“You ready?” She asks.
My chin barely moves with my nod.
She reaches for the door but before she can get it open, a knock sounds.
“Who is it!?” Willow’s eyes widen in panic.
“Sebastian.”
“Who the fuck is Sebastian?” She hisses.
“Fuck if I know!” I whisper shout.
“I’m the best man,” He calls a moment later, “I’m here to escort Miss Stanton down the aisle.”
“Oh shit!” She snaps.
“Did you know about this?”
“Yes!” She hops on her toes, “I forgot!”
“How do you forget! I can’t go down there on my own!” I grasp her hand, holding it tight.
“Uh, bitch,” She tries to snatch her hand back, “You’re gonna break my hand!”
“Don’t leave me!” Panic surges through me, that churning of my stomach becoming so heavy I can feel myself on the verge of vomiting.
“Nuh uh!” Willow grasps my shoulder, “You look too pretty to puke. Suck it up, honey!”
“Don’t make me go down there on my own!”
“That Abe dude is walking you down, right?” She nods, her voice calm and soothing.
“Yes, but he isn’t here! And I have to go down there! There’s so many people, Wils, what if Ifall down the stairs!?”
She opens her mouth to speak but I’m already talking over her.
“Oh god, what if he stands me up!? Could you imagine!?” I let go of her hand, ignoring how she shakes it and then cradles it to her chest, “I don’t even want this wedding but I’m doing it anyway. He’s going to stand me up, isn’t he? He’s going to humiliate me. The asshole!”
The door opens a touch and Willow shoves her head out, “Oh!” She breathes but immediately admonishes herself and snaps out, “Wait focus!”
“Willow!” I hiss.
“Sorry, he’s hot,” She shouts back, “She’s spiraling. I’ll meet you downstairs, okay?”
“Spiraling?” I hear him repeat in that deep voice of his.
I’ve not even met him! Shit.
I can see the hair and make-up artists staring at me, but they know better than to speak right now. I’m in a big old hole and I can’t find a ladder to climb out of it.
Shit. I can’t do this. I can’t fucking do this.
“I’ll get her downstairs,” Willow vows, “I’ll meet you down there!”
Then she shuts the door and is back in my face, “Oli,” She says my name sternly, “Breathe.”
I shake my head frantically.
