A Chance At Redemption (Madison Square Book 3)

by Samatha Harris

  “This is Alex McCabe, the bride to be, and her sister-in-law Millie,” I said, turning toward Alex who practically leaped forward to shake his hand.

  “Thank you so much for doing this, Mr. Gardner,” she said.

  “It’s my pleasure, Ms. McCabe.” He bent at the waist in a gentle bow and shook her hand.

  “Please call me Alex.”

  “Okay, Alex. Why don’t you show me what you have planned?”

  Alex excitedly clapped her hands and took his arm, leading him away toward the tents. Millie and I followed along quietly behind them as Alex rattled off the plans for the ceremony and the reception.

  I watched as she pointed out the lanterns that hung from the giant oak trees and the chairs being set up in the center of the square.

  “This means a lot to her, you know,” Millie said.

  “I’m just glad it worked out.” I watched Alex’s smile widen as she talked about the square and how much it meant to her and Drew. “I kind of owe her one…or four.”

  Millie nodded. “Maybe, but you didn’t have to help her. That’s what makes the gesture that much better. You’re not as horrible as you want people to believe you are.”

  “I appreciate you saying that, Millie, but the truth is, I’ve hurt a lot of people.”

  “Doesn’t mean you can’t turn it around. You have just as much right to be happy as they do.” Millie nodded toward them as Drew joined his bride to be and introduced himself to Uncle Frankie.

  “I was that happy,” I said as I wiped a traitorous tear from my eye. “But I screwed it up. I screw everything up. I’ve racked up enough bad karma over the years to ensure a lifetime of misery.”

  “So fix it,” she said, like my life was car trouble.

  “What?”

  “Fix it,” she repeated. “You have the power to turn your life around. If you want redemption, then go get it. Nothing in life comes easy and the best things you have to fight like hell for. So get off your ass and fight.”

  I raised my eyebrows, eyes widening as Millie’s words sank in. She was always so polite and sweet. Her candor surprised me.

  She smiled and squeezed my arm before she headed off toward where the wedding party was gathered in the center of the square.

  Alex let out a squeal that echoed through the square and I looked up to see her throw her arms around Uncle Frankie’s neck. He laughed and shook Drew’s hand as Alex released him.

  Alex looked over at me with an excited smile and gave me two thumbs up. The permits were all set and the wedding was full steam ahead again. Not that it was really a doubt. I knew Uncle Frankie would come through.

  I made my way over to Alex and Drew to say my goodbyes as Uncle Frankie excused himself to take a call.

  “Oh my God, Gwen,” Alex said, her smile so wide her face looked like it would break in half.

  “I’m glad it worked out,” I said. “I’m gonna go, but…I have something I need to say…to both of you.”

  Alex frowned and Drew stuffed his hands into his pockets and looked down at his feet.

  “I owe you an apology.” Alex opened her mouth to interrupt, but I stopped her. “What I did…the way I treated you was awful. I was awful. I was jealous.” I sighed and met Alex’s eyes. “You have everything—talent, amazing friends, family. Hell, people like you. I wanted what you had and I thought if I could take it from you, then I would feel better, but I was an idiot and I hurt you, both of you.”

  I glanced between them. I wanted to be sure they understood how sorry I was. “I’m truly sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused. I don’t expect you to forgive me. I just wanted you to know.”

  “Thank you,” Drew said, wrapping his arm around Alex’s waist.

  Alex was quiet. She watched me, her eyes narrow. Drew nudged her, but she ignored him.

  “I guess I’ll just be going,” I wasn’t going to wait around for the tongue lashing I knew I deserved.

  Alex held up her hand to stop me. “Look, I’m not going to pretend I like you. You’ve been nothing but a pain in my ass for years and yes, a very small, very petty part of me kind of enjoyed watching you losing everything.”

  “Red,” Drew scolded, but she held up a hand to shut him up.

  “But…” she said. “You did me a favor, so I’m going to do one for you. Come to the wedding.”

