I saw a shadow go over me and I looked. Nickolas was standing beside me and he didn�t seem happy. I moved over to let him sit down and he did so. He shook his head and left out a disgusted sigh.
�She doesn�t feel the same after all?�
�I don�t know,� he said. �We got into a fight and she kicked me out yet again.�
�About what?�
�It was stupid really. I don�t know if last night meant anything to her or not. If it did she�s hiding it. I told her what Cameron really wanted and she thought I was doing it to push her to marry him, but I wasn�t.�
�She�s stubborn like you are. She wants to be with you, Nick, so trust me.�
�All I know is that she wasn�t going to go through with this and have me get her out of here.�
�What happened then?�
�She changed her mind after we started arguing.�
�Do you really want to be with her?� Brian asked from behind and we looked.
�Yes,� Nickolas said. �More than ever. The feeling I have inside was never as strong as it is now.�
�Then go tell her,� Brian said.
�She doesn�t want to see me,� Nickolas stated.
�Are you so sure about that?� Nickolas nodded.
�What happened last night exactly?� Brian questioned and Nickolas just looked at him. �Again?�
�Yeah,� Nickolas said and I looked at them confused.
�What do ya mean again?�
�Nothing,� Nickolas said.
�Don�t tell me nothing.�
�It�s nothing,� Nickolas rebutted. �So forget it.� He left out a disgusted sigh. �Nothing�s ever going to be the same between us after today. They�re going to change for the worse.�
�Or the better.� He shook his head. �C�mon, Nick, you�re not friends with someone for 21 years and then have everything go wrong between ya�s.�
�The friendship you and Evan have is very special and can�t be taken away from you overnight,� Brian said. �No matter how many times ya walked away from each other angry, ya always managed to get through it that same day. What you two have, whatever it is, can�t be taken away.� Nickolas didn�t say anything, as he got out his wallet and a picture of Evangelique. �Let Cameron try and ruin what you and Evan share, because he ain�t going to triumph. He�s never going to take over that place Evan holds for you. He�ll never be close to her as you are. To go even further with that closeness tell her ya love her, because everyone knows she loves you.�
�I don�t know,� Nickolas said.
�Why not? The worst she can do is say she hates you and that�ll never happen.�
�That fear of rejection is taking over,� Nickolas said.
�Fight it,� Brian said. �You got to tell her.� Nickolas continued looking at her picture, not saying anything, and the wedding music began.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
�Evangelique�
I walked down the church aisle between my parents and took a deep breath. I forced a smile and found my gaze going to Nickolas. He wasn�t smiling or anything, but just looked at me with that of �how-could-you-be-doing-this?� We locked eyes and I just mouthed �I�m sorry� to him. He grinned and shook his head. We stopped walking and Father Sena began to speak. I don�t know what he was speaking about though. I was too worried about Nickolas. How was this going to affect him? How was it going to affect our friendship? Would Cameron have his way and never let us see each other again? Perhaps this was a bad idea.
I took another deep breath and looked at Nickolas. He was just looking at me closely and he found my eyes. I gazed into those gorgeous baby blues and seen more than I should have�a family. Was he right after all? Was everyone right? Was I in love with Nickolas? Was I in love with my best friend? No way could that be possible though. I loved Cameron. Or did I? Cameron was nowhere near half the man Nickolas was and still is. Nickolas was the most caring, funniest, talented, passionate, sweetest, sexiest, romantic, attractive, loving man I know. Cameron�s none of that. Cameron�s just Cameron. Nickolas was with me everywhere, Cameron wasn�t. God, please don�t let them be right. They just can�t be right. Everything would change between us. What was happening?
�Who gives this woman to this man?� Father Sena asked and I looked.
�Her mother and I do,� my father, Christopher, said. I looked at him and he smiled then kissed my cheek. �I�m so proud of you, Honey. My little girl�s getting married.� I forced a grin ad looked at my mother. She just smiled and kissed my cheek. I looked back at Nickolas and he just shook his head. My father put my hand in Cameron�s, but I kept my gaze on Nickolas. �You hurt my little girl and I�ll kill ya.� I quickly looked at my father, as Cameron just looked at him and gave a nervous chuckle. �I�m not joking either.� I heard Nickolas laugh and looked at him.
�No sir,� Cameron said. �She�ll be in good hands.�
�Yeah right,� Nickolas said and I looked at him disgustedly, as everyone else looked.
�Let�s continue,� Father Sena said and Cameron and I stood in front of him. �Ladies and Gentlemen we are gathered her today to join this man and this woman in Holy Matrimony. If there�s any reason why these two should not get married, please step forward now.� Please, Nickolas, object. Object for the sake of our friendship. Please do it. Nothing was said. But why not? I couldn�t marry this guy, but I couldn�t stop it myself. I didn�t understand why I couldn�t do it though. God, help me please. Send me a sign to stop this nonsense. I�ll do about anything you want me to, but just help me out this once please. �Do you, Cameron, take thee Evangelique�� I looked over at Cameron, but I didn�t see Cameron�I saw Nickolas. Nickolas, his sexy smile and those gorgeous blue eyes looking back at me. Looking back at me and completing my soul.
�I do,� this Nickolas/Cameron guy said. I started smiling, but it faded, as Nickolas faded back to Cameron. This was my sign. Nickolas was it. Nickolas was the one. Nickolas and everyone else were right�I was in love with Nickolas. I can�t believe it took my wedding to someone else to finally realize it. I looked at Nickolas and smiled. He raised an eyebrow, but smiled in return.
�Evangelique?� Father Sena said and I looked at him. �Do you take Cameron to be your lawfully wedded husband for richer for poorer for sickness and in health for better and for worse for as long as you both shall live?�
�I�I�� I began, as I looked from Father Sena to Cameron.
�Sweetie,� Cameron said. I looked at Nickolas then back at Cameron.
�I�m sorry, CJ, I can�t marry you today or anytime in the future,� I said at the same time Nickolas objected.
CHAPTER 26
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