Chapter 4

“Jonah is different,” Owen said.

He stood on the other side of the kitchen island, still holding his phone as if my decision had broken some unspoken agreement between us.

“How is he different?”

“He used to have feelings for you.”

“Ten years ago. I turned him down, and he accepted it.”

Owen’s jaw tightened. “A man doesn’t stay in a woman’s life for ten years without a reason.”

I thought about the cuff link pinned to Sloane’s neckline. I thought about the music, the video, and the wedding-party lineup she had already changed.

Apparently, knowing Owen for years made her harmless. Knowing me for years made Jonah dangerous.

The next afternoon, we went to the venue for our first full walkthrough.

Jonah arrived ten minutes early and sent his list of responsibilities to me, Owen, and Evelyn at the same time.

He offered Owen his hand. “I’ll only handle the things Harper has approved. If you have concerns about the schedule, you can tell me directly.”

Owen shook his hand and released it almost immediately.

Sloane stood on the right side of the altar, wearing the silver cuff link.

When Evelyn asked everyone to take their assigned positions, Jonah followed the lineup sheet and stopped just behind me on my left.

“Wait.” Sloane raised her hand. “He can’t stand there.”

Evelyn looked between Owen and me. “That’s the bride’s man-of-honor position. Has something changed?”

“Obviously.” Sloane answered for Owen. “What are the guests supposed to think when they see a man who once had feelings for the bride standing that close to her?”

Jonah didn’t defend himself. He looked at me instead.

“Harper, do you want me to step aside for now?”

Before I could answer, Owen spoke.

“Go sit in the guest section. We haven’t agreed to this arrangement.”

“You agreed that Sloane could hold the rings, walk in with you, and plan a weekend away with you,” I said. “Jonah is only standing with my wedding party. Why does he need your additional approval?”

“It’s different.”

“How?”

Owen glanced at the staff around us and lowered his voice. “Sloane doesn’t think of me that way. Jonah did.”

“Sloane can access my vows and change our ceremony, and you tell me she doesn’t mean any harm. Jonah asks permission before moving one step closer to me, and you’ve already decided he’ll cross a line.”

Owen’s expression hardened. “I’m uncomfortable with it. Are you really going to force me to accept this?”

Evelyn didn’t take sides. She placed the final lineup sheet in front of us.

“I need the names confirmed by six tonight. If they aren’t, the venue will put production on hold. Rescheduling will come with a change fee.”

Owen stared at Jonah’s name.

“If he stands beside the altar, I won’t.”

I gave him several seconds to take it back.

He didn’t.

So I picked up the pen, wrote Jonah Blake directly across from Sloane’s name, and pushed the lineup sheet back toward Evelyn.

“Then leave the groom’s position open for now.”