“Can you be morespecific?”
“You need to think more ‘Kick-ass’ and less ‘Kick my ass’. Something like Axl or Cash, or for a girl,Stevie.”
“Oh, Jake.” I sighed heavily. “You know I’m not cool enough to raise aStevie.”
“You just have to try harder,” he said, playfully mocking my words. “Find a new therapist who can talk the nerd right outofyou.”
I grabbed him by the tux collar and pulled him into a kiss. “I love you, Jake McKallister. Thank you for warning me, but I think I’ll take mychances.”
Since meeting Jake, I’d known he was the one for me, so I had no choice but to put every last bit of my faith in him. I held out my hand. ‘What do you say? You ready to get this show ontheroad?”
He grabbed it, flashing me his most gorgeous smile. “Let’sdothis.”
* * *
Just to beon the safe side, I delivered Jake to the groom’s room and instructed the men not to let him out of their sight until we were safely married. The wedding was now officially late, and I had a roomful of bridesmaids who probably assumed it had been called offentirely.
The moment I re-entered the bride’s room, all chatter ceased as every head turned in my direction. It was clear by the look of utter pity on all of their faces that the whole lot of them expected the worst. Who could blame them? Neither Jake, with his teary-eyed interruption, nor I, with my loud declarations of hatred, had given themmuchhope.
Boris came rushing to me. “Oh, honey, I’m so sorry.” He ran his hands over my face. “What did he do to you? You just lookawful.”
“I do?” Touching my fingers to my own face, I wondered exactly what had happened to change my appearance so drastically in the fifteen minutes I’d been gone. Two soggy, colossal plunging tears, that’s all I’d allowed myself. Surely Boris could workwiththat.
“He’s an idiot and you’re better off without him. I never trusted him in the first place. You’re a strong, fabulous woman, and you will getthroughthis.”
My bridesmaids fanned out around me, making a protective circle. Their misinformed concern warmed my heart. At least I knew who my friends were. In quick succession, the questions cameflying.
Jake’s oldest sister, Emma, asked, “What canwedo?”
“Do you need to sit down?” Kenzie, Kyle’s girlfriend, grasped my arm and prepared to lead me to achair.
Her lips thin with anger, Jake’s mother, Michelle said, “Let me go talk to him. I’m sure he’s justnervous.”
Okay, this needed to end now, before someone said something they would regret – like Boris, who was seconds away from eating his offensively supportive words. “Um…hello, ladies,” I said, clapping my hands. “What is this, afuneral?”
A blanket of confusion percolated through the room, and everyone looked to each other for answers. Perhaps they all thought I was in denial… but not my mother. If there was one person in this world who knew me inside and out, it was she. Instantly picking up on my mood, and without skipping a beat, Mom slyly asked, “That depends – is Jake’s body in thehallway?”
“No.” I laughed. “He’s alive and breathing, people. And, I don’t know what all these long faces are for, but I’m getting married in a few minutes, so is it too much to ask for somesmiles?”
The shift in the room was immediate, and relief dripped off every surface. Except for Boris. Poor, poor Boris. He was now gagging on his words, and by the nauseous look on his face, they weren’t tasting real good comingbackup.
“I… I didn’t mean anything bad when I called Jake an idiot. I don’t think that at all. He’s very smart.I…just…”
“Boris, relax. Hewasan idiot. How many times did we have to tell him he couldn’t see the bride before the ceremony? I mean, use your brain, dude, am Iright?”
He let out a long, deep breath, using one hand to place over his heart and the other to fan his bright red face. “Please don’t tell him Isaidthat.”
Closing my mouth, I turned the imaginary key and flung it over his shoulder. He mouthedthank you, and all wasforgotten.
“Do I really look thatawful?”
“Not at all,” he said, smiling with his mouth but not with his eyes. “We’re just going to…” Boris abruptly stopped with the pep talk once he’d examined my face and fluffed my hair. Perhaps coming to the realization that my beauty issues were well beyond his vast capabilities, he screamed over his shoulder, “Hair.Makeup.Now!”
His minions came running, and while I was undergoing the transformation from hideously dumped Casey to radiantly wedded bride, the others were ushered to the lobby of the church. I looked around. Had my maid of honor also left? Her level head would do me well now. It had taken a lot of thought about who I wanted in that position in my wedding procession. I had so many amazing girlfriends who all supported me in their own unique ways. In the end, the woman I chose had always been there for me and was a constant reminder of how blessed a lifeIled.
“Yes. We’re a go,” I heard Boris say into hisphone.
Suddenly nerves attacked my calm and my hands began to shake. “It’sstarting?”
