensures there’s room for us to get out. Hayden and I get out first, while Ally gets out behind us. At once, questions are being thrown at us.

“I’m going straight in,” Ally says in an undertone to us, and Hayden gives a small nod.

She walks past the reporters and into the building.

“Who’s the woman, Harrison?”

I ignore the question about Ally easily.

“Where’s Maddy?”

Nausea rises inside me, but I push it away with force, focusing on my breathing instead.

“Is she wearing Heather’s engagement ring?”

The thought of Maddy wearing Heather’s ring brings the nausea back again, but I push it away. I wish I hadn’t forgotten to wear the ring tonight. I place my right hand in my pocket so I can focus on the feeling of the fabric against my fingers without anyone noticing.

Hayden’s being asked questions, too, and he answers a couple aboutGames We Play. Nobody asks me about music, of course, they have more ‘important’ things to ask me.

“When will Sebastian and Heather go public, Harrison? Do they have your blessing?”

I can’t resist the urge to laugh, and I actually chuckle aloud. I’m tempted to tell him that they’re engaged and I’m the best man for their Vegas wedding with an Elvis impersonator. I would, if there was no risk of the joke hurting Heather, but there’s a massive chance it would. So I don’t make the joke.

Instead, I hold my tongue, cut off my laughter, and follow Hayden inside the building. I let out a breath of air in a whoosh once we’re safely inside.

“Good job, Harrison,” Ally says.

“Way to keep your cool,” Hayden agrees.

“Whoever knew that running The Gauntlet would one day become something I had to be congratulated on,” I tease them with a grin. “Come on, let’s go party.”

We follow signs to Gabriel’s party and find the big room where it’s being held. Now that I’m through the paparazzi, I’m nervous about seeing Heather again. Should I try to talk to her? She might not want to talk to me. I guess I’ll see what happens.

I remind myself of what I told Brendan. I can’t push it. Heather needs to be ready, and if she isn’t, then I can wait as long as she needs. If she never gets over it—a slicing pain cuts across my chest—then I have to come to terms with that.

I spot the bar, and despite how good I’ve been lately, I want a drink just to ease my nerves a little. I don’t plan to get wasted tonight, but I’m hoping a drink will help me relax.

“I’m going to get a drink. Do you guys want one?” I ask.

Hayden looks mildly concerned. “Not right now. Ally?”

“I’m fine,” she smiles at him.

“I’m not drinking to get drunk anymore, Hayden,” I answer his unasked question.

He nods, then smiles at me. “Okay. I just worry, you know me.”

“I sure do.” I grin at him.

I leave the couple behind and make my way across the room to the bar, where I order a whisky and sit at the bar to drink it. My nerves aren’t calmed at all. I keep looking around for some sign of Heather, but she’s not here.

---