Beautiful Sacrifice (The Maddox Brothers #3)(59)
Author: Jamie McGuire

Ellison scooted down, creating an empty chair between us. “Sit here, Cami.”

“Oh, thank you,” Camille said.

I had the feeling Cami meant more than just giving her a place to sit.

Camille’s razored haircut bounced when she sat, and then she tugged at the bodice of her strapless dress. Her arms were covered in dozens of tattoos—large and small, simple and intricate—that ran down to her fingers.

She flashed a perfect smile, and I nodded.

“Falyn,” I said.

“I’m Camille.”

“Which …” I began but decided too late that it was an inappropriate question.

“Trenton,” she said.

Ellison held up Camille’s left hand. “They just got engaged! Can you freaking imagine?”

“I don’t … know what you mean,” I said.

Jim laughed. “She means, the thought of marrying a Maddox boy scares her. And she should be worried. She’s going to give in sooner or later.”

“According to Tyler,” Ellison said.

“You are not even fooling yourself,” Camille quipped.

Ellison just shook her head, still in good spirits.

After a few minutes, an older couple arrived with another woman. Jim introduced them as his brother, Jack, and his wife, Deana. The woman was America’s mother, Pam.

I looked down at my phone, checking the time. It was only ten minutes before the ceremony.

A fifth woman arrived, gripping her clutch and trying her damnedest to appear calm.

“Liis!” Camille said, a hint of panic in her voice. She reacted to Liis’s arrival, scooting away from me.

“What?” Ellison said, moving to the last seat in the row. “I thought …”

Camille seemed to just realize what would come next when she settled into her seat.

Liis stared in horror at the empty seat between Camille and me. Then she quickly sat down and looked forward.

Camille and Ellison traded looks, Camille’s cheeks flushing.

Liis was stunning, her shiny black hair a beautiful contrast to her vivid purple dress. It wasn’t hard to guess which brother she was with because Thomas had kissed her cheek before cutting across the gazebo’s steps.

“Hi, Liis,” Jim said, leaning forward.

She did the same, grabbing Jim’s outstretched hand. Ellison watched the exchange with a warm smile, but Camille tried her best to ignore it.

Uh-oh. Wonder what that’s about?

Music began to play from a few speakers placed on each side toward the front, and the pastor took his place, followed by the men.

The groomsmen were in order by age from youngest to oldest. “Is that Shepley? The best man?” I asked Jim.

Jim nodded, scanning all the boys like a proud father. I could see they were a close family, and I wondered how anyone managed to keep any secrets.

Taylor looked incredible in his tux, but I felt weird thinking that because he looked exactly like Tyler, whose sort-of girlfriend was sitting two seats away from me. Taylor winked at me, and we all chuckled when the other brothers did the same at nearly the same time to their love interests.

The wedding procession began, and I sat back and watched as Travis and Abby renewed their vows, pledging their love to one another. It was beautiful and raw and genuine. They were young, but the way they looked at each other was so touching that it made my heart hurt.

They had a long future ahead of them, a future that included children and grandchildren. As far as I knew, Taylor was the only brother standing who was guaranteed not to have that same chance. There he stood, undeniably happy, as he watched Travis renewing his vows, peeking over at me when his brother said words like forever and always.

Less than ten minutes after Abby joined Travis in the gazebo, the pastor instructed them to kiss, and we all cheered. Jim hugged me to his side, chuckling and wiping his eyes with his other hand.

I held up my phone to snap a picture as Travis held Abby in his arms, sealing their future with a kiss. I made sure to get Taylor watching them with a grin in the shot.

The wind blew Abby’s veil as Travis leaned her back, and the pastor raised his arms.

“I present to you Mr. and Mrs. Travis Maddox,” the pastor said, struggling to be heard over the wind, the ocean waves, and the applause and wild cheering from Travis’s brothers.

Chapter Twenty

I could hear nothing else but rejoicing as Travis helped Abby down the steps of the gazebo. They rushed past their delighted guests before disappearing behind a wall of tall bushes and palm fronds.

The pastor descended the steps, standing in the aisle. “Mr. and Mrs. Maddox ask that you join them at the restaurant Sails for dinner and the reception. I speak for them when I say thank you for being present on this most special day.”

With his hands, he let us know we were free to go, and then Jim stood, prompting everyone else to stand as well. The men stood around with their hands in their pockets while the women gathered their purses and attended to their smeared mascara.

The brothers relaxed, taking the few steps to the front row.

I held up my phone to Thomas and Liis. “Say cheese!”

Thomas stood behind Liis, enveloping her in his arms, and kissed her cheek.

I snapped the picture and then flipped my phone around to show them the result. “Perfect.”

Thomas hugged her to his chest. “She is.”

“Aw, cute,” I said.

Someone tapped on my shoulder.

When I saw it was Taylor, I hugged him, feeling the stiff fabric of his tuxedo beneath my fingers. “Are you hot?” I asked.

“Baking.”

“Well, you look intolerably sexy,” I said quietly.

His eyes burned when they met mine. “Yeah?”

“There is something to be said about not having all this beauty outside. Makes it easier to stay inside.”

Taylor pulled me against him. “I’m flexible. There’s a perfectly good beach over there.”

Jim clapped his hands and rubbed them together, reminding us other people were around.

But no one was paying attention to our quiet flirtation. Instead, people seemed to notice the palpable tension between Thomas and Liis, and Trenton and Camille.

“Grab your ladies, boys,” Jim said. “I’m starved. Let’s eat.”

Walking hand in hand with Liis, Thomas followed his father, Trenton, and Camille.

“What is all that about?” I asked Taylor.

“Oh, Liis and Camille?”

I nodded.

Ellison leaned in. “They both dated Thomas. It’s going to be awkward for a while, but it’ll get better.”