by R. Linda
I caught Indie’s eye and smiled, but she didn’t return it. She really was scared. I wanted nothing more than to go over there and hug her and tell her it would be okay, promise her everything would work out. I knew she hadn’t spoken to her parents much tonight either, choosing to be overly social and not stay in one place for more than a minute or two. Yeah, my eyes hadn’t left her either.
“I screwed up, and I don’t know how to make it right.” I sighed and looked at my mum for advice, even though she had no idea what happened. How could I fix the disappointment in the Kellermans’ eyes? How could I turn back time and not have dragged Indie into that corner?
“I’m going to ask you something, and I want an honest answer.” She reached forward and clasped my hands between hers. I nodded.
“Do you love her?” she asked softly. I couldn’t process how she would even know that. I was too shocked.
I nodded. Of course. I always had.
She smiled, wide and bright, and let out a little laugh.
I guessed that made her happy. If only Indie’s parents had the same reaction.
“Enough to risk losing Nate as a friend?”
I nodded again, because it was no contest. I loved Nate. He’d always been there, but I was in love with Indie. Everything was about her. It always had been.
“Can you walk out of this room and never see her again?”
“Hell, no.” I clenched my fists between Mum’s hands, making her release me. There was no way I could walk away from her. I’d fight hell and high water to keep her beside me.
“Then you need to go over there and make sure that girl knows, no matter what, you’re not giving up.”
“How? I mean…how?” I glanced at Indie again; she was still watching me. How could I reassure her that we were in this together, no matter what?
“You’re a smart boy. You’ll figure it out,” Mum said.
“How did you know? I never told anyone how I felt.”
“I’m your mother. I know these things. Now, go!” She gave my shoulders a light push.
She knew these things. Maybe I hadn’t been as good at hiding my feelings as I thought. After all, Brody had worked it out too. I stood and hesitated. I didn’t know what the hell to do.
“Go big, or go home. That’s what I always say,” Mum said encouragingly.
“You’ve never once said that.” I raised my eyebrow in disbelief.
“I am now.”
Taking a deep breath and letting it out gently, I turned to face Indie. There must have been something on my face that revealed my intentions, even if I didn’t know them myself, because she stopped her conversation with one of her uncles and took a step toward me, her hands twisting together in front of her. She looked so damn beautiful in that dress, biting her bottom lip in nervous anticipation.
Nate appeared in front me. “Hey, man. Can I talk to you about something?”
“Not right now,” I said and sidestepped him.
“But it’s—”
“Sorry, I have something important to do.” I walked away before pausing and turning back to him. “Can you just not beat the shit out of me until after the reception?”
I really didn’t want to ruin his parents’ wedding day, and a fist fight between their son and his best mate over their daughter would absolutely do that.
“Okay,” he said slowly, a look of confusion on his face.
I spun on my heel and marched directly to Indie, not giving much thought to anything or anyone other than wanting to see her happy smile once more.
Screw it.
“Linc,” she breathed as I got closer. My body crashed into hers as I grabbed her face between my hands and kissed her. For a moment, everything else faded away, and it was just us. Her body warm and soft against mine, her hands around my neck and fingers twisting into my hair.
“Go big, or go home,” I breathed against her mouth.
“What?” She chuckled.
“Nothing.” I kissed her again, quickly. Too afraid to let her go and too terrified to turn around and see everyone’s reactions, I rested my forehead against hers. “Everything is going to be okay, yeah?”
“But—”
“No buts. It will be fine.” It had to be fine; I wasn’t losing her.
“Okay.”
“Ready?”
She sniffed and nodded, her eyes wide with fright, but I figured if Nate hadn’t smashed my head through a table yet, maybe it wasn’t going to be so bad. Or he was making good on his promise to not beat the shit out of me until after the reception.
I didn’t know what I expected when we pulled apart and looked around the room, but it wasn’t the reaction we got. Well, lack of reaction, rather.
Indie released a breath slowly and looked at me with one eyebrow raised in question. I shrugged in response because I didn’t know how to answer.
No one even spared us a glance, except for my mother, who was smiling into her wine glass. But no one else cared. No one saw. No one said anything.
Chapter
Twenty-Five
Indie
Had we completely misjudged the reaction we’d receive? Did no one even care that Linc had just kissed me in the middle of the ballroom? Surely someone would have seen and made a comment about it.
Linc’s fingers threaded through mine. I smiled at him nervously, still not accepting the fact no one actually cared.
The unmistakable sound of the heavy ballroom door opening echoed through the room. I looked over, catching a glimpse of Nate storming out just as they slammed shut behind him. Someone definitely saw. That was the reaction I had been waiting for.
“I better go and speak to him.” Linc pressed a kiss to the side of my head and released my hand.
“Not without me.” I reached for his arm, gripping it tight, and walked with him to the doors. Bailey caught my eye on the way out and gave me an excited two thumbs up with a big smile on her face. Jack sat beside her looking like the cat that got the cream. He shot me a wink as Linc and I stepped through the doors.
