Through His Eyes: An Institute Series Novella (The Institute Series Book 4) Read Online Free

about it?”
    I laughed at Paxton’s awkwardness. He never was the kind of guy you could easily open up to.
    “It started out because of how things have been with Allira since Chad died. But then it escalated into the fact that you’ve asked me to be your running mate in the campaign, and that I’ll always be on the campaign trail and I’ll never be home. Then came the big thing – that he’s only eighteen and he’s getting married.”
    “It just sounds like he’s freaking out a little. It’s completely understandable given the circumstances. Hell, I was a wreck the night before my wedding.”
    “And how did that turn out for you?” Tate asked sarcastically.
    “She was a bitch, though. You’re not a bitch. Well … not much of one, anyway.” He smirked, making Tate crack a smile. “Have you told anyone else about running beside me for president?”
    Tate shook his head. “No one. Not yet.”
    “I guess there’s still time. We should probably focus on the other big thing happening in your life right now. Want me to go see if I can find Shilah?”
    “Give him five more minutes.”
    “I’ll go check on him,” I said. “Not that I could tell you guys if he ran off or not.” I shook my head at myself.
    I made my way outside where Allira was sitting with Shilah on the back steps of the building.
    “I just don’t know if I can do this. What if you and Tate never go back to how it was? I can’t spend my entire life in the middle of you two. What if …” he trailed off.
    “Shilah,” Allira said, clearly exasperated, “it shouldn’t matter how Tate and I feel about each other. You only need to ask yourself this, do you love him?”
    “Of course I do.”
    “Do you ever see yourself with anyone else?”
    “No.”
    “Will you ever choose Tate over me?”
    Shilah furrowed his brow.
    “I’m not asking you to choose, I’m merely pointing out the fact that you would refuse to choose one of us over the other, because you’re not that person. You’re not going to lose me if you marry him. Tate and I may be going through some stuff right now, but he promised me when we all found out about William, that he’ll always be my best friend. We just have issues.”
    “It’s almost been a year.”
    Have I really been dead that long?
    “When are you going to move on, already?” Shilah knew he’d said the wrong words as soon as they left his mouth. “I’m sorr—”
    Allira held up a hand, shaking her head. “Don’t.” She stood, preparing to go inside and hide the fact her eyes were welling up. “He’s waiting for you. Go marry him.”
     
     
    ***
    “I’m right here, Allira. Just put one foot in front of the other. Breathe. You’re almost at the end.” I truly didn’t know why I bothered anymore, but it’d become a habit – talking to everyone like they could hear me. I think it was keeping me from going insane.
    We arrived at the altar, and I never left her side.
    This could’ve been us.
    White flowers hung from the wire canopy of the altar, a long white aisle running down the middle of completely full guest chairs. On one side, my family, on the other, Allira’s.
    This should’ve been us.
    My mother didn’t turn up. Her nephew was getting married, and she couldn’t put her anger aside. I wasn’t all that surprised, though. She hadn’t been by to see William, either. Not that I thought Allira would’ve let her anyway.
    Allira wasn’t handling being a mother too well. Her mum and aunt kept blaming the hormones, but I knew better. She wasn’t handling being completely alone.
    Allira’s eyes glistened as she watched her brother and my cousin exchange wedding vows. All I wanted to do in that moment was reach out to her, take her in my arms, and tell her everything was going to be okay.
    She looked out into the crowd where her parents were holding our eight-week-old son. That was enough to cause the tears to spill over and down her cheeks.
    Tate and Shilah were holding hands, unable