Page 45 of It's Only Ever Been You

I sit back, letting his words sink in. Jace has always been the steady one, the guy who’s sure of himself in every situation. To hear this kind of doubt from him is… unsettling.

Me: You love her, right?

Jace: Yeah. I do. But what if that’s not enough? What if I screw it up? What if I’m not theguy she thinks I am?

I rake a hand through my hair, trying to find the right words.

Me: No one’s perfect, Jace. You’re not supposed to have all the answers. But if you love her, if you’re willing to put in the work, that’s what matters.

Jace: Easy for you to say. You’re not the one standing in front of everyone, promising forever.

I snort softly.

Me: No, I’m the guy who let the best thing in his life slip away. Trust me, you don’t want to be that guy.

There’s a long pause before his reply.

Jace: Do you still love Emma?

I don’t answer right away, but I know he can read between the lines.

Me: Yeah.

Jace: So you get it, then. Seeing her there, being around her again. That’s gonna mess with your head.

Me: Already is.

Jace: Maybe that’s a good thing too.

I huff out a laugh, shaking my head. Only Jace could take my turmoil and spin it into a silver lining.

Me: Maybe, but not so sure I agree withthat.

Jace: Just… don’t let it eat you alive, man. And if there’s something you need to say, say it. You don’t want any regrets.

I stare at his words, my chest tightening. Don’t want to regret not trying. That’s the thing about regrets—they sneak up on you, twist your insides, and never really let go.

Me: Same goes for you, Jace. You’re gonna be fine. You and Sierra? You’ve got this.

Jace: Thanks. I mean it.

I toss my phone back on the bench and head to the treadmill, cranking the speed until the sound of my feet pounding against the belt drowns out everything else. Maybe Jace is right. Maybe seeing Emma again will give me the closure I’ve been avoiding.

Or maybe it’ll remind me of everything I’ve been trying to forget.

The next few days blur together in a mix of practices, meetings, and workouts. I keep my schedule packed, hoping to push the wedding out of my mind. But every time I sit still for more than a minute, my thoughts drift back to her.

By Friday, I’m standing in the tux shop, surrounded by Jace and the other groomsmen. The tailor pins my sleeves, adjusting the fit as I stare at my reflection in the mirror. The black tux fits perfectly, sharp and clean, but it feels wrong—more of a costume than something that truly belongs to me.

“You good?” Jace asks, stepping up beside me. His tone is casual, but his eyes are sharp, studying me like he already knows the answer.

I nod. “Yeah. Just thinking.”

“About her?” he asks, his voice low enough that the others won’t hear.

I glance at him, surprised. “Is it that obvious?”

Jace smirks. “A little. Look, man, I don’t know what happened between you two, but maybe this is your chance to fix it. Or at least figure it out. You know she’s single right?”

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