“Wedding,” I clarified. “There are no guns here. No men trying to kill me.”
“Or so you think,” she winked.
“So I know. Maggie, this isn’t Reed Security. We don’t have enemies waiting in the wings for the perfect time to attack. There are no viruses being unleashed, no crooked senators, and definitely no bombs about to explode.”
Very slowly, she pulled a grenade from a pouch on her side and grinned. “There could be.”
“Maggie…has anyone ever told you you’re completely insane?”
Her face fell as she tucked the grenade away. “You’re no fun. I was just trying to bring a little joy into your life before you have a kid and you’re chained to the stove.”
“That’ll be the day,” I laughed. “I’m pretty sure anything I cook would be considered hazardous material.”
“Still…don’t you just want to get out of here? There has to be someplace we could get up to some trouble before your last day of freedom goes out the window!”
So, this was what it was like after kids. Well, in all fairness, she was well on her way to having her own hockey team. It was no wonder she was trying to live vicariously through me.
“I’m positive. This is going to be a normal wedding. Because that’s what Parker and I are. Two very normal, very sane people, who are going to stand before the pastor and say our vows.”
“Well, sort of.”
“What do you mean?”
“Didn’t you hear?” She grinned widely at me. “Hunter’s performing the ceremony.”
“No, he’s not,” I said stubbornly. If I said it enough, maybe it would come true. When Parker told me, I nearly called off the wedding. But I wasn’t about to send my family home without a ring on my finger.
Still…it was Hunter.
Groaning, I tried not to think of everything that could go wrong. After all, we were in the middle of nowhere. It wasn’t like we were at risk of blowing anything up.
Right?
“Oh, shoot!” she gasped. “I should probably go.”
“What?”
“I have um…something to check on.”
“Maggie—” I warned, but she was out the door before I could figure out what she was up to.
Which left me all alone, but not for long. It was only minutes later that Krista, Lizzy, and Clara showed up to help me get ready, which I was eternally grateful for.
It was nice to have a few normal people around who didn’t want to influence me to blow something up for kicks on my wedding day.
“Okay, we should start with your hair and makeup,” Krista said, dragging a whole suitcase behind her as she entered my room.
“What is all that?”
“This? Oh, just a few things to get you ready. Don’t worry. I’m a professional. I mean, not actually a professional because I haven’t gone to school for this, but I’m very good at what I do. I promise, you will not walk down the aisle looking like Bridezilla.”
“Thank God for that.”
“And I have the champagne!” Lizzy announced, pulling out a bottle, and then a second one. “But non-alcoholic for you.”
“And I have the snacks,” Clara added. “Better eat up now. You won’t be able to once we get you in that dress.”
“I’m starving,” I murmured. What little I had eaten hadn’t done enough to get me through the day. I hurried over to the platter she laid out, groaning at all the delicious cheese, crackers, and meats she’d carefully put together. I was already stuffing my face while Krista and Lizzy set up everything for my hair and makeup.
