Aiden wasn't willing to let it go so easily. A knowing smile played on his lips. "Something good must have happened with Keeley, huh?"

"Yeah," Aaron said softly, watching her dance wildly with her roommate.

"Good for you, man. She caught the bouquet after all," he added with a wink.

That wouldn't make a difference. Aaron knew she would never marry him again. He'd have to content himself with her having allowed him into her life at all.

He frowned. "I don't believe in silly traditions like that."

Aiden sighed and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "Do you believe in anything, dude?"

An excellent question. He wasn't sure he did. Once, he had believed in Keeley's love—it was his only guiding light. Now, that was gone.

"No."

"I'm sorry I asked."

The venue's soft lighting created a romantic atmosphere, despite the upbeat music. Only Cameron and Jennica danced together on the floor, somehow managing to synchronize regardless of the tempo.

Keeley spun in endless circles, arms waving above her head. It reminded him of her Valentine's Day dance in their past life. She was, and always had been, a free spirit.

He should have realized a free spirit wouldn't be happy in his world. He should have left everything behind for her, then they wouldn't be here now.

Aaron wouldn't have known Cameron—they wouldn't have had the unresolved business that led to their rebirth—but they might have danced together at some other friend's wedding eventually. They surely would have had a child by now.

He was jealous. Jealous that Cameron lived the life he never could. Today, Cameron married the love of his life, free from interference.

They would have a family and grow old together. At that moment, Aaron felt the pain of his lost life acutely.

Keeley died young, and he grew old alone, dying prematurely from stress. Their family never grew. As a younger man, he'd expected children, but never truly wanted them until the opportunity was gone.

Keeley would have been a wonderful mother. His own family offered no hope of a happy family life, but with her…it would have been possible. He knew it. And now he'd never have the chance.

"When are you going to propose to Nova?" Aaron asked abruptly. One friend was happily settled; the other should get moving, his chance having passed.

Aiden's eyes widened, and he held up his hands. "Whoa, man, I'm only twenty-one."

"Why does that make a difference?"

He'd been twenty-one when he married Keeley. Age wasn't the problem. Their problems stemmed from more than marrying young; it was marrying at all, knowing his family disapproved and others were out to get her.

"She's even younger than me and has two and a half years of college left. Even if she's willing to move to New York, it would have to be then. I don't know if she'll still be interested that far out."

Aaron was friends with Aiden on Facebook. Nova posted daily photos from her month in Sweden, always tagging him.

The light in her eyes when she smiled at Aiden mirrored Keeley's when she was with him. She definitely loved the idiot.

"Will you ask her to move if she is?"

Aiden's ears flushed slightly. "I dunno, man. We barely started saying 'I love you' on that trip. I miss her when we're apart, and we video call every day, but I don't know if that's enough to ask her to uproot her life for me."

Aiden was far less selfish than Aaron. He'd uprooted Keeley from her middle-class life without a second thought, solely to be with her. He never considered what she was leaving behind or what she sacrificed.

Their conversation was interrupted by the announcement of the cake cutting. He'd sampled it earlier and found it delicious.

He noticed Keeley waited for the chocolate mousse layer—her favorite from the tasting. A small half-smile touched his lips. She was so cute.

She offered pieces of the chocolate mousse to her friends with a bright smile. His heart ached.

She used to do that for him. She always shared her pleasures. It was her nature; she did it for people she liked. He wasn't one of them anymore.

"Aiden!" Keeley called, cupping her hands around her mouth. "Come try the chocolate mousse!"

Aiden gave Aaron a mock salute. "I've been summoned by your lady, boss man. You should come too."

He wouldn't have been insulted by her not calling him over, knowing he'd already had cake, but he went anyway; cake sounded good.

Ryan, standing beside Keeley as she happily ate her cake, stiffened as they approached. "What happened to your face?" he asked unconcernedly.

Aiden slung an arm around his shoulders, a seemingly casual gesture, but Aaron recognized it as protective. He felt a flicker of affection for the kid.

"My dude here got nailed in the face by a paintball at Cameron's bachelor party. Malfunctioning goggles, can you believe it?"

"That sucks."

"Yep, but he's tough. Didn't even faze him," Aiden boasted.

Valentina giggled and set down her fork. "You call nearly passing out and needing Keeley to drive him home 'not being fazed'?"

The passage has been cleaned up for grammar, punctuation, and style. The unnecessary website plug has been removed.