I’m pretty sure they don’t care about anything but each other.

As my brother and my very soon-to-be sister-in-law join hands, gazing into each other’s eyes, I watch as Jude makes his vows, promising to only love her, while the room is full of tears. My mom is crying so hard, she’s gone through a whole box of Kleenex, and my dad should be beside her, but he isn’t. And for once, I’m okay with that. We don’t need him. She doesn’t need him. We have each other, and we will love each other enough to make up for the loss of his presence.

As Claire declares her love to Jude, I try to pay attention. I mean, I know I should, but it’s hard because, while they declare their love, I want to declare mine to Baylor. But as I look out into the room full of people who love Jude and Claire, I don’t see the person I love. I pray that doesn’t mean she isn’t here. That would mean I would have to wait hours before I can find her, but it would be so like her. Lord knows she doesn’t make my life easy, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.

She’s mine.

Figures! Today is the day I am running late. First, I couldn’t get my hair to do what I wanted. Then I changed into seven different outfits before I decided on a simple little black dress that I know Jayden loves. And then the real kicker is that I got lost finding the damn mansion. I blame all this on the fact that I’m a mess. I can’t think straight, and God, I miss him. So fucking badly.

Since I know the wedding has started, I decide to sit in the car and wait until the reception. Turning on the radio, I sit back and twirl my thumbs. I’m nervous, my heart, it just hurts, and I’m convinced that it won’t heal until I see Jayden. Until I feel his lips on mine and I utter the words that we both so desperately need me to say.

As I close my eyes, I know what I need to do when I get in there. I need to muster up all the confidence in the world. I need to know that when I tell him how I feel, he’s gonna wrap me up in his arms and kiss the hell out of me. It’s scary, and it’s hard to let go of all that fear. But the truth won’t hurt us; it will only help us grow. And I have to be honest with myself and him.

I love him. I need him. And nothing can ever change that.

I’m a mess without him. Hell, I’m a mess with him, but I have to clean it up and be the woman he needs and deserves. That woman is someone who loves him, and I’m that woman, I just need to tell him that because I can’t go another second without him.

When movement grabs my attention out of the corner of my eye, I see Jude and Claire coming out of the building, blissfully happy. And my God, they look like they’ve stepped out of a magazine! I want that. I want to feel that. When I see Jayden, I throw the door open, fully ready to pounce because I can’t wait any longer, but then he is being ushered toward a photographer and my heart sinks.

Maybe this wasn’t the place for this?

No! It is. Confidence, Baylor. Suck it up!

“Hey, what are you doing?”

Glancing over. I find Jace looking at me with his brow up. “Why are you out here and not in there?”

“I was late,” I admit shyly, and then I smile with a shrug.

He grins. “Thought you were hiding.”

“I probably am, subconsciously,” I say, and he laughs.

“Probably, knowing you,” he teases. “But you’re here, so get in there. We’ll be in in a bit. I have to get Angie’s shoes for pictures. She left them in the car, and by the time anyone noticed we were already at the altar.”

“Oh, okay,” I say as he rushes to his mom’s car, but I don’t move.

When he comes back, he looks at me funny. “What are you doing?”

Wrinkling my face, I shrug. “Does he even want to see me?”

Giving me a bored look, he says, “Yes, Baylor. Now go, stop being a little puss.” He starts for where his family is taking pictures, but then he turns to look at me. “Just be real, Baylor. Don’t beat around the bush, just be real.” When I don’t say anything, just stare at him, he shakes his head and laughs. “Y’all are the most frustrating couple in the world. I love you both, I do, but shit, just be together and be happy.”

Just be together and be happy.

I can do that.

But can Jayden? Or did I ruin that chance?

Sucking in a breath, I walk up the walkway and enter the door that says Reception on it. After getting my table assignment, which I am pleasantly surprised to find I have, I go to table number two. Sitting down next to a gorgeous lady with auburn hair, I cross my legs as she looks over at me with eyes the color of emeralds.

“Baylor Moore?”

Surprised, I nod my head. “Yes?”

“Hi,” she says sweetly in a thick country accent, taking my hand in hers. “I’m Elli, and Claire and my uncle have told me so much about you. I made sure she sat you next to me and my husband.”

I look past her to see her husband, and my jaw drops. It’s fucking Shea Adler, the captain of the Nashville Assassins, and everything inside me freezes. If that’s Shea Adler, then this is Elli Adler, owner of the Assassins.

Oh, I’m gonna kiss Claire.

Reaching over, he shakes my hand and then smiles. “So we heard you’re gonna be the first woman in the NHL?”

“That’s the plan,” I say breathlessly. “I was actually speaking with your uncle at our little fundraiser back in November.”

“Oh, I know, he told me all about you! We’ve been watching your game. We were at the game when Jude’s brother got hurt.”

Oh, God.

“Bad hit for him, but man, can you take some hits of your own,” Shea says with a nod, and I unfreeze. They don’t think it’s my fault?

Breathing in deeply, I nod. “Yeah, I’m as tough as they come.”

“And you can shoot, you’re fast, and man, we really like your game,” Elli says very adamantly as she talks with her hands. “I’ve never seen anything like you.”

“Me either,” Shea agrees. “We were really looking forward to meeting you.”

“Wow, I’m a little speechless here,” I laugh, a little overwhelmed as I look away.

When I look to the side, I see Jayden walking in with Jace beside him.

And he looks perfect.

With his hair brushed to the side, his face clean-shaven and his suit fitting him effortlessly, I let out a dreamy sigh. Looking back the Adlers, I know I need to stay and talk. This could further my career, and I need that, but I need to talk to him more.