Was that all he could manage?
Wow?
“Thanks.” When she stopped at his side, her smile slipped a little bit. He didn’t like the look on her face right now. She looked…distant. “You look nice, too.”
He stared at her, still struck speechless.
“You look gorgeous, Anna,” Nina said. She shot him a dirty look and walked past him. “Even if someone isn’t smart enough to appreciate it.”
Brett raised a brow. “What’s that all about?”
“Nothing,” Anna muttered.
Brett stared at her, confusion rocking through him. There was no doubt that she was acting cold toward him. “Anna—”
“Don’t.” Anna slid her hand into his elbow, where it belonged. “I don’t want to do this before we walk down the aisle.”
Okay, then.
Clearly, she was pissed.
“You look stunning. Absolutely stunning.”
She flushed and averted her eyes. “Thanks.”
His heart stuttered and came to a stop. He recognized that tone of voice. The day before he left for college, she avoided him and refused to say good-bye. When she had, her voice had been strained and distant. It had haunted him for years, and he recognized it now because she was doing it again.
She was saying good-bye to him.
Why?
She must be mad he didn’t fight her brothers last night. Sure, he could have escaped and come to her room, but losing one night together had been a step toward them being together for…well, forever. He’d come clean so they could have a real chance at something together. A real future.
Something she didn’t seem to want anymore.
“Why are you upset?”
“I’m not.” She shot him a narrow-eyed look. “We’re done, and I’m fine with that.”
Something inside his chest twisted. “You know why I didn’t come last night, right? Your brothers—”
“It doesn’t even matter.” She shook her head and gave a little laugh. “We’re done. And I’m fine. It was fun while it lasted, but we both knew it was gonna end quickly. We need to go. We’re holding up the processional.”
Done? How could they be done when they’d only just started?
And how could she be fine with that?
Music started playing, and on autopilot, Brett led her down the aisle, his mind racing, and his stone-cold heart cracking more with every step he took. She looked straight ahead, not once looking away from Chris, and her grip on his arm tightened. There had to be an explanation for her behavior. A reason she pulled away from him.
A reason she didn’t want him anymore.
He slowed down his steps, knowing once they reached the makeshift altar, he wouldn’t get a chance to talk to her again. “You know where I was last night, right?”
“Stop talking. Stop worrying.” They reached the end of the aisle, and she slid her hand out of the crook of his arm. “I’m fine.”
He grabbed on to her hand, trying to find the right words to make her see he hadn’t stayed away out of fear. “Anna. Last night, your brothers—”
She yanked free and stumbled back from the force she exerted, but quickly righted herself. “I said I don’t care. I’m over this, and to be honest? I’m happy I am.”
Smoothing her dress with shaky hands, she plastered a smile on her face and walked to her side of the altar without another glance his way.
Chris cleared his throat and pointed at the spot next to him.
Gritting his teeth, Brett went to his designated spot and clenched his fists. So she didn’t want to be with him anymore. Didn’t want him anymore. Fine. Whatever.
It’s not like he needed her to survive.
It’s not like he couldn’t be alone.
He’d been on his own before, and he was fine. He could be a loner again. As he took his place next to Chris, he studied her with narrow eyes. She’d said she was “over this.” What was this? Did she really mean him? Was she over him? He forced himself to turn away from her averted face, focusing instead on Christopher.
He could tell the exact minute Nina came into view.
Chris lit up like a fucking lightbulb. Brett had never seen a man look more in love. The sheer joy in his face, and the way his hands shook as he lifted them, and then dropped them back to his side with an almost helpless sigh…
Fuck, man, that was love.
Pure love.
He looked away. It felt like he was intruding in a personal moment between Nina and Chris. Instead, he focused on Anna. Her eyes were watery, and she watched her brother with a smile. As if she sensed him watching her, she slowly twisted his way. The smile disappeared, but she didn’t look away from him.