Page 97 of That Kind of Guy

“Shall we do this?” I held my arm out, and my mom looped her arm through mine.

“Ready?” Div stood with his hand poised on the door, and we nodded. He opened it a crack, gave someone a thumbs up, and music began before he opened the door fully.

24

Avery

The door openedand what felt like six thousand people turned to stare at me. My stomach dropped through the floor. My heart began to race in my chest, so hard people could probably see it pounding against my neckline.

My mom took a step forward. I tried to move, but I was frozen in place.

My brain was frozen. Blood rocketed through my veins, but I couldn’t think or move. Was the dress always this tight? I could breathe fine during my fittings but right now, I couldn’t seem to suck enough air into my lungs.

The music was still playing but every person in the room held their breath in anticipation.

“Honey?” my mom asked out of the corner of her mouth.

I blinked. What was I doing? Why did I say yes to this? This was terrifying. There were so many people, I didn’t even know half of them. Emmett’s brother Finn had flown back into town just for this. This wasn’t fake to them. It was real, and it was a big fucking deal. My eyes darted around like I was a cow en route to the slaughterhouse.

This all hinged on me.

I couldn’t do this. I had to leave.

My gaze rose to Emmett, standing at the front of the courthouse, fifty feet away.

He smiled at me.

It wasn’t his shiny politician’s smile with a hundred teeth. It was the lopsided, amused, affectionate smile he gave me when I said something silly.

Right. Emmett.

My stomach unclenched.

I took a step forward, and my mom stepped with me, letting out a breath of relief. My mouth curved up, and I smiled back at Emmett.

Right. My pulse slowed even more and the banging feeling of my heart in my chest went away. I could do this. I could breathe. I began to walk slowly up the aisle as the music played.

As we approached him, with Wyatt standing behind him, everyone on either side of the aisle disappeared from my vision. I could barely even hear the music. I just watched Emmett, kept my gaze trained on his handsome face, thought about how wonderful he smelled and how nice it was to sit on the beach with him the other night. Maybe we could go back another time just to sit there and watch the waves on the shore and listen to the birds chirp in the trees. This was going to be okay, I just knew it.

When we got to the front, my mom gave me a kiss on the cheek and took a seat, and Emmett held his hand out to me, watching me steadily. His gaze was like a life raft, keeping me afloat, buoyant, and pulling me up to the surface. I took his hand.

This was happening.

Wyatt cleared his throat. His normally shaggy blond hair was tied into a messy bun. A strange giggle bubbled out of my throat, and Emmett gave me a funny look.

“Man bun,” I mouthed, and he grinned wider.

Wyatt started speaking. What was he saying? Couldn’t tell you. I wasn’t even listening. Emmett smiled down at me, running a thumb across the back of my left hand and distracting me.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered while Wyatt gave his speech.

My heart flip-flopped in my chest. The way he was looking at me, Ifeltbeautiful. I felt like, to him, I was the only person on the planet right now.

He winked at me and squeezed my hand, and I couldn’t help but smile wider.

“Emmett, would you like to say your vows?” Wyatt asked and we snapped to attention.

“Right.” Emmett reached into his suit jacket and pulled out a piece of paper. “Avery.” He paused, looked up at me, and back at his paper. Mischief flashed in his eyes, and I narrowed my eyes.

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