  “What?” Drew and I asked together, then looked at each other a little put off for having the same thought.

  “Come to the wedding,” she repeated.

  “Alex, I don’t think—”

  “This thing between you and Liam has the potential to be something amazing and you two are being ridiculous.”

  “Red, I…” Drew started, but she shushed him.

  “I feel it in my gut that there’s more to this story that he doesn’t know.”

  I ducked my head to hide the tears that welled in my eyes. My conversation with Max had been enlightening, but Liam would never believe me, let alone forgive me, so what was the point?

  “It doesn’t matter,” I said. “I broke his heart. He doesn’t want to have anything to do with me. Going to the wedding is only going to make things awkward for everyone and I did enough damage to your relationship already. Ruining your wedding would be overkill even for me.”

  Drew let out a soft chuckle and Alex turned on him, daggers shooting from her eyes. He smiled and leaned down, pressing a kiss to her forehead and her body relaxed.

  “This is your chance to make things right. Talk to him, make him listen. At this point what do you have to lose?”

  She had a point. I mean what did I have to lose? I shrugged and folded my arms across my chest.

  “You want redemption, Gwen? This is your chance. Come to the wedding, talk to Liam. He deserves an explanation. Whether he forgives you or not is up to him.” Alex gave me a small smile, her eyes locked on mine. I felt trapped and more than a little annoyed. Did she always have to be right?

  I bit my lip and nodded. Alex’s face lit up with a smile and she nodded, rising up on her tiptoes to plant a kiss on Drew’s lips.

  I scoffed. “You guys are disgusting.”

  Drew raised an eyebrow. “Jealous?” he mocked.

  “Insanely.”

  He laughed and I said my goodbyes, letting them go rehearse. They walked away hand in hand toward their family and friends wearing matching blissful expressions, and I couldn’t help but smile as I made my way toward the car.

  The thought of tomorrow was terrifying, but Alex was right. Liam deserved an explanation, and what happened after that was in the hands of fate. Unfortunately for me, fate seemed to have a hit list and Gwen Stevens was sitting right at the top.

  Chapter 30

  Liam

  The sun was hot and I tugged at my collar to loosen the choke hold this tie seemed to have on me. It had been a long time since I’d had to wear one of these things.

  Since the wedding was only a few blocks from the bar, I decided to walk over. I had every intention of taking advantage of the open bar tonight as my whiskey stock had taken enough of a hit over the past week.

  I made my way toward Drew’s building at the edge of the square. The wedding had taken over the entire park. White chairs flooded the center, lined up in perfect rows around where the ceremony would be held.

  A large white tent filled the grassy area that was usually a makeshift amphitheater for summer concerts.

  Guests were starting to arrive as the florists scurried around putting the finishing touches on the arrangements. I reached the door to Drew’s building and caught it just as a pair of older women came out of the building, their eyes wide as they took in the wedding splendor.

  I ducked past them, heading straight for the elevator. The combination of the heat and the wedding glow that had settled over the entire neighborhood was making me sick. My chest tightened and I closed my eyes, trying to fight off the images of Gwen that threatened to infiltrate my head.

  I knocked twice on Drew’s door and forc
ed a smile to my face, trying not to let the tension show. Today was about Drew and Alex. I was their friend and as such, I was to smile, be happy for them and pretend that my entire word wasn’t falling apart at the seams.

  The door swung open and Sean smiled and pulled me inside. He handed me a shot glass and raised it high in the air. “To Drew’s last few moments of freedom,” he shouted, downing his shot.

  David shook his head. “How about to Drew and his future bride?” he asked and tossed back his shot.

  Papa Jack smiled and lifted his glass. “You don’t deserve her, son.”

  Four sets of eyes turned to me. I was at a loss. How was I supposed to come up with words of encouragement when I felt like I was made up of shattered pieces of misery?

  I raised my glass. “To an open bar,” I said, downing the shot. The alcohol burned its way down my throat and settled warm in my stomach as I set my glass down on the table.

