Maybe I could take a cue from toddlers and get into the habit of thumb sucking. That seemed to calm them right down, but… oh, hell, who was I kidding? I’d tried it before and it didn’tfuckingwork!
The only other thing I could think of on such short notice was deep breathing. Yes, that one seemed reasonable. I mean, how hard could breathing be? I did it all day long. We had a winner. Focusing on taking long, soothing inhales while blowing out the air in loud, exaggerated grunts, I soon discovered it did nothing but make me focus on inhaling and exhaling, and in no time at all, I was hyperventilating and breathing into a paper laundry bag I found in thecloset.
Okay, so this was definitely not working. Soothing myself had been an epic fail, and now I only had three more hours left to get my shit together. I needed Casey. Picking up my phone, I called her number but was disappointed when it went to voicemail. I didn’t bother leaving a message. She was getting married today. There was no way she had timeforme.
My thoughts were interrupted by a hasty series of knocks on my door. Because I’d awakened so late, I’d slept through the meeting time with my groomsmen. I opened the door to Kyle, who immediately startled at myappearance.
“Oh, shit. Are you okay?” he asked. “Why aren’t youready?”
“Roughnight.”
His eyes rolled over me. “I shouldsayso.”
“Why? Do I lookthatbad?”
“Well, remember that time you got the stomach flu and it was coming out of both ends for two daysstraight?”
“Yeah.”
“Right, so, you look only slightly betterthanthat.”
“Dammit. Okay. I’m going to jump in the shower. Can you stallforme?”
“Please. You know that’s myspecialty.”
Talking to Casey was going to have to wait. I’d just have to get ready and meet her at the church. I’d be cutting it close, but what was thealternative?
* * *
Peaking out the door,I eyed the building across the courtyard. The last time I was here, I’d been forced to run across the patio area to avoid getting caught by a group of teens, but this time I didn’t see anyone but a security guard patrolling the area. Nice. Operation Pretzel was in full swing. It appeared Casey and I had pulled off the impossible. I’d arrived at the church a while back, and after meeting with the minister and dressing in my tux, I was ready to go with an hour and a half to spare. This was the time I’d slip over to the other building and pull Casey aside. It would be a quick trip, long enough for me to come clean and get back to my side if she still wanted to marry me after myconfession.
Just as I was pushing the door open, a hand reached out and slammed it shut inmyface.
“I wouldn’t dothat,Jake.”
Winded and flushed, Kyle stood beside me panting as his hand gripped the door handle, preventingmyexit.
“I need to see her realquick.”
He raised one brow. “Before the wedding? Badchoice,dude.”
“Look, I know all about the wedding rules, but thiscan’twait.”
“Actually, it might have to,” he said. “We’ve got a minor securityissue.”
“I just checked. Everything looks good…right?”
“Um….” Kyle hesitated. “It depends on what your definition of ‘good’is.”
“Probably the same as most people’s. Why? Whathappened?”
“It appears we’ve had a leak, but there’s no reason for alarm. It’s really not a big deal. Security ishandlingit.”
“Does that mean the mediaishere?”
“They are,” he affirmed. “And a few fans, too, but they’ve beenpushedback.”
“Pushed back? That doesn’t sound likeafew.”
