“It’s okay, Luna girl. We will fix this, I promise.”

He makes it seem so simple. Maybe I would believe him if Alec were texting me, or had come to my apartment, but at this point, I don’t think there’s any chance of bridging the gap I’ve put between us, of making him know he wasn’t the wrong choice.

I haven’t been able to see clearly for the last half hour as my brother and his love finally have their moment.

The cameras swirling around us, the guests sitting in attendance, the decorations—none of it matters as I hold my breath, waiting for Cohen to say his vows.

After a long “planning” session with my family on how to get me back with Alec, I kissed everyone good night and went back to my apartment. I held my phone close to my chest, wondering if I should text Alec like everyone suggested. But every time I started to type something out, my nerves took over, and I erased it quickly.

The tea ceremony was . . . God it was intimate and beautiful, a moment where Cohen and Declan were able to show appreciation to their parents for their support. I bawled like a baby.

And then, after I returned home, a heavy heart weighing on me, I attempted and failed to text Alec for the fifth time. Cohen texted, asking if I’d reached out to him yet. When I told him I couldn’t get up the nerve, Cohen called and proceeded to tell me that Alec showed up at their apartment and apologized for everything that had happened.

I cried myself to sleep last night, my heart breaking at the thought of Alec visiting my brother and trying to heal the rift I never should have blamed him for.

And then this morning, after Farrah helped me get rid of my puffy eyes, Declan and Cohen cornered me, asking what I planned on doing when I saw Alec today, because we would run into each other. It’s part of The Wedding Game—we all have to attend each other’s weddings, and it’s why they’re all on one weekend. Back to back to back.

My answer to them . . . I don’t know.

And as I’m standing here, beside my brother, at the fake altar we built with Cohen’s chuppah and decorated with our baby’s breath and fern garlands—unable to stand in a circle like I originally planned, now fully on display up front—I can’t bring myself to look out into the crowd. I’m terrified I’ll make eye contact with Alec—I still don’t know what I’m going to do when I see him.

Do I give him a hug?

Apologize?

Duck away and hide for the rest of the night?

Cohen clears his throat, bringing my attention back to the wedding. He pulls his vows from his jacket pocket—the wedding attire turned out beautifully—and carefully unfolds them. I know this moment is huge for him—not only is he expressing his feelings, but he’s doing it in public.

He takes a deep breath and looks up at Declan. “Love is a state of being in my family. When I was growing up, my parents spent countless hours every day showing my sister and me what true love looked like. It was an emotion I always felt, but an emotion I wasn’t sure I was ever going to let out.” He takes a deep breath. “Coming out to my parents, to my sister, that was never the issue, because like I said, they loved me unconditionally. But when it came to the outside world, to everyone else, that’s where the problem was. As time went on, I started to feel more and more empty, and I believed that the beautiful love my parents have would never be something I could experience . . . until you.” Tears run down my cheeks, and I don’t even bother to wipe them away.

“You showed me that I am lovable, that I could spend countless hours sitting with you on the couch and feel happier than I ever have before. You showed me it’s okay to love one another—not just behind closed doors, but out in the world too. You helped me build a home and a future, one I never thought I’d have. You changed my entire life with one little smile, and I promise you, till the day I die, I will make your life as meaningful and full of love as you make mine. I love you.”

Oh sweet Jesus. I let out a breath and stare up at the ceiling, trying to keep my makeup from melting off before I have to walk back down the aisle.

I’m so distracted with keeping my eyeliner in place that I miss what the reverend says, and before I know it, Declan is cupping Cohen’s cheeks and they’re kissing so passionately that I feel my face heat up. Our friends and family cheer, and I let out a hoot myself. When Declan finally lets go, the reverend introduces them as husband and husband, and they’re walking down the aisle, hand in hand. I follow behind, wiping at my eyes and trying to hold it together.

When we get to the end of the aisle, we step off to the side, and I wrap my arms around both of them.

“I’m so happy for you guys.” I playfully push Cohen’s shoulder. “Thanks for making me cry like an idiot.”

“Anytime.” He smiles and kisses the top of my head. “Now get in line.”

“Get in line?” I ask. “What are you talking about?”

“Last-minute change.” He smiles even wider. “We decided to have a receiving line.”

I’m going to kill them . . . dead . . . on their wedding day.

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

ALEC

Fuck, she looks beautiful.

The moment she walked down the aisle, it felt like a bowling ball had knocked all the wind out of my body. From her beautiful green dress, to her silky long hair swept into a low bun, to the minimal makeup highlighting her gorgeous eyes, she stole my breath.

I couldn’t take my eyes off her the entire ceremony. And as she cried happy tears for her brother, relief filled my body—if everything is right with them, then this terrible week just got a silver lining.

Sure, Thad isn’t entirely happy with me, and Luna and I are still broken up, but all that matters is that she and Cohen have reconciled—I’d never forgive myself for wrecking their relationship.

When I arrived at the Shed this morning, I met up with Thad and Naomi, hoping things might have improved. Thad gave me a curt nod and stalked away, while Naomi shot me a sympathetic look. They probably shared a calzone when I left, but beyond that, no progress seems to have been made.

I didn’t even push it. I didn’t want to make a scene with Thad. I just followed them inside, hands in my pockets, my heart heavy.

I’ve never really had people mad at me like this before. It’s uncomfortable, knowing that someone is dreading running into you. Contractually we are supposed to show up to every ceremony, but our contracts don’t say anything about staying for the receptions. The crowd is full of smiles and love for the couple, and I would truly just bring everyone down. I think I’m going to do us all a favor and take off. I witnessed a beautiful ceremony, but the food and dancing will just make things incredibly awkward. Once this crowd clears up, I’m taking off.

“That was so beautiful,” Naomi says. “Cohen’s vows just about killed me.”

Yeah, me too.

“It was really nice,” Thad says, sounding uncharacteristically reserved. “What’s happening right now?” He cranes his head over the rest of the guests. “Why is it taking forever to leave this room?”

“Receiving line,” Naomi says.

“What?” I ask, my heart rate picking up.

“Looks like the whole wedding party,” Naomi says, a small smirk forming on her face.

Fuck.

I scan the perfectly decorated room; Luna’s vision has truly come to life, with all the twigs she scrounged, the garland she painstakingly made, the artfully arranged bouquets of burlap flowers, and the well-placed tree stumps. But it isn’t just beautiful; it’s touches of Cohen and Declan. It’s the little grooms on top of the chocolate cake that speak so heavily of who they are. The pictures of them as a couple placed strategically throughout the venue, and Cohen’s carpentry displayed so artistically on the table through candleholders. It’s the perfect combination of everything I’ve heard Luna talk about. I wish I could tell her how beautiful it is, how much I can feel the love permeating the space. Instead, I scour it for any other exit, but there are none, making me want to report the venue to the fire department—shouldn’t there be an emergency exit?

An emergency exit made for moments like this, when a man has fucked up so badly he needs to flee the scene?

Naomi must sense my panic because she places her hand on my arm and whispers, “It will be okay, Alec.”

I glance at Thad. He’s watching Naomi and me with narrowed eyes. I half expect him to freak out about us having a “thing” behind his back.

But he doesn’t say anything. Instead, he steps in front of us as we funnel into a line.