  I dropped heavily onto one of the living room chairs and took in the scene. David helped Drew with his tie, while pure pride beamed from Papa Jack as he watched his sons.

  Sean pulled his phone from his pocket, a smile lighting his face as he read the message that had caught his attention, no doubt from my sister. His fingers flew across the screen as he replied, then slipped the device back into his pocket and looked up in the mirror to check his tie, unable to wipe the grin from his face.

  It was pure agony, sitting in this room with all these deliriously happy men, who were either happily married or soon to be. Sean and Madison, while not engaged, were blissfully committed and I wanted to be happy for them all, but all I felt was envy.

  That’s what I wanted with Gwen. I wanted that blissful stupid grin to spread across my face when I read her texts. I wanted to stand in a room with my dad and my brother toasting my future with her. Okay, that last one was a bit of a stretch given my family, but still. I wanted it all and I wanted it with Gwen.

  Anger raced through my veins. I felt like I’d been robbed. One bullshit move from her and my future—our future—was gone. Poof. I wanted to hate her. I wanted to curse her name and scream, but none of that would’ve done me any good. She was it for me. No one tells you what to do when you find the other half of your soul and she betrays you.

  “Liam,” Drew called. I looked up and found all the guys staring at me. “You all right?”

  I cleared my throat and sat up in the chair, adjusting the collar that suddenly seemed tighter than it had been a minute ago. “Yeah,” I choked. “I’m good.

  “Guys,” Drew said. “Can you give us a minute? We’ll meet you down there.

  David, Sean, and Papa Jack nodded. They grabbed their jackets and headed out the front door.

  I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. My acting skills had to be pretty fucking shitty.

  “I’m sorry, man,” I said as Drew took a seat across from me. “I’m happy for you, I am. It’s just been a rough week.”

  “I know.” He sighed. “Look, I have something I’ve got to tell you. I don’t want you to be blindsided out there.” I lifted my head and frowned. “Last night, Red invited Gwen to the wedding.”

  “She what?” I asked, genuinely confused. “I thought she hated her?”

  “Yeah, well, Red’s got it in her head that there’s more to the story than Gwen’s told you.”

  “It’s none of her business.”

  Drew held up his hands. “Don’t shoot the messenger, okay? I just thought you should know.”

  I dropped my head in my hands and rubbed my temples as the tension settled into a dull ache behind my eyes.

  Drew didn’t say anything. We just sat in silence as I ran through excuses to back out of this whole usher thing and hightail it back to the safety of The Den.

  “On a scale of one to ten, how pissed would Alex be if I bailed?”

  “I’d say about a fifteen,” he said.

  I shook my head. “I can’t do this, Drew. I can’t see her.”

  “Do you love her?”

  “What?”

  “Do you love her?”

  “Of course I do,” I said. “Look at me. I’m a fucking disaster.”

  “If you love her, then just hear her out. If you can’t forgive her, then so be it, but if you don’t take this opportunity you’ll spend the rest of your life wondering what she might’ve said.”

  “I don’t know.”

  Drew got to his feet and adjusted his tuxedo jacket. He dropped a hand on my shoulder. “Just think about it, okay?”

  I looked up at him and sighed, nodding my head in agreement.

  Drew clapped, then rubbed his hands together. “Showtime. I got a hot redhead waiting to marry me downstairs.”

  I nodded and followed Drew out the door.

  A dangerous cocktail of fear and anger and hurt filled my body with every step I took. In a matter of minutes, I’d be facing the love of my life, knowing that nothing she could say to me would erase what she’d done.

  ***

  Music flooded the air as I made my way toward the festivities. Drew told me to check in with the wedding planner for my usher assignment. I made my way toward a frantic looking blonde wearing a headset and a tight, forced smile.

  After I introduced myself, she positioned me at the entrance and gave me instructions on how to escort the ladies to their seats.

  “Just remember to ask if they are with the bride or the groom, then smile and offer them your arm. After that just take them to any available seat, except for the first row, which is for immediate family only,” she said.

