Dozer’s brows pull together as he thinks about this. “That’s a good point.”
“Ya think?” Bouchard pokes, shaking his head. I don’t bother hiding my grin at their antics.
“Well, regardless,” Dozer says after a moment. “I’m sure she’ll know people she can recommend for us.”
“Probably true.”
“They’re coming,” Marissa calls as she appears at the top of the rise leading down to the stream here. “Get yourselves organized.”
I look at Bouchard, who looks back at me, equally confused.
With a sigh, Marissa marches closer. Grabbing Bouchard by the sleeve, she tows him between a pair of trees and directs him where to stand. Then she beckons me over and positions me to Bouchard’s left, standing a little in front of him. “You guys are hopeless,” she mutters. “Did you not do a rehearsal?”
I shrug. “No. Bouchard said he practiced his part.”
“Well, at least that’s something,” she says. She moves off to the side of the pathway, and that’s when I realize she’s set us up right at the end. “Dozer, get out your phone. I’ve just decided you’re the photographer.”
“I thought I was the witness,” he grouses, though he does as she asks.
“You are. And you’re also documenting the day. This bonehead,” she hitches her thumb in my direction, “didn’t hire a photographer. I’d do it, but I’m going to be playing the music.” She pulls a black cylinder out of her purse, holding it while she messes with her phone. Music starts playing and turns off again just as quickly. “So that means you take photos because Bouchard’s performing the ceremony, Chalmers is the one getting married, and Maggie’s helping Hailey.”
“Okay, okay,” he says, like he wouldn’t do what she asked anyway.
“Shh! There’s Maggie.”
Grinning, Maggie hustles down the path, veering off to stand next to Marissa, who taps on her phone. Music starts playing from what I now realize is the Bluetooth speaker she was messing with a second ago, and I look up to where Hailey appears at the top of the rise.
Her hair falls around her shoulders, part of it swept back away from her face, the rest curled at the ends. Her dress is gorgeous—white and fitted on top with layers of flowy fabric on the skirt that ends a little below her knees. In her hands, she holds a small bouquet of pink roses that match the one pinned to my lapel.
She stands for a moment, meeting my eyes and smiling nervously. My breath catches, and I have to give myself a mental shake.This is just so she can have insurance, I remind myself, even if it suddenly feels very, very real. I give her a reassuring smile, and she begins slowly walking down the path.
This is … actually really perfect. As tiny and last minute as it all is, I couldn’t have asked for anything better. The day is overcast, but not too cool. The sound of the stream behind me mingles with the strains of classical music playing from the little speaker in Marissa’s hand. I suppose a few more guests wouldn’t hurt—maybe my parents—but the ones that are here are making sure that everything goes exactly how it should, from Maggie helping Hailey find a dress and the flowers to Bouchard jumping in to perform the ceremony, to Marissa and Dozer providing music and photography on the spot.
These are the guys I know I can count on the most, and I’m glad that I have them by my side on today of all days. The only one who’s missing, the one who I wish could be here, is Hunter. But I’ve gotten used to that ache over the years.
But at least I can keep my promise to him now.
“You’re a lucky man,” Bouchard whispers from behind me. “She can’t take her eyes off you.”
I nod. It’s mutual. I can’t tear my eyes from her either. Hailey, my gorgeous bride.
CHAPTER THIRTY
Hailey
I’m really doing this.
The thought runs through my head on a loop the whole time I’m getting ready. It repeats over and over while Maggie helps me do my hair and makeup and drives us to the Arboretum so I can get married to Jason Chalmers.
It doesn’t even feel real.
From the moment we came out of that boutique carrying a wedding dress in a white garment bag, reality seems to have gone on vacation. This is just some dream or elaborate hallucination.
Even when I’m standing at the top of the walkway, looking down at Jason standing in front of his friend who’ll be performing the ceremony—Maggie’s boyfriend—with Maggie and another couple standing off to the side, it’s like some weird pre-teen fantasy come to life.
I’mmarryingmy older brother’s best friend?
Not even fantasy. More like … dream you wake up from and go,Wow, that was weird.