The hallway was empty. Nate couldn’t have gotten that far unless he ran. I looked at Linc as he ran his hands through his hair nervously.
“Where’d he go?” I asked.
A thumping sound came from around the corner. We approached slowly, peering around the edge of the wall where we saw Nate kicking the baseboard with his shiny, pointed black shoes.
“Dammit.” He muttered a string of curse words that would make a sailor blush.
“Nate.” I stepped forward, only to be held back by Linc, with him positioning himself in front of me. For protection? From Nate? Nate would never hurt me. I was his sister. We looked out for each other.
His eyes flicked between Linc and me. I couldn’t read the expression on his face.
“You.” He pointed at Linc. “You did this.”
He charged for Linc, grabbing his shirt in his fists, and shoved him into the wall behind us.
“This is your fault. You played me for a fool,” he seethed at Linc.
I closed my eyes, terrified he was going to hurt him.
“Nate, stop. Please,” I begged, reaching out to pull his arm off Linc.
“Step back, Ace. He’s right to do this. I expected it.” Linc’s voice was so subdued.
“Do what?”
“Break my nose. Do your worst, brother. I deserve it.”
I couldn’t watch. I could not watch my brother beat up his best friend. There had to be a better way. Couldn’t he see Linc and I were perfect for each other?
“Nate?” I said again but stopped when he began laughing.
He released Linc and smoothed down his shirt, still laughing. “I’m not going to break your nose.” His eyes focused on me. “Yet. But if your hurt her, I can’t be held accountable for my actions. Got it?”
“Loud and clear. Don’t worry, I don’t plan on hurting her.” Linc smiled then came over and wrapped an arm around my waist.
“Well, what was that all about,
then?” I gestured to the wall Nate just had Linc pinned against.
“I lost the bet.” Nate groaned and kicked the wall again.
“What bet?” I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms in front of me.
“Jack bet me that you two would get your acts together and finally hook up by the wedding. I, however, bet against him, sure it wouldn’t happen because I’ve been waiting years for you two shits to stop dancing around each other and finally bite the bullet.” He rubbed his hands over his face.
“You knew?” I gasped.
“How?” Linc asked at the same time.
“You guys were so obvious. You.” He pointed at Linc. “Always fixing your hair and straightening your clothes whenever Indie walked into a room, preening like a god damn kitten.” He laughed. “And, Indie, I’ve never known anyone try so hard at sport and fail, continuously, over the years so this idiot would keep teaching you. And don’t get me started on the scary movies. Newsflash, you both hate horror films, yet you both watched them all the time, just so you could end up curled up together on the couch.” He placed his hand over his heart. “Sweet. Touching. Really.”
I couldn’t believe he knew. All this time.
“How much?” Linc asked.
“What?”
“How much did you lose to Jack-ass?”
“Stop calling him Jack-ass. It’s not nice. And it’s not true.” I stomped my foot.
“Sorry, Ace. The name stays, at least for now.”
“Stupid ass,” I mumbled, and Linc grinned. “How much did you bet Jack?”
“Five.”
“Five bucks? That’s it?” I breathed a sigh of relief that it wasn’t more. Nate had a tendency to exaggerate sometimes, but he shook his head.
“Five hundred dollars,” he groaned. My mouth dropped open in shock.
“Sucks to be you, man.” Linc laughed and started leading me back to the ballroom.
“You can split it with me,” Nate said, jogging to catch up.
“Hell, no. That’s your fault for trying to make money off me and your sister.” He paused with one hand on the door handle and looked at Nate. “So, we’re all good?”
“Yeah, we’re all good, unless…”
“I hurt her, but it won’t happen, because I plan on making her my wife.” Linc grinned and pushed the doors open.
My mouth dropped open.
“Close your mouth, Ace. You’re drooling.” He tapped my chin with his finger.
“Stupid ass,” I mumbled, still trying to wrap my head around the whole wife comment.
Linc winked at me and walked off.
“You’re really okay with this?” I asked Nate.
“Yes. I’m just surprised it took you both this long.” He stood beside me with his arms crossed.
“We both thought you’d freak out.”
“Well, if it was anyone else, I might have, but it’s Linc. He’s loved you forever, and he’s always done right by you. He’s a good guy.”
“He really is,” I agreed. “Can I ask you something though?”
“Sure.”
“Why didn’t you tell me about his accident?” I didn’t know what made me think of it, but I was suddenly curious why they would keep it from me.
Nate ran a hand over his face and sighed. “You’d left pretty mad. I wanted you to have a few days to cool off before I called you, but then he was fine, and I didn’t see the point in worrying you over nothing. Or stressing him out when he needed time to recover. Sorry, sis. I should have told you, but I was looking out for you both.”
“I guess that makes sense. Still not happy I only just found out, but it’s in the past,” I said, falling silent as my gaze met Linc’s.
“You happy?” Nate asked.
“Yeah.” I sighed dreamily as I watched Linc talking to my parents. He was intense, his hands waving around, and whatever he was saying appeared to have the desired effect. My mother hugged him, and my dad shook his hand, clapping him on the back and pulling him in for one of those awkward man hugs.
