Rowan chose that moment to walk through the door, hopefully having come to save me from my mother’s wrath. “Relax, Mom.”
“Relax?” she snapped, shoving the glass back toward me and propping her hands on her hips. “It’s the day of my son’s wedding, and my other son is moping in his room like a lovelorn teenager and downing whiskey first thing in the morning, and you want me to relax?” she finished on a shrill screech.
“You know what?” Rowan asked, the very definition of calm as he walked over and threw himself down on my bed like he didn’t have a care in the world, like he wasn’t about to sign his whole life away to a woman in just a matter of hours. “The caterers just showed up downstairs. You should go make sure they haven’t screwed anything up with the menu. You’re so good at that.” He shot our mom a boyish grin, pretending he wasn’t just trying to get rid of her before someone was forced to hog-tie her and lock her in the closet during the wedding.
“Oh! You’re right! I need to make sure everything’s perfect. The last thing we need is for them to serve pasta to Charlene Henderson.” She scoffed and rolled her eyes. “She claims she has an allergy to gluten, but I think she’s just looking for attention. That woman was always so narcissistic.”
I looked at the woman before me like she was insane — which was debatable. “Mom, wasn’t she hospitalized because of it once?”
She waved me off and started for the door. “Wouldn’t be surprised if she did it just so everyone would worry and fuss over her.”
“And you consider this woman a friend?” Rowan asked with a bewildered laugh. “Wow. I’d hate to see how you talk about your enemies.”
“Oh hush,” she chastised before turning to me. “And no more liquor. We can’t have your eyes looking bloodshot in the pictures.” Then she disappeared, gone to rain terror down on the poor, unsuspecting caterers.
I sat back on the couch on the other side of the room and brought the glass back to my lips, savoring the burn as the whiskey slid down my throat and heated my stomach.
Rowan cleared his throat, calling my attention to where he still lay on the bed. “At the risk of pissing you off even more than you have been, you look like shit, brother.”
I snorted and sucked back another swig. “At the risk of sounding like an asshole… go fuck yourself.”
He laughed good-naturedly as he climbed from the bed and walked over to join me on the couch, picking up the bottle of Crown Royal from the coffee table and taking a sip. “Shit,” he coughed. “Couldn’t you have at least pulled out the good stuff? It is my wedding day, after all.”
I chuckled and propped my feet up. “Mom keeps the fifty-year-old Scotch locked in the cupboard. I couldn’t find the fucking key.”
He swallowed another mouthful before looking back at me. “Seriously, though… are you okay?”
I let my head fall back on a heavy sigh, lifting my free hand to scrub at my face. No, I wasn’t okay. But it was my own fault, wasn’t it? I really didn’t have anyone to blame but myself. Instead of answering his question I asked one of my own, one that had been plaguing me ever since he proposed to Navie.
“How did you know you made the right decision? Proposing, I mean.”
Rowan stayed silent for so long I had no other choice but to lift my head and look at him. He stared straight ahead, deep in thought, before finally answering. “I just did.”
I scoffed and rolled my eyes. “Thanks, brother. That really helps.”
He turned his gaze to mine, his identical features looking right back at me. “I don’t know what you want me to say, Rich. I just knew. I mean, I never thought I’d ever get married, but then I met her and… things just changed. I started looking at everything differently. I found myself actually considering a future that wasn’t full of random women whenever I felt like it. And I liked what I saw when I thought about a life with her.”
At his words, considering a future I felt my chest get tight. It hurt to breathe, but I needed to know more. Luckily, he was in a generous mood.
“At first, I thought it was because she made me happy, you know? Some of the shit she said, man,” he chuckled giving his head a slight shake, “it made me laugh, and I hadn’t laughed in a long fucking time. But the longer I was with her, I realized it was more than that.”
“What do you mean?” I asked, on the edge of my seat, literally and figuratively. Without even noticing, I’d scooted to the edge of the couch and placed the glass on the coffee table so I could rest my elbows on my knees.
