I waved him away. “Tim’s already bored me with all those cave and mining maps. I’d rather talk to Mom, Dad, and my sisters about any gossip I missed from last night.”
“Gossip sounds so fun,” Harrison tried, but Tim was already beckoning him forward.
“You’re riding with me, Harry,” Tim called, using the old nickname Harrison had always hated but had been too nice to ask my little brother to stop using.
He gave me a strained smile before walking towards my brother’s sports car.
***
The day passed in a blur. We went from the wedding breakfast that was closer to a brunch, to hair and makeup. I had no clue what the guys did. They probably played golf or something. From there we went to the church, where we all hung out together. We ate a light dinner and before I knew it, we were all dressed and ready for the wedding.
Soon, the wedding planner had us out and lined up expertly. I stood with Harrison. He leaned down to whisper in my ear. “You look so fucking pretty, Sadie.” I blushed at the compliment. I loved the dresses Melinda had picked out. I’d worried that since it was October she’d pick out burnt orange dresses and we’d look like a bunch of pumpkins. But she didn’t at all. She picked out strapless, tight-waisted ombre dresses with full gauzy skirts, in a color ranging from cream to somewhere between lavender and hydrangea blue. They were the prettiest bridesmaids dresses I’d ever seen, and I was thankful for a best friend with good taste.
“Thank you. You look great, too.” He did. He looked incredible in a tux. I’d always thought his thick football player muscles were the sexiest thing about him, but I’d been wrong. He was still muscular, but not in the way that he had been when he’d had to spend hours upon hours each week in the weight room. I liked this leaner version even better. His chiseled jawline, styled hair, and tall, broad form made him look like a guy from the cover of a romance novel. It sent a little shiver down my spine.
When the bridal party music started and couples started walking down the aisle towards the front of the church, I tucked my arm through Harrison’s. We waited our turn. We’d be the last ones to go down before Melinda met Drake, whowas standing at the front of the church looking handsome… and nervous.
As we walked down the aisle together, I could hear people whispering in the pews. I knew some of the things they were probably saying and chose to ignore it. I heard my name and Harrison’s name several times as we walked by, but I held my head high. By this point, I’d heard it all. It was my hope that if Harrison and I gave things another try, the town would support us.
“That was supposed to be us up there, huh?” he asked, looking down at me with sad, brown eyes.
“Yes.”
“It still can be, you know?” he said hopefully.
I just smiled. I wasn’t ready to commit to anything past going out to dinner and another night in bed.
“I can see you might still need some convincing.”
“You’re not wrong,” I admitted with a grin.
We’d reached the end of our walk. He squeezed my arm, kissed the top of my head, and walked over to stand beside Drake.
I went to the bridesmaids’ side to wait on Melinda so that I could take her bouquet when she was ready.
The wedding was beautiful, and when they said their own vows to each other, I cried like a baby. Melinda was my fellow English teacher. I knew she had a poetic soul. But the sweet vows Drake managed to write with his type A accountant’s brain made everyone, including Melinda, swoon. I was beyond happy for my friends.
Suddenly, it was over and before I knew it, we were at the reception. It was back at the country club where we’d been the night before. I wasn’t seated with all my friends yet. Instead, I was placed at a small table to one side of Melinda and Drake’s table, while Harrison was on the other side. We made up astraight line for everyone to stare at, and it was unnerving. I knew I would only have to sit there until I’d given my maid of honor speech, and I was looking forward to when Harrison and I could sit with Blair, Scott, Carrie, and Thatcher. I had a good view of their table and was surprised to see Thatcher on his phone. I’d noticed this happening several times during the months leading up to the wedding, and I didn’t like it.
I frowned as I saw that Carrie seemed upset. Who could he possibly be texting this late at night on the weekend? It wouldn’t be work, that was for sure. A slight sense of unease came over me, and I found myself hoping my friend’s marriage was okay.
Then Blair made a heart with her hands at me. She knew I didn’t like being the center of attention and was trying to ease my nerves. My heart was practically beating out of my chest, but I managed to smile at her anyway.
I was nervous because I knew tonight was the night I had to stand up in front of everyone and give my maid of honor speech. Harrison also seemed nervous, but he hid it better than I did. I had to down a couple of glasses of champagne and couldn’t eat before I gave mine.
And then the wedding planner had told me to stand up, shoved a microphone in my hand, and said, “Start your speech, maid of honor.” I wanted to roll my eyes. She knew my name. She’d been my ballet teacher for years when I was growing up.
I turned on the microphone. “Hi,” I said and waved. Everyone laughed, and I was relieved to have some of the tension ease. “I’ve known both Melinda and Drake since pre-school. Our mothers say we’ve known each other even longer than that, but I don’t remember playing with each other as babies. Obviously.” I got a few more chuckles. “I feel like I was there in some way for most of their evolution as a couple. I was there when Drake helped Melinda up when she fell in a mudpuddle at recess in first grade. I saw him punch Parker Bridges in the eye in sixth grade when he called Melinda a nerd.”
Parker called out, “Why did you have to bring that up?” from his place at one of the tables. He was smiling good naturedly, and we all grinned.
I waited for some laughter to die down, then continued. “I was standing with Melinda when she confessed she thought Drake was cute at the start of eighth grade. We were laying out by the pool together the summer after ninth grade when Drake hit a growth spurt and suddenly had muscles. She couldn’t take her eyes off him.” I paused for a minute, swallowing back tears for what was coming next. “But more importantly, I’ve seen them treat each other with love, respect, kindness, and empathy our entire lives. Drake puts her first. He always has, and no one could ever make me believe that will change. And Melinda still gets butterflies when he looks at her with those blue eyes of his. She never gets tired of dressing up for him and thinking of places to go and things to do that she thinks he’ll enjoy with her.
“Melinda and Drake, I couldn’t be happier for the two of you. You are truly a couple to emulate. I’m glad to be able to call you both my friends, and I look forward to so many more adventures together through the years. I want to be there for all of it. I can’t wait to play with the children you’re sure to have in the coming years. And one day we’ll probably live next door to each other in the senior living facility over on Mulberry Street.” Everyone laughed again.
“I love you both.” I paused to wipe my eyes. “Before I wrap things up, I wanted to put up a picture now that Mom and I found the other night. Mom remembered it and mentioned it to me. When I saw it, I thought it showed your relationship perfectly.”
A picture went up on the screen for everyone to see. It was of me, Melinda, and Drake at the ripe old age of five. Drakewas in the middle. He was holding both our hands, but he was staring down at Melinda with a huge smile on his face. She was looking up at him and laughing. Both of their eyes were shining, and they already looked in love on some early elementary school level. And I was standing to the side, looking at both of them with a knowing look on my face. It was the sweetest picture. Everyone oohed and aahed as they saw it. “This is the first day of kindergarten. Drake’s mom told him he had to hold both our hands. He had already been holding Melinda’s. He was more than happy to. Mine? He rolled his eyes and just did what his mom said. But look at their faces. I’d say plenty of our parents and teachers could have predicted this day would come.” I turned to them. “Y’all are the best! Here’s to a long life full of love, laughter, and best friends.” I said the last part with a big wink that made them both laugh.
