“It will be,” Marley said, kissing the tips of his fingers before lifting them toward the sky. “Everything has been sorted out. Barring any further complications, we’ve got this.”
“We’ve got this,” Reese repeated after him, walking to Colt’s side and giving him a pat on the shoulder. “In an hour from now, this is all just going to be a bad memory and a funny story to tell your kids one day.”
“That’s what I said.” I grinned and lifted my hand for a high-five.
He smacked his palm into mine, and Colt managed a real smile as he watched us. “You guys are idiots, but I love you. If you don’t mind, I’m going to go get married now.”
“Fucking finally,” Josh said, punching his arm before taking his place behind me.
We strode down the aisle single file, pausing to greet the people we hadn’t seen yet and apologizing for the delay. When we made it to the front, we turned as one to wait for the bridal march to start.
My gaze landed on Isabella, sitting in the second row and shooting me a thumbs-up. She looked good enough to eat in a golden dress she’d picked up this morning. It was kitsch as hell, but it fit right in.
I smiled at her, unable to tear my gaze away from her once again. I was getting used to it now, though. At every ceremony, it was the exact same thing, and at each and every one, I wondered what it might’ve been like if it was our wedding day instead.
It was early, but she was the first woman I’d ever been able to imagine feeling strongly enough for to ask her to marry me. But I was getting ahead of myself.
The bridal march finally started and Isabella turned away from me with everyone else to look at the bride when she appeared. We waited for Anna to stride into view, and then we waited some more. When the song ended, Anna was still nowhere to be seen.
People started murmuring in the crowd, and the officiant shot a questioning look at me. Colt was frowning deeply, looking around like he was expecting her to pop up out of one of the pews.
Shit. Fuck. This isn’t good.
“Buy me five minutes,” I muttered to Josh. “Tell the officiant to stall. I’m going to look for her.”
He nodded, and I slid behind their backs and made my way out around the side of the chapel. Breaking into a jog as soon as I was in the clear, I ignored the rain bucketing down on me and made a beeline for the hotel.
Anna had been getting ready in the bridal suite, but when I got there, it was empty. There wasn’t a bride or a bridesmaid around anywhere. Darting from the living area, into the bathroom, and finally into the bedroom, I found a folded note with Colt’s name on it sitting on top of the armoire.
My heart skipped a beat.Please don’t let that be what I think it is. Please God no. Colt is going to be broken if it is, and he doesn’t deserve that.
Grabbing the note, I opened it and my stomach crashed to the floor.I fucking knew it. It is what I thought it was.
Right there, in Anna’s loopy handwriting that was still familiar to me from back in college when I used to borrow her class notes, was the last word we’d receive from the bride today.
Dear Colt,
I’m so, so sorry, but I can’t do this. I don’t think you can, either. You’re just a better person than I am, because you’ll still try even if you know in your heart that it’s not the right thing to do.
I never should’ve let it get this far, but I honestly thought the wedding might fix things. Neither of us have been happy for years, but I was convinced that if we finally made it to I do, then everything would be better but it’s not.
So I’m setting you free. I’m breaking up with you because we both deserve so much more happiness than we’ve been able to find together.
The girls are taking me to the airport. They’ll come back after to help you clean up the mess I’ve left you with. Lean on your friends. They love you and they’ll help you through this.
Anna.
For several long minutes, I stood there just blinking and breathing heavily. I couldn’t believe she was fucking doing this to him, but now I had to go back and deliver the news.
Folding the note again, I tucked it into my pocket and grabbed an open bottle of champagne they’d left behind. I took a long swig, then resisted the urge to toss the thing at the wall. It wasn’t the cleaners’ fault that my best friend’s girl had just up and left him.
On their fucking wedding day.
As soon as Colt saw me walking back into the chapel alone, his face crumbled. It was like he knew what had happened without me even having to tell him. Regardless, I walked right up to him, crammed the note into his hand, and whispered in his ear.
“She’s gone, man. I’m so fucking sorry, but she’s gone. I didn’t see her. Just found this in the bridal suite.”
As I pulled away from him, his expression shifted into a mask of rage, and then he took off, storming out of the chapel without a word to anyone. The other guys, the officiant, and hell, the entire congregation were watching me expectantly.
There was no easy way to say this, so I simply got up behind the podium and made the announcement. “I’m sorry, folks. There won’t be a wedding today.”
The situation was super awkward, with everyone staring at me like they were waiting for me to tell them what to do. I didn’t have a fucking clue either, but my credit card was already down at the bar and Marley and Reese had already delivered the snacks to it.
“Drinks on me at the same place where you were waiting before. We’re sorry for any inconvenience caused.”
I wanted to facepalm myself over that last remark, but fuck, I was supposed to have been the best man for a wedding, not a fixer after the groom got left at the altar.