He rubbed at his jaw as he considered his words. “Well, I realized it wasn’t about how I felt, so much as it was how I made her feel. The only thing I used to care about was myself, what I wanted, shit like that. But then she came along and I discovered that I woke up every single day asking myself what I could do to make her happy, to make her smile. Getting each one of those from her was more important than anything else. I started living each day strictly for her. That’s when I knew I needed her to be my wife. She’s the most important person in my life. She’s my best friend. She made me want to care about someone other than myself, and whatever makes her happy, makes me happy.”
Jesus Christ, that was a lot for me to try and take in, and I was suddenly regretting my decision to start day drinking so early, solely because I wanted a clear mind to mull over everything I’d just heard.
Rowan stood and made for the door, only turning to face me once he reached the threshold. “Look, I’m not going to stand here and pretend to be some fucking genius when it comes to relationships. Truth is, I take it one day at a time, and most of those days I’m following Navie’s lead. But I saw how you were with Delilah. I saw how happy she made you, and how happy you made her. I don’t know what happened between the two of you, but it’s obvious just by looking at you, that you’re not happy with it. That has to matter for something, right?”
It did. It does. I was so lost in thought that all I could do was nod. Then he hit me with something more profound than I could have ever expected.
“She fucked with my head too, Rich.” My eyes shot to his as he continued. “Bree. She fucked with my head, too. But in the end, I found someone so much fucking better than her. Looking back, I can’t believe I wasted so much goddamned time and energy on a woman who wasn’t worth it. You finally put the shit with her behind you and maybe you’ll get as lucky as I did.”
I sucked in a deep breath as my heart beat rapidly against my chest. But he wasn’t done.
“Maybe it’s Delilah, maybe it’s not. But mark my words, there’s someone fucking better. I can promise you that.”
“Thanks, Ro,” I said, my voice suddenly sounding much rougher than it had earlier.
“No problem. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make sure Mom’s busy in the kitchen and not scaring the shit out of Delilah. Navie’ll lose her goddamned mind if those flowers aren’t perfect.”
“Wait. What?” I shot to my feet. “Delilah’s here? Now?”
The bastard shot me a knowing grin. “Pulled up about two hours ago. Griffin, Dex, and Collin went down to help her unload. She should be in the backyard setting up right now—”
He’d barely gotten now out before I bolted for the door, pushing him out of the way in an effort to get to the stairs. I took them two at a time, barely pausing at the foyer before spinning on my bare feet, Hell bent on getting to the backyard. To Delilah.
I had no clue what I was going to say. All I knew was that I needed to see her. And if God was feeling generous, maybe I’d get to see that smile of hers I missed so much.
I HAD MY EARBUDS in, The Black Keys singing about the weight of love as I gently prodded long twigs dripping with crystals into the centerpieces of hydrangeas and peonies, giving the ivory and pale pink flowers a splash of sparkle to match the crystal chandeliers that had been artfully strung from the trees with thick bolts of ivory material that looked like satin. The effect made it appear as if there were a tent in the sprawling backyard of the estate, when
really, the entire space was open. Delicate paper lanterns and white twinkling lights hung from the trees that surrounded the grounds. A parquet wood floor had been laid down for the reception, with forty round tables strategically arranged with pale pink and peach pieces of lace wound around the chairs to accent the fine ivory table clothes. There was a twenty-foot dance floor in front of a raised platform where Rowan and Navie would stand to say their vows. The backyard butted up to tree lines on all three sides, so it looked like the wedding was being held in some magical, secret garden.
It was beautiful, stunning really, everything a girl could possibly imagine for her wedding day. And taking it all in made my heart ache.
Brushing off my melancholy with a heavy sigh, I continued to work until there were only a few tables left. It was, by far, the most beautiful work I’d ever done for a wedding in my life, and if I hadn’t been so damned sad, I would have been really freaking proud.
