“Hold up.” Banner grips my shoulder, forcing me to look at him. “Seriously?”

“Yeah,” I answer. “That’s not the reason she’s not here, but Nichole might be sick, so I told Myla to be with her.”

“Well . . . fuck. Should I call her?”

“No, Jesus. Then she’ll know we’ve been talking about her, and you know how much Nichole hates that.”

“Right.” He sticks his hands in his pockets and stares at the floor.

“I thought things weren’t serious with you guys.”

“They’re not, and I truly mean that. They’re not at all. But she has been a part of my life on and off for years. She’s also my sister-in-law’s best friend, so there’s that.”

“Ex-sister-in-law,” I say. “As of last night.”

“What?” Banner says just as JP and Kelsey walk up to us in the lobby.

And fuck do they look happy.

Smiles are plastered across their faces, there isn’t but an inch of space between them, and love is just radiating around them. True happiness. True joy. It reminds me of how it used to be with Myla. How we would spend every free hour we had texting, talking, and being with each other. How even though we had to maneuver around busy schedules, we were each other’s number-one priority.

I wish I could go back to that time when I wasn’t fucking up, when I wasn’t tormenting myself with having to prove something. I wish I could go back to a simpler time when holding my girl’s hand was all I needed to be happy. When we went out on dates for the simple fun of it. When I prioritized my marriage.

Despite how morose I feel, I plaster on a smile for the bride and groom.

“Hey, there they are,” I say in a greeting that sounds far too obnoxious, thanks to my overcompensating. “How are the soon-to-be bride and groom?” From the corner of my eye, I see Banner giving me a what the hell kind of joy just shot up your ass look.

“Good. Right, babe?”

Kelsey nods and pulls JP in closer, looping her arms around his waist. Jealousy rocks through me. Yearning flips my stomach into knots. “I just want to be married. I tried to convince him to have a quick ceremony tonight, but he was not happy about that idea.”

“I’m worth the wait,” JP says with a laugh. “Did you fly up?”

I tamp down my emotions that are so close to the surface from the sight of a couple in love. “Yeah, this morning. Banner drove up yesterday.”

“Visited with a buddy who lives in San Jose. And then made the rest of the way up this morning. Longer drive than I expected.” Banner chuckles. “With traffic, it was eight hours altogether.”

“Brutal,” JP says and then glances around. “Where’s Myla?”

I knew the question would be asked, as it’s natural to wonder where another person’s significant other is. That doesn’t mean that the truth isn’t rocking me to my very core.