Page 42 of Crossing the Line

It must have been so obvious to everyone, and I missed it.

“They don’t have a chance,” I said, determination making the words bold and absolute. “Kelsie is mine.”

It was the first time I’d said it to anyone but her, and I knew now that I should have shouted it to the fucking rooftops after we slept together. My instinct to hide it was as stupid as calling it a mistake had been. I wanted everyone to know Kelsie was my girl. Especially every man that could even think of looking her way.

Jess just nodded, like she’d known that all along. Then, it was time for us to walk. Once again, my eyes were on Kelsie the whole way. She was beaming, happy for our friends.

I wanted to see that look on her face every day.

I moved to stand by Ryan when we reached the arch, and everyone got on their feet as the music changed to the wedding march. A shudder moved through Ryan when Leanne appeared. My friend, who was the toughest firefighter in our unit, blinked several times as his eyes started to look shiny. His breathing turned shallow, and when she finally reached him, there was a noticeable tremor in his hands as he reached for hers.

But Ryan didn’t care about that. Being overcome with emotion in front of all of his friends and family didn’t matter because the woman he wanted was in front of him, ready to commit to forever at his side.

My eyes moved to Kelsie again, and a tectonic shift occurred inside me. The pieces of a puzzle that I’d been slowly putting together all week suddenly snapped into place and became a beautiful, life-altering picture.

I loved Kelsie. I loved her in a way that was bone-deep and world ending. Nothing would be the same without her in my life, and I’d always known that, hadn’t I?

That was why I freaked out about sleeping with her, the reason that I was so desperate to hold onto the friendship we had. I wasn’t about to let romance sour the connection we shared. But what I didn’t realize was that it would never happen that way. We weren’t my parents. Kelsie wasn’t someone I’d ever grow tired of. I’d never leave her. She wasn’t just a friend or lover. She was a part of me now, the best part.

She was mine because I was hers. Completely and irrevocably.

I was in a daze as the ceremony went on. Vows were recited, rings exchanged, and Ryan kissed her with a desperation that bordered on inappropriate. Still, everyone cheered.

Then, the couple was announced and we were to walk behind them to the ballroom where the reception would take place. I knew that I should go along with the plan and hold off on talking to Kelsie until later, but I just couldn’t do it. I knew how I truly felt, and I needed to tell her now. I sensed her trying to move away from me all week, and the fear that I might’ve already lost her was nearly paralyzing.

No. That was unacceptable. I couldn’t let her go. Not now, not ever.

My best chance was to confess my feelings. And I’d beg her to forgive me if I had to. When it came to Kelsie, pride didn’t matter.

So, I moved toward her, putting an arm around her waist just before Jake reached her. She looked at me with wide eyes. “What are you doing?”

“We’re walking together now,” I said, my eyes shifting to Jake. I let him see every bit of possessiveness I felt in that moment.

To his credit, he didn’t even try to argue. Pivoting, Jake held his arm out to Jess. “I guess that means you and I are an item now.”

Jess laughed as she took his arm. “My husband might have something to say about that.”

“Damien, what’s wrong with you?” Kelsie asked.

So much was wrong. So many mistakes had been made this week.

But I was going to make it right.

Instead of answering her here with the entire wedding party standing so close and the wedding guests watching, I guided Kelsie down the aisle behind Jake and Jess. They were following Ryan and Leanne to the ballroom, but I broke us off from the group before we got that far.

“Damien, what are you-” Ford started to ask from behind me, but I cut him off.

“Cover for us, okay? We’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Kelsie looked bewildered, but she didn’t argue with me as I led us down the beach, away from the wedding and the resort guests and the general crowd. Before I knew it, we were standing in about the same spot where I found that seashell days ago, the one she told me to keep to remember this trip.

But I didn’t need it. I’d remember this trip forever.

“Are you okay?” Kelsie asked when I stopped walking and turned to face her. There was an adorable little wrinkle in her forehead as she looked at me with concern. “What’s wrong?”

There were a thousand things I could say, elegant words that would explain my thoughts and feelings and hopes and fears. There was so much to share with her. But it all boiled down to one thing.

Cupping her cheeks, I looked deep into those beautiful grey eyes. “Kelsie, I love you.”