chapter one: the wedding
Kate's POV
I stood in front of the mirror, adjusting my bridesmaid dress for what felt like the hundredth time. The bright pink hue clashed with my mood, but I plastered on a smile as my sister, Emily, beamed at me.
"You're the best chief bridesmaid a girl could ask for, sis," she said, giving me a hug.
I hugged her back, trying to shake off the nerves that had been creeping in all morning. The wedding was finally here, and I was determined to put on a brave face for Emily's sake.
As I helped Emily with her veil, my gaze wandered to the window, where the ceremony setup was coming together in the gardens below. My heart skipped a beat as I spotted him – the groom, Alex.
My ex.
We'd broken up years ago, but the memories still lingered, refusing to be fully erased. I'd thought I'd moved on, but the flutter in my chest told me otherwise.
"Earth to Kate?" Emily's voice snapped me back to reality.
"Sorry, what?"
"I asked if you're ready to head down?" she repeated, eyes sparkling with excitement.
I took a deep breath, forcing a smile onto my face. "Absolutely. Let's do this."
As we made our way to the ceremony, I couldn't help but steal glances at Alex. He looked...different. More polished, more confident. But those piercing blue eyes still sent shivers down my spine.
The ceremony was a blur of flowers, music, and vows. I stood beside Emily, trying to focus on her happiness, but my gaze kept drifting to Alex. He seemed oblivious to my presence, his attention solely on Emily.
As they exchanged their vows, I felt a pang of...something. Regret? Longing? I pushed the emotions aside, telling myself I was just being ridiculous.*As the guests applauded and the newlyweds shared a kiss, Alex's eyes locked onto mine, a mixture of surprise and confusion etched on his face. He excused himself from the wedding party and strode towards me, his long legs covering the distance in quick strides.*
My heart was racing as he grabbed my arm and pulled me aside, into the shade of a nearby tree. The sound of laughter and music faded into the background as we stood there, eyes locked in a silent standoff.
"What are you doing here?" he demanded, his voice low and husky.
I raised an eyebrow, trying to play it cool despite the turmoil brewing inside me. "I'm a bridesmaid, Alex. What are you doing here?"
His gaze narrowed. "You're a bridesmaid? For...Emily?"
I nodded, a hint of a smile playing on my lips. "The bride is my sister."
Alex's face went blank, his eyes widening in shock. He looked like he'd been punched in the gut. "Your sister?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
I nodded again, enjoying the surprise on his face a little too much. "Yeah. Emily's my little sister. I didn't know you were the groom until today."
The implications hung in the air like a challenge. Alex's eyes roamed my face, searching for answers I wasn't sure I was ready to give. "I...I didn't know," he stammered, looking genuinely stunned.
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant despite the chaos inside me. "Guess it's a small world, huh?"
The tension between us was palpable, a live wire humming with unspoken words and unresolved feelings. Alex's eyes held mine, and for a moment, I thought I saw something there – a flicker of the past, a glimpse of what we'd once shared.
But it was quickly snuffed out, replaced by a mask of calm. "I should...go," he muttered, turning to leave.
"Yeah," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "You should."
As he walked away, I felt a pang of...something. Regret? Longing? but I knew one thing this wedding just got a whole lot more complicated.
