My Groom Walked Out, So His Brother Took His Place novel · Chapter 12 of 32

Chapter 12: You Knew

Bryn's POV

I watched him get out of his truck.

He shut the door and walked to the back of mine, and stopped three feet away.

His shirt was wet through at the collar, and he looked worn out.

I held up my phone so he could read the screen.

He read it.

I watched his face while he did.

I had seen it do a lot of things in two months, and now I watched every one of them go out of it.

"When did you know?" I said.

He looked up.

"Bryn."

"It's a simple question. When did you know Wendell wasn't going to marry me?"

"The night before," he said.

"What time?"

"After dinner. In the wine cellar of the Gasthaus." His voice was steady, and I hated that it was. "He told me about the woman in Austin. He said he couldn't go through with it."

"And what did you say?"

"I told him to tell you," he said.

"And then?"

"And then he said he would. In the morning. Alone."

"And then?" I said.

"I went upstairs."

I laughed.

It wasn't a good sound.

"You went upstairs," I said. "You came back to the table where I was sitting. I was wearing my mother's earrings. My cousin was telling a story about a pig. You sat down across from me and you ate dessert."

"I did."

"I laughed, Jude. I was happy. I told you I was glad you were the best man because you'd keep Wendell in line."

"I remember," he said.

"You knew, and you let me."

"Yes."

I slid off the tailgate and stood in front of him.

He was a head taller, and I did not feel small.

"I walked into that church believing I was marrying a man," I said. "I put on my father's watch. I stood up in front of every person I know. If you had said a word that night, just one, I could have stayed home. I could have called my mother. I could have made him say it to my face over a cup of coffee in my own kitchen."

"I know."

"Instead I found out in front of two hundred people."

"I know," he said.

"Stop saying that."

"I don't have anything better," he said.

"You had a whole night."

My voice broke on it, and I turned my face aside.

The sun was low over the pasture.

Cicadas were shrieking in the live oaks.

I would not cry in front of him.

"Say something," I said.

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