At the tap on my shoulder, I turned and pulled one of the earbuds out. “Hey,” Toni said. “Devon and I are finished over there. She’s going to run Navie’s bouquet up to her, then we’re going to get dressed for the ceremony. You good here?”
I looked around and noticed everything was almost finished. “Yeah, I’m good. Go on up, I’m not too far behind you.”
“Okay. See you in a bit.”
As they disappeared into the house — estate — I stuck the bud back in and cranked up the music, humming along as I finished up the final few displays. I was on the very last one, leaning over the table to set the vase in the very middle, when something brushed across the small of my back, startling a jolt from me.
“Shit, sorry.” I stopped the music and looked over my shoulder at Richard, who was standing way to close in an effort to help me save the centerpiece from toppling over. “I thought you heard me. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sorry.”
“It’s okay,” I said quietly, a small smile tipping my lips as my cheeks burned pink. “Nothing broke, so no harm, no foul.” I finished straightening the centerpiece and stepped back. Normally, I would spend these last few moments admiring my work, but with Richard standing next to me, it was hard to think of anything but him.
“Wow,” he breathed, sounding like he was in awe as he spun in a slow circle and took everything in. “It’s gorgeous here, Delilah. You really did a fantastic job.”
A nervous snort of laughter bubbled up my throat as I burned even redder. “Well, there were several vendors, so it wasn’t just me. But… thank you. I appreciate that.”
“Don’t sell yourself short, cutie.” He grinned sweetly down at me, reaching over to tuck a strand of hair that had fallen from my bun behind my ear. “You’re incredibly talented.” He leaned down and whispered conspiratorially and winked, causing my heart to skip. “The flowers are the best part.”
“Thanks,” I whispered, dipping my head to look down at my feet, unable to look at his handsome face any longer. God, why did it have to hurt so bad? I’d spent three years with Brant before finding out he’d been cheating on me. But even that hadn’t hurt half as bad as having Richard for such a short time before losing him.
“How…” he paused to clear his throat and I looked up in curiosity, noticing for the first time just how dragged down he looked. His jawline was covered in more scruff than I’d ever seen him wear before. Dark circles shadowed his fierce blue eyes. He looked like he’d been sleeping about as well as I had. “How have you been?”
“I’ve been…” I swept my gaze around the beautiful backyard, a pang of longing sharp in my chest before turning back to face him. “I’ve been okay, I guess. You?”
Richard stared down at me for several seconds, then took a step even closer, leaving only a few inches between us. “Worse than okay,” he said softly, and tears immediately began burning the backs of my eyes.
“Richard—” My breath hitched painfully, cutting me off.
“Delilah, I—” He was interrupted by the sound of a woman calling from the house. “Richard Locklaine! Get yourself in here and get showered right this minute! We’re running out of time and there’s no way I’m letting you stand in your brother’s wedding looking like a hoodlum!”
I looked past his shoulder at the petite woman standing in the doorway to the backyard, dressed in a classic skirt suit, complete with pearls and heels. She looked like pure class from head to toe. She also looked an awful lot like her two sons. “Your mother, I’m guessing?” I asked with a giggle as he dropped his head and rubbed the back of his neck uncomfortably.
“Yeah, unfortunately.”
“Looks like you’re being summoned. You better do what she says.”
“Yeah,” he sighed, looking back toward the house. “You’re right. I need to go.” My heart sank. “But…” then fluttered, “…look, I want to talk to you. Are you sticking around after the ceremony?”
I told myself not to get my hopes up, but I couldn’t control the flutter in my belly as something akin to longing flashed in his eyes. “Uh… y-yeah, I mean yes. I’m staying for the reception.”
He let out a relieved puff of air and touched my hand with his. “Good. I really need to talk to you. Don’t sneak off, okay?”
Man, that pressure in my chest began to grow more and more intense, what could he possibly want to talk about? “I won’t.”
