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Shit, she was right He sed back the unease tightening his chest and sat back

The harpist began playing a different song—a little faster and sweeter—and everyone rose, including Nash, as Emma strode out from the back door His brother was a lucky own that fitted her snugly Her hair was in a side braid She looked very rown to care about Sweet Kind Stunning

Shep s proudly at his soon-to-be wife

Ma had tears in her eyes Her sht, her hands to her chest Nash couldn’t help but think of his father no much he missed his dad How proud he would be of Shep and Chase

An unexpected heaviness settled over Nash while E wildflowers His brothers’ lives wereon They had wives and businesses of their own They were creating their fa commitments They would have made their father immensely proud

But what had Nash done?

He’d lost his dream Then he’d hidden from the world

His chest hurt and a bead of sweat slid down his cheek that had nothing to do with the hot evening He didn’t like thinking about all he had lost He had refused to go to the dark place that stained his soul

To get hian He discovered tears in her eyes He hoped those were happy tears for Emma But he suspected they weren’t Her two friends had husbands and stability Nash neverthe rebel in the family That was his place, to keep the fa too serious

ly He was never asha spontaneity instead of setting down roots But he wasn’t the ed He’d sensed it the day he got back to River Rock after his injury A part of hi the day he hit the dirt and never recovered

Coldness slid into his core He reached down, taking Megan’s hand in his, suddenly desperate for her war herself to him no matter the cost to her heart, he knew his father wouldn’t be proud of the man Nash had become since the accident

Christ Nash wasn’t proud either

The wedding was beautiful Megan had watched Shep and Ehout the ceremony God, they were so in love, so perfect for each other They exchanged personal vows, and Megan could tell they le word She couldn’t have been happier for her friends All of the for everyone They were good changes Everyone wasin a new direction She wanted to move in a new direction too One that wasn’t so damn difficult

When the ceremony was over, Shep built a bonfire People drank and danced to theout of the Bose stereo systean stood near the fire with Harper and E the entire time it was a shot of her favorite apple whiskey