  I nodded. “Got it.”

  “Don’t move until all the guests have arrived and have been seated. Understand?” she warned.

  “Yes, ma’am,” I said, giving her a mock salute.

  She shot me an evil glare, then took off to terrorize someone else.

  I did as I was told, escorting people to their seats and doing my best to ward off Drew’s Aunt Jean who kept grabbing my ass.

  A tall brunette in a deep purple dress approached me. Her hair was a chaotic mess of dreadlocks tied back with a flower clip that looked like it had been made from old t-shirts.

  “Don’t I know you from somewhere?” she asked.

  “I’m not sure. Bride or groom?”

  She narrowed her eyes. “You look familiar,” she said, ignoring my question.

  “Guess I have one of those faces. Bride or groom?”

  “Neither,” she said. “I’m Wiley. I work with Alex.”

  I chuckled and offered her my arm. “Guess that means you’re with the bride.”

  “I’m a fan of them both, actually,” she said.

  I led her to a seat in the middle and waited until she was settled, before I started back up the aisle, but she reached for my arm to stop me.

  “Listen,” she said. “Do me a favor and keep a look out for a scary blonde. We used to work together and for some crazy unknown reason, Alex decided to invite her. You can’t miss her. Too much make-up and too much boob.” Wiley’s eyes darted up the aisle. “Shit, that’s her. Huh, she looks almost…normal.”

  Instinct told me exactly who she was talking about. All the clues were there, but when I turned around to see Gwen standing there, I almost fell to my knees.

  She looked incredible. Her skin seemed to glow against the soft pink color of her dress. Those gorgeous blue eyes locked on mine and I swallowed, trying to keep hold of myself.

  Wiley released my arm and looked back and forth between us. “Okay,” she said, sitting back in her chair and opening the program in her lap. “I’m guessing you two already know each other.”

  I nodded and swallowed, forcing myself to take the few steps toward her.

  “Bride or groom?” I choked, not really knowing what else to say.

  Sadness filled her eyes. “Liam,” she whispered.

  “Are you a guest of the bride or the groom?” I cleared my throat and stood up straight. I didn’t want her to see how much her closeness affected me.


  She looked down at her fingers. “The bride, I guess,” she said, her voice low.

  I offered her my arm and she hesitated a moment before stepping forward and tucking her hand in the crook of my elbow. I led her down the aisle, eyes forward, lips set in a thin line. Every muscle in my body tensed when her fingers gave my arm the slightest squeeze.

  Once we reached an open seat, I dropped my arm and gestured for her to sit, still refusing to meet her eyes. Gwen opened her mouth to say something, but I turned and headed back up the aisle as quickly as possible, passing Wiley on the way who raised her eyebrows at me in question.

  “Well, that was awkward,” I heard her mutter.

  ***

  All the guests were seated and Drew took his place up front with David by his side. Sean stood at the end of the aisle where the officiant should be. I frowned as I slipped into the seat beside Madison.

  “What the hell?”

  Madison leaned toward me, her eyes completely focused on Sean. “He got ordained to perform the ceremony.”

  “Seriously?” I asked. She nodded. “Oh, this ought to be good.”

  “Shut up,” she said. “He’s taking this very seriously.”

  “When does he take anything seriously?”

  She nudged my shoulder and looked over at Gwen who sat a few rows ahead of us on the bride’s side.

  “She looks beautiful,” Madison said.

  I didn’t respond, just kept staring forward.

  “Are you going to talk to her?”

  “Not if I can help it.”

  Madison frowned. “Liam, you can at least give her the chance to explain.”

  “I don’t want to talk about this, okay? Today is about Alex and Drew.”

  The wedding march began to play and Millie came down the aisle holding her son Jackson’s hand with little Ava propped up on her hip. When Jackson saw David, his eyes lit up and he broke free of his mom and ran the rest of the way straight toward his dad who scooped the little guy up into his arms. The crowd laughed and clapped as Millie handed Ava off to her mom and took her place at the altar.