Kyle's Return (17 page)

PERRY HAD GONE down like a bucket of bricks last
night. I felt alive and ready to take on the fucking world. I
needed that feeling; especially today for the wedding. Staring at
my reflection in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself. In the
corner of the room sat my wheelchair, the one I was confined to for
so long. I kept it around to remind me of the shit I’d done—how my
world could fall apart at any moment.

“Kyle, where are you?” Megan hollered from
downstairs.

Taking a deep breath, I tightened my tie and slid on
my tux jacket. “I’m up here, love.” The sound of her heels clanked
on the marble stairs and she appeared. Her chocolate colored hair
was pulled high in a bundle of curls and she had on a deep blue
bridesmaid dress that flowed down to the floor. I had never seen
anyone so beautiful in my life.

“Why are you in here?” Her honey gaze found the
wheelchair and her smile faded.

I met her eyes in the mirror. “Sometimes I just need
a reminder. It keeps me grounded.”

She walked up to me and put her arms around my waist
from behind, watching me through the mirror. “You never told me
what it was like when you couldn’t walk. I was honestly being
sincere when I asked you.”

And I’d been a dick because I thought she was giving
me her pity. “Truthfully, I would’ve rather died than stay in that
wheelchair any longer. If I wasn’t able to gain control of my legs,
I wouldn’t be here right now.”

Her eyes welled up. “You would’ve killed
yourself?”

Sighing, I pulled her arms away from me and turned
around. “I had nothing to keep me here, love. It was the only
alternative I could think of.”

“That doesn’t sound like the Kyle Andrews I’d heard
so much about. He wasn’t a quitter.”

“He wasn’t, but he’s dead now. He died the day I was
able to walk. Everyone called it a miracle, but I considered it a
second chance. I knew without a doubt I sure as hell wasn’t going
to waste it.”

“No, you’re not. So let’s get to the wedding and get
that second chance. Pax and Gabby are waiting on us.”

We started for the stairs. “And you’re sure you know
how to get me in?” I asked skeptically.

“Trust me, Pax and I have it all figured out.”

My stomach was in knots, but I was determined to end
this feud once and for all. If Kacey told me to go to hell, I at
least knew that I’d given it my all.

Pulling into the long driveway of Jake’s house, we
parked right beside Paxton’s Hummer. “What if someone sees me
before we get inside?” I looked to Megan for some last minute
encouragement.

With a mischievous grin, she winked and turned off
the car. “Don’t worry. Pax has us covered. Stay in the car for a
sec.” She got out and ran inside.

After a short wait, Paxton walked toward the car with
Gabby and Megan in tow. He was carrying a black duffel bag and
motioned for me to roll the window down, tossing it on my lap.

“What’s this?” I asked, unzipping the duffel.

He grinned. “It’s your ticket inside. I borrowed one
of the waiter’s jackets last night after the rehearsal dinner.”

“You mean, you stole it?” I countered.

“Nope. I paid the guy a shit ton to tell his boss it
got ruined so he could get another one. Now put it on so we can get
you inside.”

I pulled out the white uniform jacket and buttoned it
over my tux. “This will only work if nobody sees my face.”

Pax opened the door and waved me on. “We won’t have
to worry about that if you just get your ass in gear and follow us
inside.”

Gabby snorted and Megan tried to keep from laughing.
Sighing, I got out of the car and followed them inside. There were
people everywhere but they were all working the wedding. So far I
was safe.

Gabby kissed Paxton on the cheek and nodded toward
the back door that led out to the courtyard. “I’m going to get a
seat since I’m not part of the wedding party. I’ll see you all out
there.” Then to me, her lips tilted up into a small smile. “Good
luck tonight.”

“Thanks.”

Megan grabbed my hand and pushed me toward the
stairs. “We have to go,” she whispered. Gabby waved at us and
sauntered her way out the door while we headed up the steps. There
were voices coming from everywhere and I thought for sure I’d be
caught, but Paxton opened the door to a spare bedroom and we all
rushed inside. It was dark, but the lights from the courtyard
window illuminated the room.

“No one’s going to come in here,” he promised.

“You sure? How long do we have?”

He looked down at his phone. “About thirty
minutes.”

Megan squeezed my hand. “And I’m going to have to go.
I’m a bridesmaid so Kacey will be expecting me.” She kissed me
quickly on the lips and started for the door, stopping with her
hand on the knob. Over her shoulder, she nodded at Pax and then
grinned at me. “You’ll do fine tonight. I have faith in you.”

Once she was gone, I walked over to the window and
looked out at the gardens. I recognized a lot of the people. They
were going to get a shock seeing me.

Paxton joined me and looked out. “Second
thoughts?”

“Not about Kacey, but with everyone out there. They
all hate me.”

He chuckled. “That they do, but if you want this to
work out, you have to be willing to sacrifice yourself.”

“How did you get everyone to like you? You were my
friend and did just as much bad shit as I did.” Which was true.
Paxton was mine and Kacey’s best friend and also fought at the Dark
Side with me. Now he was friends with Tyler and walking Kacey down
the aisle.

