To Have and to Hold (The Wedding Belles #1)(85)

Because yes, the wedding was still happening. Maya was still marrying a man she thought to be Neil Garrett.

Seth hadn’t told her the truth.

He wasn’t sure he’d ever experienced such acute agony as knowing something that his baby sister needed to know but also knowing that he’d come about the information in the entirely wrong way.

Seth had two options, to tell her or not to tell her, and both seemed unbearably selfish.

If he didn’t tell her, she’d enter into a relationship with an imposter, but at least she wouldn’t blame Seth when it went sideways. To Brooke’s point, he’d be letting Maya lead her own life, her way.

If he did tell her, she’d hate his guts for not telling her about the investigation he’d launched, but at least she’d be free of the dirtbag. Because much as Seth was realizing that he shouldn’t know what he knew, he couldn’t unlearn it.

Hell.

Seth reached for one of the pill bottles. Maybe he did have the ol’ tension headache after all.

It was the end of the workday, and he’d turned down all business dinner obligations, so at the very least he was spared the company of other people.

The downside?

Yet another night at home. Alone. In his hotel suite.

With no sister, since she was in bridezilla panic mode.

No best friend, since he and Grant were still chilly as all hell.

And no Brooke.

At this point, Seth was about five minutes from asking Jared the Sniveling Intern out for a beer.

Luckily, he was saved from such acts of desperation by a knock at the door and his sister’s familiar face.

“Hey,” she said quietly. “You got a minute?”

Seth swallowed and nodded, gesturing awkwardly for her to come in, feeling uncomfortably emotional that she’d come to see him. It seemed a long-ass time since she’d sought him out.

Maybe not even since that day when she’d first told him she was getting married.

Seth was on his feet, moving toward her and scooping her into a hug before his confused brain could even register his intentions. Seth was not a hugger, but as he pulled his sister close, tucking her head against his chest, whether she liked it or not, he realized just how desperately he needed her.

He’d always assumed it was the other way around. That she needed him. That Maya needed Seth to guide her and guard her and, hell, double-check her shit taste in men. And perhaps there was still a little bit of that at work. The woman had apparently lost her credit card to a gambling-addicted imposter and still didn’t know he was racking up charges. There were things he would and could do to increase Maya’s independence and awareness of the world around her.

But that wasn’t what this moment was about.

It was about him needing her. Needing to learn how to love her the right way, because he did love her. Fiercely.

“Hey there,” she said with a little laugh as she patted his back. “Okay?”

“Yeah,” he muttered, clearing his throat and forcing himself to release her. “Okay.”

She gave him a knowing look. “You don’t look okay. You look terrible.”

“Stop. I’m blushing,” he said sarcastically, returning to his desk chair.

“I’m serious. I don’t know what you did that made Brooke dump you, but you need to undo it. You’re miserable. She’s miserable.”

His head shot up. “You’ve seen her?”

“Well, no,” she admitted.

“Talked to her? Have you talked to her?”

She gave him a little smile. “Oh man. You are adorable right now.”

“Maya.”

His voice was close to pleading, and her smile slipped. “No, sorry, big bro. I haven’t talked to her.”

He slumped back. It was no less than he’d expected, but it picked at the not-yet-healed wound all the same.

“Much as I’m dying to interrogate you about your love life,” Maya said as she sat across from him and crossed her legs, “I’m actually here to talk about mine.”

Seth forced his face to remain impassive. To let her lead the conversation where she wanted it to go, not where his control-freak tendencies thought it should. “Sure. What’s up?”

Maya waited until he met her eyes before she spoke again. “I’m in love with Grant.”

Seth opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He was suddenly very grateful he was already sitting. Maya gave him a little smile. “I know. Trust me, I know. You don’t have to say anything, I just . . . I wanted you to be the first to know. Well, second,” she corrected.

“You told Grant this already?” he asked, finding his words.

She shook her head, her eyes clouding over. “No. I told Neil.”

Well . . .

Hell.

This was not how he’d expected things to play out.

Seth cleared his throat. “Just so I’m understanding. You told the man you’re going to marry that you’re in love with another man?”

Maya held up a hand. “Small correction. I told the man I was going to marry that I’m in love with another man.”

Seth felt a stab of relief so intense it nearly blinded him for a moment. “You’re not marrying Neil?”

Maya shook her head. “No. And actually, his name isn’t Neil.”