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Not that I was doing a very good job of hiding it.

“Come on,” she said. “We need to take our seats.”

So I followed her to our table, staring at the empty seat beside my place card.

God, this was horrible. Everybody close to me understood, they got it. But it didn’t stop my agony as I sat down, knowing that the seat beside me would remain empty until Kaiden got here.

If he got here.

Aaron had told Poppy that Kaiden was determined to make it but Columbus was over five hours away.

The food smelled amazing, but I barely tasted it. The speeches incited laughter and tears but I only heard white noise. And when the newlyweds walked onto the dance floor to have their first dance, I could hardly see them because of the tears in my eyes.

I was a mess.

And it was all Kaiden’s fault.

“Lily,” Poppy said we’re supposed to join them for the end of the first dance.

“You go,” I shrugged.

How the hell did she expect me to go out there without a partner?

“Sweetheart.” Dad appeared. “Can your old man hav