Page 89 of The Love Ambush
The bridal march starts, and I turn with everyone else to see Daphne walk down the aisle on her father’s arm. I’m overthinking everything. Levi and I are fine. And it’s Brodie’s day. I need to be focused on him and Daphne.
Daphne looks absolutely beautiful. Her dress is a simple yet elegant white maxi dress, and she’s wearing her hair down, with little white flowers laced through it. Her smile is beaming and so full of love as she keeps her gaze on my brother.
There are actual tears in Brodie’s eyes as he watches his bride walk toward him. It brings tears to my own to see my big brother so moved. As I swing my gaze back to Daphne, I notice someone in the audience, someone who’s not watching the bride-to-be, but who is staring at me.
He gives me one of his familiar, charming smiles, all teeth, and my stomach sinks with dread. What the hell is my father doing here?
Next to him, a woman, who doesn’t look much older than me, puts her hand on his arm and leans into him. She’s watching Daphne like everyone else.
It’s hard to breathe, and the room tilts, but I grit my teeth and hold on. I am not going to cause a scene in the middle of my brother’s wedding. Does Brodie even know Dad is here? He can’t know. He would have warned me.
There’s a part of me, the part of me that’s still a teenager and a little girl who thought her father was the coolest guy in the world, who’s happy to see Dad. But the adult, rational part of me is so furious a scream builds in my middle. How dare he leave us without a word and then show up out of the blue at his son’s wedding?
Brodie hates our father. He’d be as angry as I am to know he’s here.
I look over at Levi as Daphne stands next to Brodie, and find him watching me, looking concerned. There’s no way he knows what’s upset me, but he clearly can tell that something has.
I don’t want anyone else to know, and I don’t want to ruin the wedding photos, so I plaster on a smile and focus on the words being said by the priest.
Except I don’t watch my brother and his bride. I keep my gaze locked on Levi, because he feels like the only thing holding me in place, keeping me standing here and not shouting for someone to escort my father from the wedding.
Levi doesn’t let me down. He keeps all his attention on me until I forget about my father. The words of the priest, of vows and binding and forever, sink into my soul as I stare into Levi’s eyes. It’s irrational, but I can imagine a future with him, a lifeshared with this man who’s always been around, but who I’ve never truly seen until now.
Soon, the wedding is over, and I’m following Brodie and Daphne and the wedding party out of the church. I decisively don’t look in my father’s direction. I don’t want to talk to him. I want to pretend he’s not even here.
Levi grabs my hand as we step out of the big barn, where the wedding was held, and into the bright sunlight. “Are you okay?”
“No.” I pull away from him. “I need to talk to Brodie.”
He lets me go, and I hurry over to where Brodie and Daphne are talking to the photographer. I grab Brodie’s arm and yank, but he doesn’t move.
“Brodie,” I say. “I need to talk to you.”
He looks over at me, concern wrinkling his brow, and steps away from the conversation with an “excuse me” to the photographer and Daphne.
“What’s up?” he asks. “Did something happen?”
I pull in a deep breath. I hate my father for putting me in the position of being the one to deliver news that will ruin my brother’s day. “Dad’s here,” I say. “It’s okay. I can run interference and make sure—”
“Gentry,” he says.
“I know. I don’t know how he even found out about the wedding, but I’m not going to let him ruin—”
“Gentry.”
I rub his arm. “I know it’s upsetting, but I can—”
He grips my shoulders and gives me a little shake. “Gentry. I know he’s here. I invited him.”
I stare at him, unable to compute the words. “That’s not… Brodie, you don’t have to cover for him. He shouldn’t be here, but I won’t cause a scene. I’ll just ask him very nicely to leave and, if that doesn’t work, I’ll make sure he never gets near you or Daphne.”
“I’m not covering for him.” Brodie bends his knees just enough so that he’s at my eye level. “I invited him. I want him here.”
I blink, feeling sick. “Why would you want him here? And how did you find him? How long have you been in touch with him?”
“Levi found him,” Brodie says, like I should be impressed by Levi’s skills. Instead, I feel like I’ve stepped into another dimension.
I turn to look for Levi and find him standing right next to me, pale and serious. “You said you weren’t going to invite him,” he says, glaring at Brodie.
