Carve My Pumpkin (The Night Realm: Halloween Marked #3)

Chapter 27

TWENTY-SEVEN

MATEO

“Officiant for your wedding? Colette? Really?” I paced back and forth in the childhood room Nash and I used to share.

Nash never looked so calm, cool, and collected. “We like her, and she’s been great.”

“Yeah, I can’t blame you for that.” I sat down on the twin-sized bed on the side of the room. “She’s great.”

Nash dropped down onto the bed across from mine and we both looked at each other. A wistful smile touched his lips, and he looked around at all of our old things—the stuffed animals we shared, the pictures of us together and us with our siblings. It was all there, a room full of a lifetime of memories.

Nash sighed and folded his hand in front of him. “You sure you’re okay?”

Not at all. “Of course. This day isn’t about me and Colette. It’s about you and Torren.”

“You know I can still tell when you’re lying to me, right?” He shook his head.

I sighed and ran my hands over my thighs. “Yeah, but for today we’re going to pretend that you can’t tell and that I’m fine.”

“Look, if there’s anything I’ve learned about soulmates and marriage, it’s that it all works out eventually.” He glanced down at his arm as though he could see the mark through his suit coat. The mark was so similar to my own that we’d thought Torren was my soulmate, not his.

“Yeah, you’re lucky to have Riven notice the difference.” I shook my head. “That’s something I never thought I’d say.”

“ Psshh , me either.” Nash chuckled. “But I never told you this .”

I sat up straighter. “What’s that?”

“When I thought she belonged to you and not me, it, um . . . it nearly crushed me.” He shook his head and ran his thumb over his bottom lip. “I thought that fate had dealt me a shitty hand.”

I knew exactly how he felt. “Well, fate is a fickle friend.”

“That’s just it.” That wistful smile came back. “She’s really not. I believe that your soulmate is out there too, and you’ll find her.”

I wanted to believe him, to just believe that this would all work out and I would feel as complete as he did. But when I pictured my wedding day, the only person I saw walking down that aisle toward me was Colette. The truth was I didn’t want to even try to envision someone else there. But I didn’t want to tell him that, not on his wedding day.

“Yeah, you’re lucky she didn’t go for me.” I teasingly ran my hand over my hair.

“I mean, you are one handsome devil.” He leaned back on the bed and spread his arms out. “But I think I would’ve always won in the end.”

“I can’t think of anyone more perfect for you.” It was true that Torren was perfect for Nash. No two people matched better. Well, aside from me and Colette. We were also pretty great. I couldn’t picture that greatness happening with anyone else.

“Or more awful for you .” Nash chuckled. “Can you imagine you and Torren?”

I shook my head. “No, I really can’t.”

The only one I could imagine was Colette.

“I think she might kill you. I mean, one freak out and she’d flatten you like a bug under her elephant self.”

I threw my head back laughing, just picturing myself stuck under an elephant with teal hair.

Nash busted out into fits of laughter alongside me. “Man, that’s the first time I’ve seen you smile in a while. I like it.”

I didn’t feel like smiling, but for Nash I would try. “Well you know, soulmates and drama kind of go hand in hand.”

“They do indeed.”

I glanced down at my watch and rose to my feet. “Are you ready for this, little brother?”

“We both know I’m older than you.” He rose to his feet and faced me.

I straightened his tie and ran my hands over his shoulders. “You ready for this?”

“I’ve always been ready.” Nash threw his shoulders back and lifted his chin. “This is just a short walk into my future.”

“Don’t ever say that out loud again.” I chuckled. “Try something more like this is just the beginning of my life . Or something like that.”

“As if that’s any less cheesy?” Nash rolled his eyes.

“I don’t know. In my limited experience, love is either cheesy or heartbreaking. If I had to pick one or the other, I’d take the cheesy part.” I shrugged and headed for the door.

I pulled it open and held it there for him. He started to walk by and paused at the door. “You sure you’re okay?”

“I am okay.” Not in the least.

“You’re still lying.” He walked out the door.

I let the door fall shut behind me as I muttered, “And we’re still pretending you don’t know that.”