He graced me with one last smile before turning and jogging for the house. It was for the best, really. I needed a moment to collect myself before going inside and getting ready. I gave one last look around and stepped off the temporary wooden floor onto the plush grass, telling myself with every step that I was not going to get my hopes up.
I wasn’t.
FUCK ME.
Would it really have been too much to ask for something to go my way today? I somehow managed to stand through the entire ceremony without jumping from the platform and trampling guests in order to get to Delilah.
Christ, she looked so beautiful in that deep purple dress.
I had every intention of heading straight for her as soon as Rowan kissed Navie, and started in that direction, only to be stopped by my Nazi mother before I even got two feet away.
Then came the pictures. And serious as fuck, how long did it take to snap a couple goddamned pictures? There wasn’t nearly this much fanfare in my and Bree’s wedding, seeing as I was under the impression she was pregnant and not happy about it, but this was fucking ridiculous. Before I knew it, an hour had passed.
An hour I was never going to get back.
Fuck you, photographer.
I kept catching Rowan from the corner of my eyes, smiling and laughing at my obvious irritation, the smug bastard. Not that I wasn’t happy for the guy, he was my brother and I was born forced to love him, after all. And there was no denying that the moment he kissed Mrs. Rowan Locklaine a sense of contentment seemed to have washed over him, like he’d finally gotten what he wanted by giving Navie his name.
But come on!
I turned on my heel as soon as the photographer announced we were finished about to run into the crowds of people milling about with hors d’oeuvres in search of Delilah when my mother caught my arm… a-fucking-gain.
“Where do you think you’re going? Everyone’s being seated for dinner. You have to give your Best Man toast.”
“Mom!” Yep, I actually whined at her like I was six years old, but Jesus Christ. How much longer was this shit going to last?
“Don’t you back talk me, young man. Scoot!” She shuffled me along to the head table where the entire wedding party was to have dinner with the bride and groom. It wasn’t until that moment that I realized I hadn’t really planned out much of a speech. Panic seized my gut as the waiters walked by, handing everyone flutes filled with champagne. I looked to my brother to find him smiling down at Navie as she whispered something that made him laugh. And as soon as she joined in on that laughter, it was like a light bulb went off.
I knew exactly what I was going to say.
And I
began scanning the crowd of guests who had also been seated in the hopes of spotting the one woman I wanted to hear my speech more than anything.
But I couldn’t find her.
I pulled in a deep breath when the DJ handed me a microphone, praying that Delilah hadn’t changed her mind and decided to leave.
“Good evening, everyone,” I spoke into the mic. A hush fell over everyone as they turned their attention to me. “I’m Richard, the better-looking twin,” I said with a sly grin that made everyone laugh. “I’m going to be honest right now and admit that I didn’t write out a speech for this. And, even though I’m sure my mother is planning at least three different ways to kill me right now, I’m not completely empty handed.”
I looked down at the table Mom was sitting at to see her glowering at me in a way only a mom can. Collin, good man that he was, had managed to move all eating utensils from her reach, so at least there was that.
“Earlier today, I asked Rowan how he knew proposing was the right choice, and his answer really resonated with me. He said that he knew it was right when he realized that it wasn’t how happy Navie made him that mattered, but how happy he made her. How the possibility of marriage wasn’t even something he’d considered… until her.” God, I hope she’s listening.
I looked down at my brother and his new wife, returning the smiles they were both beaming up at me before facing the crowd once again. “See, the reason that stuck with me was because I felt the exact same way. Up until very recently, I never gave much thought to the possibility of a future with anyone. But talking with my brother, he opened my eyes to several things. The first is that the true measure of a man should be based on how happy he makes the person in his life, not the other way around. The second is that the possibility of a future is a bright one as long as it’s with your best friend.” I nodded back at them and found Navie wiping her eyes as she burrowed closer into Rowan. “And lastly, you take each day as it comes, and if there ever comes a time when you’re unsure of where it is your supposed to be going, all you have to do is follow her lead.”
Opposites Attract (The Locklaine Boys Book 2) Page 20
