“Okay, the way we figure this out is to take a look at Emilia’s master layout schematic and compare it to the way the place cards are laid out. Then we’ll know if they were moved.”
“Which I was trying to do before these two started pulling hair,” Emilia insisted.
Damn, I’d missed it.
“Fine,” Linda backed up a few steps. “Go get it so I can prove I didn’t touch a thing.”
“Good, okay then. Everyone take a deep breath.” I looked at the two women and waited for each of them to nod at me. They both crossed their arms and stared at each other like they were just waiting for one wrong move.
“Where’s Carter?” I asked Emilia as we walked away. “Heshould be navigating this since they’re his moms.”
Plus, he always seemed to find a way to the center of the action. I wasshocked his Spidey-sense hadn’t clued him in that there was an opportunity to literally flex his muscles for the camera.
Wait, why the hell was I thinking like a producer now?
“The last time I saw him was a while ago. It would be a huge help if you could find him because he hasresponsibilities,” Emilia hissed the word. “I’m losing it! These people are unhinged.”
She pointed to where the bridesmaids were slipping flowers out of the expensive and perfect arrangements so they could take pictures with them in their hair.
We were so close to the finish line yet it felt like we still had miles to go. There was still plenty that could blow up in our faces.
I searched the adjoining rooms, and out on the balcony, and finally spotted Dorian and Carter huddled together out on the lawn. I studied them, because I could tell just from Carter’s posture and the way Dorian was gesturing wildly that they were going to be the source of my next headache.
Carter didnotlook happy.
One of my servers pulled me aside to let me know that they were getting close to running out of the Veuve champagne, which felt impossible since they’d ordered a half dozen cases for the pre-rehearsal hang out and dinner.
Fantastic. A room full of hair-trigger drunks, with cameras recording every second. This was going to be a rough night.
Somehow, miraculously, we made it through the rehearsal itself despite some stumbling down the aisle. We moved on to the dinner, which was set up on the patio in the twilight. The setting was perfection, but the vibe felt off.
I stood in the shadows, watching to make sure everything continued to go as smoothly as possible given the drink consumption. I normally wasn’t so involved in the minutiae of an event, but obviously this one was different.
Ithadto go well. The Ashford reputation was once again at risk of getting taken down by a fandom and if that were to happen, I wasn’t sure I had the energy to rebuild it or start over. The drama—both manufactured and real—associated with reality TV was exhausting and I was at my wit’s end.
I allowed myself to relax just a hair when I saw that the servers had started passing out the baskets of artisanal bread. With luck, it would soak up some of the alcohol and things would calm down a bit.
But no sooner did I let my shoulders drop than Carter rose to his feet—accidentally knocking his chair backwards. The clatter silenced the crowd.
Oh god,I thought, dread climbing up my throat.I don’t know what this is, but I know it’s going to be bad.
“Hey folks, that was me,” he laughed. “Sorry!”
Kristen was beside him looking every bit the bride-to-be in a gauzy white sundress. But her face? I could see the strain from across the patio.
“Does everyone have drinks? Everyone? Drinkie drinks?” Carter asked, scanning the crowd. “Okay, good! Cause I wanna do a toast to my sexy-ass bride.”
Kristen gave him a tight-lipped grin that looked more worried than loving.
“Let’s do this,” Carter began. “So are you having a good time out there?”
Everyone clapped but his group of bros went nuclear, hooting and bouncing out of their chairs.
“Those are myboys!” Carter laughed. He took a sip from the drink in his hand, clearly forgetting what he was up there to do. “Anyway, so what was I saying?”
He glanced down at Kristen.
“Oh, yeah! I wanna talk about this gorgeous woman.”