Paxton slapped his hand on my shoulder. “True. But I
started down the right path a lot sooner than you, my friend. I was
tired of the bullshit and turned my life around. That’s when I met
Gabby.” He found her in the crowd and smiled. “She hated my fucking
guts too. All of those people down there just needed to see I’d
changed. Once they see you’re genuinely sorry for the things you
did, you’ll win them over. They’re good people.”

The music started to play outside. Paxton looked down
at his phone and blew out a breath. “It’s almost time. You’re going
to hear us walk by this door and go down the stairs. I’m going to
pretend I left something up here and come back. When I knock on the
door, I want you to come out and go down there. Just lock your arm
with hers and go.”

“You make it sound so easy.”

He shrugged. “Nothing like this is easy, but you can
do it. You’re Kyle Andrews. As kids, you were always the fearless
one. Where do you think I learned to be like that?”

I held out my hand. “Thanks, Pax. You were always a
true friend.”

Instead of shaking my hand, he pulled me in for a
hug. “It’s good to have you back, the real you.” He patted me on
the back and let me go so he could sneak out of the room.

Voices echoed down the hall and I could hear Kacey
laughing the closer they got to the room. When they walked past,
their footsteps sounded down the stairs. It wasn’t long after that
when Paxton knocked on the door and peeked his head inside.

“You’re up. Let’s go.”

Taking a deep breath, I took off the waiter’s jacket
and followed him out. My heart thundered with each step. Kacey
stood alone at the doorway with a smile on her face as she watched
her bridesmaids walk down the marble walkway. She was beautiful,
dressed in her wedding gown. I walked up to her and linked my arm
through hers, waiting on her to look up and see me.

“It’s so beautiful, isn’t it?” she whispered.

“That you are.”

Gasping, she lifted her gaze and tried to pull away
but I held her tight. “Kyle, what are you doing here? Where’s
Pax?”

I nodded toward the ceiling. “He’s upstairs, but I’m
hoping you’ll hear me out.”

“On my wedding day?”

“After dad died you always said you wanted me to walk
you down the aisle if you ever got married. I’m here and I want to
be there for you.”

She stopped trying to fight me and closed her eyes.
“It’s not the same, Kyle. I don’t know who you are anymore.”

Turning her to face me, I tilted her chin up. “Open
your eyes, Kace.” When she did, I continued. “I’ve done some really
shitty things and maybe coming here was stupid, but in my heart, I
felt it needed to be done. You’re all I have left and I don’t want
to miss a part of it. I’m trying to do good by you and working my
ass off. Has Tyler not told you anything I’ve done or said?”

Her eyes welled up. “Yes, he’s told me everything. I
even know about you and Megan. I have to say I’m surprised.”

“So am I, but I can’t imagine things any other way.
She makes me happy and gave me a chance when no one else would. I
was hoping you’d find it in your heart to give me a chance
too.”

“You do realize what you’re asking of me, right? You
want me to trust you when all I’ve seen are lies and deceit. I’ve
never doubted your love for me, but you let your love of power get
in the way.”

Nodding, I slowly let her hands go and stepped back.
“I know and I’ve come here to make amends with those I hurt. With
your permission I’d like to stick around so I can do that. I’m sure
Paxton will be more than happy to walk you down the aisle if you
don’t want me to.”

Paxton descended the steps and came into view, his
expression torn as he met Kacey’s gaze. “You were a part of this?”
she asked.

He looked at me and then nodded at her. “Gabby and
Megan too. We believe in him, Kace. But if you want me to walk you
out, I’ll be honored. The choice needs to be made soon though.
They’re waiting for you.”

She glanced back and forth at us both, fighting her
feelings by the tormented look in her eyes. I waited for the
rejection I knew was coming. Instead, she closed the distance
between us and handed Paxton her bouquet so she could take my
hands. “Look at me,” she whispered. When I looked into her green
gaze, a tear fell down her cheek. “So many people believe in you,
Kyle. Gabby, Pax, Megan, and even Tyler. If you can promise me that
what I’m seeing is real, then I’ll let you walk me down that aisle.
I want my brother back more than anything. I can see him in your
eyes, but I’m petrified he’s going to disappear like he did
before.”

Shaking my head, I squeezed her hands and held them
up to my heart. “I’m not going anywhere, I promise. This is who I
am and this is who I’m going to be.”

“Then, so be it. Let’s get this show on the
road.”

Paxton handed her back the bouquet and motioned
toward the door. “After you,” he began with a smile.

We walked to the door and froze when the crowd gasped
at the sight of us. Kacey’s grip tightened on my arm and she blew
out a shaky breath. “You think they might be a little shocked
you’re here?”

I looked out at them and shook my head. “Nope.
They’re just stunned by your beauty.”

She hit me with her flowers and giggled. It was the
best sound I’d heard all night. “I can’t wait to hear what
everyone’s going to say about this, but it’s not going to be easy
on you.”

“I’m okay with that. Now come on, let’s get you to
Tyler before he walks up here and throws you over his
shoulder.”

We started walking down the walkway with Paxton on
our heels. Down front, Tyler turned his attention to Megan who just
smiled, shrugging sheepishly. He smiled and shook his head at us
when we approached.

I heard my name whispered among the crowd and I could
feel their stares burning like fire against my back. Before Tyler
could reach for her hand, I bent down and kissed her cheek. “I love
you, sis.”

She smiled up at me, her eyes misting with unshed
tears. “I love you too.”

***