“No.” I glance back at the rose garden.Was it always this far away?“Can you sing?” I ask suddenly.
She puts a hand on her hip. “What song?”
“Something romantic?”
“‘My milkshake brings all the boys to the yard—’”
“Stop!” I brandish my weapon-bouquet at her. “Don’t ever do that again.”
She rolls her eyes. “Will you just walk?”
I do, but Comet gets bored or distracted on the way and dashes in the wrong direction across the dark grass.
“I’ll get him. You keep going,” Victoria calls as she runs into the dark. Which is how I finally make it to the rose garden with a bloodstained dress, humming a twenty-year-old meme song under my breath, without my maid of honor or chief bridesdog. When I lock eyes with Theo, however, none of those things matter.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi,” he says back. Even in the starlight, I can see his cheeks turn a shade of pink that makes my stomach flutter. “You look beautiful.”
“So do you,” I tell him as my own face heats. “I mean, good. You look good. Perfect?” I swallow the lump in my throat. “I’m nervous.”
“Wren, this is the Archbishop of Canterbury.” He nods to an old man in gold robes, and it’s a credit to how good Theo looks in his dark suit and tie that I didn’t notice anold man in gold robesuntil now. “Your Grace, this is Wren Wheeler.”
“Your Grace! Wow, that’s… um… fancy titles for everyone over here.” Sweat drips down my back.
Henry smothers a laugh while I cringe at my own rambling.I appreciate the archbishop doing this for us, but I weirdly miss having our wedding officiated by an old Greek fisherman with cake crumbs in his mustache.
Victoria is out of breath when she finally leads Comet into the rose garden by his collar. Our dog has half a tree branch in his mouth. “What did I miss? Are you two married yet?”
“The archbishop was just telling me he would like us to move the ceremony to Westminster,” Theo explains. “I know it’s not what we pictured.” He passes a hand over the back of his neck, and I realize I’m not the only one who’s nervous.
“You’re right. I’ve changed my mind.” I turn and pretend to run.
Theo grabs my hand and yanks me into his chest. A flush of heat rushes through me as his gaze burns into mine. “If you’re going to leave, tell me now and put me out of my misery.”
I tilt my chin up and run my fingers through the hair on the nape of his neck. He shivers and presses a soft kiss to my lips, and I realize I’d choose him anywhere. On a beach in Greece, an island in Portugal, or an old church in London. My chest almost hurts with how much I’m feeling, and I pull away as tears prick my eyes. “Westminster it is.”
Theo’s eyes flash. He looks like he has a hundred things he wants to say, but before he can, Henry claps his hands together, breaking the spell. “I’ll drive.”
Buckingham Palace is less than a mile from Westminster Abbey, and the archbishop decides he wants to walk. (I’m sure it has nothing to do with Victoria saying she’s going to play “Milkshake” on top volume, or Henry laughing chaoticallywhen Theo asks which car he’s going to take.) I slip off my shoes and Theo, Comet, Victoria, and I walk across the grounds and meet Henry on a side street, where he’s rolled up in a classic convertible Aston Martin with the top down.
Theo cocks an eyebrow. “How is this more discreet than just walking to the church?”
“Relax. It’s almost midnight,” Henry says as he reaches across the front seats and opens the door. Theo, Comet, and I climb into the (cramped) back seat while Victoria takes the passenger seat next to Henry. He peels away from the curb and floors the gas pedal. I hit the back of my seat hard as Victoria turns the radio all the way up.
I glance sideways at Theo as the car races down the sleepy London street, and my stomach bottoms out. I try not to think about sinking ferries and falling planes. “Does he know what he’s doing?”
“Slow down,” Theo says to his brother.
“Hang on.” Henry readjusts the rearview mirror. “I think someone’s following us.”
Victoria, Theo, and I all whip around to see a car tailgating us. A camera flashes and spots of light burst across my vision.
“Is your seat belt on?” Theo asks. I nod and try to slouch down in my seat, but there’s no room that isn’t already being taken up by Comet.
“Should I try to lose them?” Henry yells.
“No!” Theo growls. “Just take us to Westminster.”
