Page 67 of Every Inch of You
Chapter Twenty-Four
VIVIAN
Ihad never seenConnor crybefore.
He had been very friendly, but somewhat reserved at the rehearsal dinner and all day Saturday when we were with the wedding party, posing for pictures. I guess his hands had lingered a little longer than necessary on my arm and my back a few times, but I didn’t think much of it. We were all tipsy here, and weddings do that to people. Then suddenly, when we were heading up to Aubrey and Eric’s rooms, he suddenly let out this little wail and stopped in the middle of the hallway and started sobbing. I had no idea what washappening.
When he grabbed me and told me that he couldn’t take it anymore, that he felt so bad for leaving me the way he did, and for cheating on me. His whole body was heaving. I was worried that he was having some sort ofbreakdown.
“It’s okay, Connor,” I said, rubbing his back. “It’s the past, I’ve moved on. I don’t want you to feelbad.”
“But you’re such a good person. I’ve been watching you since yesterday and you’re so fucking beautiful and I fucked up so bad. I don’t know what I was thinking, I lost my mind.” He was crying into myneck.
This was everything I wanted to hear half a year ago, but I just didn’t care anymore. “Connor, the ceremony’s going to start soon. You need to get your shittogether.”
That’s when I looked up and saw a man in a navy blue suit exiting the lobby in a hurry, and I was sure that it wasBrad.
I had to wriggle free from Connor’s grip and push him aside before I could run to the front porch and look around, but I couldn’t see the man in the navy suit anywhere. He had vanished. I had to wonder if I’d imaginedit.
“Brad?” I yelled out his name a few times, but nobody came back around. I was about to step out to the parking lot when my Mom came out from thelobby.
“There you are—we need to get up to Aubrey’s room. We’re taking pictures, comeon.”
I craned my neck and looked everywhere, but I didn’t seeBrad.
“What’s wrong, Darling? You look like you’ve seen aghost.”
Maybe I had. “I’ll be there in a minute, Mom, I have to find myphone.”
“Now?”
I ran up the stairs to my room. I didn’t have my purse with me but I was keeping my room card key on the side of my bra. I was hoping to find my phone on the dresser where it was being charged, but alas—I found it in my purse. Totally dead. I’d forgotten to charge it and had been so busy with everyone last night and all day that I didn’t even bring it with me. I frantically plugged it in, but it didn’t comealive.
There was a knock at my door. It was one of the bridesmaids. “Vivian? Everyone’s looking foryou.”
“Be rightthere!”
I counted to ten, but my phone’s screen was still black with the image of the emptybattery.
I left my phone plugged in, and went to Aubrey’sroom.
* * *
As much asI was dying to talk to Brad—whether he was there at the Inn or not—I did manage to devote my full attention to my sister and her beautiful wedding. The ceremony was held in the garden on the grounds of the historic inn by the bay. Birds were singing, we could hear the waves beating against the shore, I ignored Connor who was staring at me the entire time, and my sister Aubrey actually cried while Eric was reciting his vows. She basically exploded in a trembling fit of tears and snot and she was a perfect mess. It was incredible. All of the seated guests were taking pictures of her because it was such a rare and marvelous sight tobehold.
It wasn’t until the middle of the dinner party, after I had given my maid of honor speech, when I finally allowed myself to think about Brad again. The sun hadn’t set yet, and the ferries were still running. I considered myoptions.
I finally noticed my sister leaning forwards trying to get my attention. “What’s wrong?” shemouthed.
“Nothing!” I mouthed back. My mouth twitched as I tried to form asmile.
She gave me that look. That You Know I Know Everything Why Do You Bother Lying To Me You Idiotlook.
I got up and bent down next to her and told her that I thought I saw Brad walking out of the inn when Connor was crying into my neck before theceremony.
Her eyes widened. “What the fuck are you doing here? You’ve done your duties—go findhim!”
“But I don’t know for sure ifhe—”
