Chapter 5

CHAPTER FIVE

“So, I have to ask.” Silas’ voice was barely above a whisper. We’d just settled into our seats

I looked in his direction just to see Nathan across the aisle, glaring at us.

“What’s that?” I purposely gave Silas the warmest smile I could muster.

Silas, obviously noticing, looked to his right.

Something came over me and I reached up, cupping my left hand around his right cheek to turn his face back to mine.

As I did so, a smile crept across Silas’ face. “He is not happy, is he?”

“Nope.” I popped the p . “But that wasn’t your question, was it?”

“Did you know that this was the wedding I was talking about when I asked you to be my plus one?”

“Honest to God, no I didn’t. I mean, I don’t even know how this is possible. There were never any connections between Silvie and Nathan before. None of his friends or family knew any of mine. And same vice versa.”

“Who does he know here?”

“He’s related to the groom. Cousins, I think.”

“That makes sense then. We’re cousins with the bride, but never hung out with her fiancé’s family. Silvie and her are still pretty close, but we all grew up together.”

“Hey.” Silvie interrupted, sliding in beside Silas. “What’s up?”

“Just shit-talking Elodie’s ex,” Silas joked.

“That could go on for days.” Silvie retorted.

We were interrupted as a hush fell over the crowd. “It’s starting.” Silvie excitedly smacked her palm against Silas’ knee.

“Ow!” he hissed.

Silvie’s attention was already on the drape-covered archway as the bridesmaids and groomsmen slowly made their way in, two by two.

Then, the drapes fell shut again, and we all stood, turning to face where the bride would be walking through at any moment.

As I did so, I noticed that Nathan was the only one not looking at the archway. Instead, he was still staring at us.

Noticing the same, Silas slipped his hand around my waist and pulled me against him. “Someone cannot let you go, it seems.” Silas pressed his mouth close to my ear. He gave my waist a squeeze as he asked, “Is this okay?”

Admittedly intoxicated by his touch, I leaned into him and nodded.

A quick glance in Nathan’s direction told me that he no doubt saw the gesture. I could see the red rising in his cheeks like a thermometer and had to stifle a laugh.

I pushed any and all thoughts of Nathan out of my mind, focusing on the moment. The bride and her father stepped through the archway, slowly making their way down the makeshift aisle.

I did as I always would at any wedding I attended. I looked at the groom to see his expression. Every time I did, I always felt a rush of happiness for the couple flood through my body.

“I see you like to check the groom’s expression, too.” Silas whispered in my ear, slightly startling me.

“Yes, I do. Everyone’s eyes are on the bride, but seeing just how much the groom loves her is beyond incredible. It’s one of the few moments during a ceremony that he isn’t trying to hold anything in. It’s the most raw moment.”

“More than the kiss?”

“Oh, definitely.”

“I agree.”

At that moment, the bride made it to the groom, and the father handed her off, queueing for us all to sit down.

As the ceremony began, Silas slipped his hand onto my thigh, just above my knee and stayed there through the whole ceremony. When the bride and groom kissed, he gave my leg the slightest squeeze. One that I might not have noticed had I not been fixated on the way his simple touch sent fire through my nerves.

Silas even let his hand linger on my knee as everyone began clapping but had to pull away when we all stood again. The cold absence swept through, causing me to long for his warmth again.

I tried not to think too much into it all. He was just being sweet. We were just faking it to make Nathan leave me alone. To even make him jealous.

But I couldn’t ignore the way my body wanted to react to Silas. To his voice, his touch, his smile. Oh god, his smile, especially when he was looking at me.

I’d just gotten out of a relationship, though. I wasn’t ready for anything new. Hell, I’d even promised myself I wasn’t going to get into anything any time soon.

But damn if my body didn’t agree. Damn if I wasn’t fighting the thoughts ravaging through my mind.

“Pull yourself together.” I mumbled to myself as we made our way to the reception hall.