He looked so unbelievably hot walking up to the group, sliding his sunglasses into the pocket of his coat, smiling around at everyone, that Via almost missed the way his eyes doubled back, immediately, to her. Almost.

Via knew her dress was a stunner. Fin had bought it for her at a sample sale a year ago but she’d never had a real reason to wear it. The jade green silk fit her like a glove from breast to knee and was seamless, wrinkle-less perfection. The neckline scooped modestly over her breasts and was held up by two gaspingly thin straps that fell far down her back, showing her almost to the base of her spine. The color did things for her eyes, she could admit.

“Well, don’t you look dapper,” Shelly said to Sebastian, her eyes shining with unshed tears.

“You look beautiful, too, Shelly,” Seb said as he studied Shelly’s face. “Is everything all right?”

“Oh, don’t mind me. This is just the first wedding I’ve been to without Richard and—”

Shelly cut off in surprise as Seb gathered her in close for a hug that had that force field in Via’s chest swallowing Brooklyn whole. This man was making feelings grow inside of her so fast and so hard that she didn’t even know what to direct them toward. She watched him from across the group—and she wasn’t the only one. He was like some rare form of wild beast that had somehow been convinced into a three-piece suit. Via couldn’t help but feel, for one painful second, like his presence in her life had to be temporary. Nothing this beautiful and rare could possibly last.

“I’ll be your wedding date, Shelly,” he told her, a firm hand on each of his friend’s shoulders.

“Oh, Sebastian.” Shelly blushed all the way to the roots of her hair. “You don’t have—”

“I’m sad my husband’s dead, too,” Grace cut in blandly. “Be my date.”

Seb laughed at her irreverence. “I’d never turn down two dates.”

He held an arm out to both ladies just as the gates opened and the guests were allowed to find their seats at the outdoor wedding.

Via followed the group, a little at odds now that Sebastian was here but hadn’t even said hi. She watched from a row back as he got the two ladies settled in.

“Via, you really look stunning,” Cat said from beside her. “I couldn’t even staple myself into a dress that looked like that.”

Via laughed. “Oh, Cat, you look beautiful, too. I love that style.”

“But seriously, the color and everything, Via, it’s breathtaking.”

“She’s right,” Grace said, turning around and eyeing Via’s dress.

Via blushed and fussed with the program in her hands. She could feel the bright lights of Seb’s gray-greens on her, but still he didn’t say anything.

“Oh, here we go!” Cat squealed as music started and people rushed to find seats.

Via cried the whole dang wedding and was extremely proud of herself for remembering to bring spare makeup. Because, girl, she needed a fix up.