“What was that?” I asked when he came back over and pressed a kiss to my lips.
“That’s my cue to leave.” Nate cleared his throat and looked away, pretending to see something interesting on the other side of the room and leaving us alone.
“That was me speaking to your parents.” Linc wrapped his arms around my waist and started swaying to the music.
“About what?”
“Us.”
“What about us?”
“Just told them that as much as I tried not to, I love you and want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
“And?” I asked hopefully.
“What more do you want?” he teased. “I asked your dad for permission to marry you,” he said casually, like it was no big deal.
“You did what?” I screeched, pulling back.
“He said yes. Seemed like he couldn’t wait to give you away. Do you irritate your folks that much?” He laughed.
“He said yes?” I was shocked. After the look on their faces earlier, I was prepared for a war.
“Seems like they knew as well. Apparently, everyone knew but us.”
“So, we’re getting married. Is that what you’re telling me?” I asked as Linc grabbed my hands and pushed me out, spinning me under his arm and bringing me back in again. When did he learn to dance like that?
“Not so fast, Ace. I haven’t proposed…yet.” He brought his lips down to mine.
Chapter
Twenty-Six
Linc
There was a party after the reception that I was really keen on skipping. I had a girlfriend I wanted to spend as much time alone with as possible. But things rarely worked out the way I’d hoped. The after party somehow ended up occurring in our room. Well, Indie’s room, because Jack-ass had the key and let everyone in, but the connecting door meant my room was open for all as well.
It had probably been the most stressful night I’d ever had. Nate being okay with me and Indie meant a lot. The fact that he had known for years and hadn’t said anything was surprising, though. If it had been the other way around, I would have been pissed, then I’d have come around and dealt with it and probably ended up teasing him about it constantly. But all he said was, “About time,” and that was it.
The fact that Nate had been so cool about it gave me the confidence to speak to their parents. I wasn’t nearly as nervous as I had been earlier when I was convinced I was a dead man. And again, they surprised me. Sure, they were a little disappointed they had to find out by catching us hiding in a corner, but they understood our hesitation at announcing it straight away, and after I reassured them I had her best interests at heart, and I intended to marry her one day, they were thrilled.
All that lying to ourselves and everyone else, all that sneaking around and petty games, and it was all for nothing. We had nothing to worry about at all. Everyone was happy for us. They’d taken bets, for crying out loud, on when we’d get together officially. Jack had taken that bet with more than just Nate, and if my calculations were correct, he was about two grand richer right now, which might explain all the champagne he ordered from room service. He had better be fixing up that bill when we checked out.
Indie’s laughter floated across the room, catching my attention immediately. She was giggling at something Kenzie had said, and I stood mesmerised by her and her smile.
“So, how does it feel?” Brody came and stood beside me.
“What?”
“Being whipped.” He laughed.
“Feels like I got the girl. Finally.” I smiled at Indie, who had noticed I was watching her.
“Took you long enough.”
“Yeah, yeah, I know.” I shrugged, not really caring that it took a long time. I had a lifetime to make up for the time we missed.
“Harper and I have been talking again,” Brody murmured.
“Again? What do you mean?”
“Geez, man, you’ve been living under a rock this week. Or
is it because I don’t wear a skirt and go by the name of Indie that you don’t pay any attention to me?” He shook his head.
“Sorry, I have been kind of preoccupied. Tell me what you mean by ‘again.’”
“If you paid attention, you would have known Harper and I dated a few years ago, back when she was just starting at uni, but for whatever reasons, it didn’t work out. After a while, she moved back to Blackhill, and I stayed in the city to finish my degree.”
“You guys dated and broke up. How did we not know about this?” I didn’t remember him having a girlfriend while away at school.
“Nate knew.”
“Of course, he did.” Nate knew everything, didn’t he? “So?”
“So, what?”
“You and Harper?”
“Nah, man, nothing. It was just weird running into her here of all places after so long,” Brody said, walking away.
“Right,” I said with a nod. I was pretty sure there was more to the story, but I really didn’t care. I just wanted to kick everyone out and get Indie all to myself, but instead, I followed Brody out to the balcony where the guys were hanging around drinking beers.
The sun was almost up when everyone decided to call it a night and go back to their rooms. Indie was tidying up the room when I grabbed her hand and dragged her out the door.
“Linc, what are we doing?” she whispered as we rushed down the hallway to the elevators.
“I want to see something,” I said, pushing her in the elevator and kissing her quickly.
Once the elevator reached the bottom floor, I led Indie outside and to the beach, where I collapsed on the sand and pulled her down with me.
“What—” she began to ask, but I cut her off with a kiss.
“Just watch.”
We sat quietly on the warm sand and watched the sun gradually rise on the horizon. “I wanted to see the sunrise at least once while being here.” I pressed a kiss to the top of her shoulder. “But every morning, I’ve been too preoccupied with watching you sleep that I’ve always missed it.”
