“I’ve missed you, Gina,” she said when she caught her breath again.
“I’ve missed you, too.”
“So,” Arden said as they walked back to the bridal suite. “Rumor has it, you’re looking at taking some time off?”
Gina grinned. “Something like that.” The word ‘retirement’ scared her. What would she do with all that time? “Maybe I’m just between things.”
“Well. Colorado might not be as warm this time of year as California, but it’s beautiful, as you know.”
“It is.”
“And…you’re coming out for our wedding, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
They stopped right outside the door. “Well, we would love it if you stayed there.”
“Stayed?”
“I mean, maybe a move to Colorado would be a good thing. For you. And, um, Lach.”
Gina smiled. “It’s okay. You don’t have to dance around us being together. We’re not hiding it anymore.”
“Thank goodness.” Arden leaned forward and kissed Gina on the cheek. “So, think about it?”
“I’ll take your offer under advisement.”
Arden grinned. “Shall we?” She tipped her head toward the door.
“Back into the fray,” Gina said as she turned the doorknob.
“Wait for us,” Rachael said behind them. Next to her was Jordan, who looked so much more comfortable now that she was no longer pregnant with twins. The were beautiful and perfect even though they’d arrived a little early.
“How are the brides-to-be?” Jordan asked.
“We’re fiiiine,” Elissa called from just on the other side of the door. “But we got lonely!” The door opened. “So get your cutie patooties back in here, bridesmaids.”
By the time they’d all gathered in the room just ahead of the ceremony there was hardly any space to turn around, let alone pace, which is what Gina wanted to do. Fleur was with the other dogs corralled outside at the moment and Gina wasn’t used to not having her at her side.
She was surprisingly nervous. She’d been to many weddings, some even for heads of state and a couple of royals, but she’d never been in one before, let alone as a maid of honor. Gina looked around the room. Elissa and Elena looked like angels in their white dresses. Then there were Rachael, Delia, Arden, Jordan, Annalie, Samantha, Kyla, Tina, and Bette.
All women she loved and admired.
Elissa caught her eye and somehow managed to wade across the room through the sea of green bridesmaid dresses.
“This is so great,” she gushed. “Elena’s getting married on one side of me, you’re my maid of honor on the other. I’m flanked by besties.”
“Besties, plural?” Gina asked.
Elissa shrugged likeno big. “Yeah, of course.”
“But, can’t there only be one bestie? That’s the definition of best—one outshining the rest.”
Elissa looked at her funny, then she cracked up. “I can have an infinite number of besties, sisters from other misters, and gal-pals and they’re allthebest. It’s not a chain of command, Gina. It’s friendship.”
She blew out a breath as she studied Gina. “I’m not saying I feel sorry for you that you’re still learning how friendship works, but… I feel sorry for you that you’re still learning how friendship works.”
Gina shrugged. “Better late than never?”
