Miles

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She’s so fucking beautiful it hurts to look at her. I’ve spent weeks waiting for this moment. Every single thing I’ve done has been leading up to this, and damn if it hasn’t been worth every second now that she’s here, standing in front of me. Reminding me of exactly what I’ve been fighting for.

She avoids my gaze as she makes her way down the aisle. I can tell that she’s purposely looking anywhere but at me, but that doesn’t stop me from looking at her.

She looks stunning in her knee-length purple dress and silver heels. She has her hair pulled back away from her face, and long silver earrings hang low from each ear.

I memorize every detail.

The pale pink of her lips. The way the sun heightens the red hue in her strawberry blonde hair. How her slender fingers grip the flowers in her hand so tightly, it’s like they are the only thing keeping her feet on the ground.

She takes her place next to where Stella will be and turns back toward the door, but even as the bride starts to come down the aisle, there’s only one woman I care enough to look at.

And then her eyes sweep to me. The instant our gazes lock I swear I feel my knees physically shake beneath me.

There’s so much behind those brilliant green eyes of hers. Pain. Uncertainty. Doubt. Anger. Things I never used to see when I looked at her. It damn near guts me knowing I put that there.

When Stella and her father reach the end of the aisle, I have no choice but to turn my focus to the bride, but that certainly doesn’t stop me from glancing Harlow’s way countless times throughout the short ten-minute ceremony.

I can’t get enough of her. It’s like I’ve been walking around blind and all of a sudden I can see again. Everything looks brighter, more vibrant and colorful, more beautiful.

The ceremony flies by in a blur. It feels like one minute Stella’s father is giving her away and the next the minister is introducing the new Mr. and Mrs. Cabell.

As soon as the announcement is made, everyone immediately erupts in a cloud of applause, standing as Winston and Stella make their way back up the aisle hand in hand.

I quickly move to stand next to Harlow just as she starts to follow them out. She glances up at me and then to the arm I extend to her. I watch about twenty different emotions dance across her face before she finally links her arm with mine and allows me to lead her across the deck and back into the restaurant.

——

It’s been two hours since Stella and Winston exchanged their vows. Two hours of family, friends, good food, and lots of laughter. Two hours that I’ve sat here wishing I could sit next to Harlow. That I could hold her hand. That I could be the reason for the smile on her face.

I was hopeful when she allowed me to escort her back into the restaurant that maybe we’d have a brief moment to talk, but she was swept away moments after we stepped inside and I haven’t had the chance since.

It’s been torture – being this close to her and yet feeling the limitless distance that stretches between us.

I watch from my seat as she crosses the deck and slides onto a stool at the outdoor bar. My eyes travel down to where her dress opens up, revealing nearly her entire back. I remember what it feels like to run my hands down that back, how her skin would always prickle under my touch.

“Are you just going to sit there all night staring at her or are you going to talk to her?” Stella plops down in the chair next to me, taking a gulp out of her champagne flute before setting it on the table.

“I’m not staring.” I shake my head, lifting the beer bottle to my lips.

“Yeah, and I’m not wearing white.” She snorts.

“Don’t you have a new husband you can aggravate?” I smirk at her.

“Why yes, I do. But aggravating you is so much more fun.”

“And why is that?” I cock a brow.

“So what? You’re just going to sit here all day pining over her but never actually make your move?” She leans back in her seat, completely ignoring my question.

“I’m waiting for the right time,” I tell her pointedly.

“Well I hate to tell you this, Miles, but there isn’t going to be a right time. You’re just going to have to suck it up and do it.”

“Is that so?” I smirk.

“It is. And I’m married now, so that means I know things.” She giggles.

“Pretty sure that’s not how it works.” I shake my head at her.

“How would you know? Have you ever been married?” She curls her nose at me, clearly feeling the effects of the champagne she’s been throwing back for the last two hours. “Oh wait, you haven’t,” she answers her own question.

“Are you about finished?”

“Nope. I’m going to sit here and bother you until you get your ass up and go talk to the woman you’re clearly still in love with.”

“That obvious, huh?” I finish off the remainder of my beer.

“Painfully.” She laughs.

“Well, in that case.” I push to a stand, taking my empty beer bottle with me. “If you’ll excuse me.”

“Go get her,” she says moments after I start to walk away.

Shaking my head, I take a deep breath in and let it out slowly as I approach the bar. Sliding up next to Harlow, I set my empty beer bottle on the counter before signaling the bartender for another.

“I haven’t had the chance to tell you how beautiful you look tonight,” I say, keeping my eyes forward.

She tenses next to me, but to my surprise, she doesn’t make any attempt to leave.

“Thank you,” she responds as the bartender slides a fresh beer across the bar to me. “You look very nice as well.”

“It’s been a long time since I’ve worn a suit. I kind of feel foolish,” I admit, taking a long pull of my beer as I turn in her direction.

“Well you don’t look foolish,” she says, hesitating for a long moment before her gaze finally slides to mine.

“I’ve missed you.” I hadn’t meant to admit that to her. It’s true, but not how I was intending on starting this conversation.

“Me too.” She gives me a sad smile. “Well, I should probably get back to my family.” She slides off her stool and quickly turns.

“Harlow, wait.” I wrap my hand around her bicep to keep her from walking away.

“I can’t do this right now, Miles,” she says, her face still turned away from me.

“Can we go somewhere and talk?” I ask, releasing her arm as I step directly in front of her, giving her no choice but to look at me.

“I shouldn’t,” she starts, but I immediately cut her off.

“Please, Harlow. Just give me five minutes.”

“Miles, I...”

“Five minutes, Low. After I’m done, if you never want to speak to me again, I promise you’ll never have to .”

She holds my gaze for what feels like a full minute before she finally nods.

I take her hand, feeling her tense at the contact, before pulling her to the opposite side of the deck. I lead her through a wooden gate and down the small staircase that leads down to the ground level.

“Where are we going?” Harlow asks when I pull her in the opposite direction of the parking lot.

“You’ll see.” I smile, leading her down toward the water.

Within minutes we reach the concrete pathway that lines the river and eventually circles up to the bridge.

“I didn’t know there was a path down here,” she says, looking out over the water.

“They’ve redone a lot of this in the last few years.” I nod my head, gesturing for us to keep walking.

“It’s really nice.” She pauses, letting out a slow breath. “So what did you want to talk about? I really don’t want to be gone long.”

“We’re almost there,” I tell her, veering left off the path and up a small hill to where there’s a massive rock sitting at the top.

“You brought me to a rock?” She looks at me like I have five heads.

“It’s not just any rock.” I laugh, taking her by the shoulders and turning her back toward the water. The sun has begun to set, casting an orange glow across the sky which makes for an incredible view over the river.

“Wow. The river looks beautiful from here.” She lets out a slow exhale.

“Me and Winston used to come up here and get high,” I tell her, laughing when she turns, wide eyes in my direction.

“You didn’t?”

“Oh, we did.” I chuckle. “But over the last few years, it’s become more of a quiet escape for me. A place I like to come when I feel like I need to get away.” I hold out my hand to her. “Come here.” I wait until she takes my hand before helping her up onto the rock. Once she’s settled, I hop up next to her, my heart feeling like it might beat out of my chest at any moment.

We sit in silence for a long moment. I open my mouth to say something a hundred times but I can’t seem to find the right words to start with. I guess there’s no easy way to ease into a conversation that has the magnitude to be life-changing.

Depending on how this goes, I could walk away from here today with the woman I love, or I could truly lose her forever. I guess there’s only one real way to find out where my future lies.