Caught in Us (Caught Series Book 4) by Kacey Shea (free e books to read TXT) 📕

the yard, I don’t spot her in the crowd. She should be here. The ceremony starts in fifteen minutes.

I turn, my back against the window and give my brother a once over. “Your tie is crooked.”

Cam moves in front of the mirror. “Fuck!” He fiddles with it, only making it worse.

I can’t help but laugh.

“I can’t fucking breathe in this damn thing.”

“Here.” I step between him and the mirror. “Relax. You’re freaking out.”

“I should’ve listened to Jill. Eloped at the courthouse. Or jetted off to Vegas.”

“Hey now.” I loosen his tie and adjust it so it lays flat. “Where’s the fun in that? I wouldn’t get to witness my big brother lose his shit.”

He glares at me.

A chuckle rattles my chest. “Okay, okay. Eloping might have been simpler, but I for one am immensely grateful you went all out.” I step back, nodding with approval at his suit before bringing my gaze to his. “Because if you hadn’t planned this wedding, I wouldn’t have met my son.” I shrug. “You basically changed my life with this one day.”

Cam’s shoulders fall, the tension slipping away as his brow furrows with concern. “You’re right.”

I wink. “Always.”

He rolls his eyes, a scoff leaving his lips. “I wouldn’t go that far.”

I nod to the clock. “I think it’s time. You ready?”

Cam claps his hands and rubs them together. “I’ve been waiting years for this.”

“Then let’s go.” I catch a quick glimpse of myself in the mirror, then make sure I have the rings in my coat pocket before following Cam out the door and down the stairs. We walk toward the back doors, passing the kitchen where several workers move around preparing trays of food.

Outdoors, the air is crisp and cool, the sky overcast but not stormy. It’s the perfect day for a wedding. I’m seriously impressed at how the lawn has been transformed. It might not be what they had planned, but life has a funny way of working itself out.

Again, I look for Alicia but come up short. Most of the guests are seated and we’re only a few minutes from the ceremony starting. She’s cutting it close. Fuck. She wouldn’t miss this, would she? Or catch an earlier flight back to London? My pulse races with the possibility.

“You okay, bro?”

“Yeah,” I say absently, scanning the crowd again. It’s not as if I’d miss her. “Just looking for someone.”

“Julia?” Cam clasps my shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll be here.”

“No.” I wince, meeting his stare. “She’s not coming. We broke up.”

“What? When?” He shakes his head. “Last night at the bar?”

“No.” I exhale a long breath. “After. I went to her apartment.”

“Wow.” His brows shoot up with surprise. “That’s big. I take it this has something to do with Alicia?”

“Yeah.”

“Hey,” Cam says, pulling my gaze back to him. “No matter what happens, promise me one thing?”

“What’s that?”

“Wait to do whatever it is your planning until after my wedding.”

Laughter catches me by surprise, along with his request.

“I’m not fucking around. Promise me.”

“Fine.” I shake my head still laughing. “Promise.”

“There you are,” the officiant says. “I think we’re ready to start.”

Nerves grip my gut and I’m not even the one getting hitched. My brother walks with confidence. His gaze is steady as we find our place at the end of the aisle. The simple music cuts off and the guests milling around quickly find a seat. I stand at Cam’s side, staring toward the guest house, expecting Callie then Jill to walk the short distance. But that’s not who slips from the door and makes her way to the rows of seating.

It's Alicia.

My breath hitches. Time stops. The world stills. All because of her.

Crazy as it is, for a moment I imagine this is our wedding and she’s walking to meet me down the aisle. I shake off the vision, knowing it’s probably too much to hope. But when she finds a seat and her gaze finds mine, I swear she sees it, too.

I can’t look away. Even as everyone stands and the familiar wedding march plays. I should probably stare at my brother and his bride, but it’s hard when she’s here. It’s not until Alicia glances down, her lips curving with the hint of a smile that I realize the ceremony is already underway.

The officiant does a good job moving things along. She sticks to the script which will make Jill happy. “Now it’s time for the vows. Both Cameron and Jill have written their own to share as a testament of their love and commitment.” She glances between the couple. “Jill, would you like to go first?”

“I, um.” Jill looks panicked for a moment. Her deer-in-the-headlights reaction would probably freak out most grooms, but my brother doesn’t miss a beat.

“Actually, I’d like to go first. If that’s okay with my bride?”

Jill presses her lips together and nods, gratefulness in her eyes.

“Okay, well. I’m not much of a writer, so you’ll have to forgive me.” He pulls a piece of paper from his suit jacket and unfolds it. “But this comes from my heart, and I think everyone here knows that belongs to you.” He glances up to flash her a smile. “Jill Bennet, my lover, my confidant, my best friend. I promise to live a life that brings honor to you. I already consider you my family and that’s something neither of us takes for granted.”

Jill’s eyes glisten with unshed tears as she nods.

Cam takes her hand and gives it a squeeze. “You showed me what it is to trust and love again. You make my days bright. Every day I come home to you, I feel like the luckiest man in the world because I get to spend it with you. I don’t deserve you.”

“You do,” she whispers.

“I promise to love you, and cherish you always, even when you tell me to fuck off.” He pauses, grinning as several people chuckle. “I’ve always loved you, and I am so grateful for each day you’ve given me. I’ll never stop showing you how