All of that, however, faded away the second Laney started walking down the aisle.
She was wearing green again. This time it was closer to sea foam, a floaty satin thing that was a shade lighter than the rest of the bridesmaids’ dresses, denoting her as the maid of honor. It was also the exact color of her eyes, which glowed as she made her way between the rows of chairs and up to the dais.
I almost felt sorry for the bride, because Laney was stealing the show. For the rest of the ceremony, I certainly couldn’t stop staring. Not during the ceremony. Not during the walk back up the aisle after it was finished. And not as that fucker of an ex escorted her toward the back of the property with the rest of the bridal party for pictures that would take over an hour.
Well, time for a drink.
The reception was being held in an enormous white tent on one side of the property, and that was where I spent the next hour checking my phone and drinking too much champagne while I waited for Laney to return.
Liam
Has your bride agreed to stay the missus yet?
I smirked. The only texts I’d received from my family members had been along the lines of “When are you back?” At this point, Liam was the only one who knew the truth—that while Iwaslegally married, neither the bride nor I was operating under the assumption that it was real or going to last.
Much to my chagrin, I thought as I recalled Laney in her bridesmaid dress. I couldn’t stop looking at her, even when I should have been focused on the bride and groom. Even more alarmingly, I found myself wishing I could remember exactly what we had said to each other when we were the ones speaking our vows.
Had we used the standard boiler plates or come up with something more meaningful?
What would I say if I had the chance to do it again?
No, I couldn’t be thinking like that. Even if by some miracle Laney Fisher did want a real future with me, she couldn’t have it. Someone like me simply wasn’t worth those kinds of promises.
I shook my head and typed out a response.
Just waiting for my moment.
Liam
Don’t wait too long. The natives are getting restless.
I frowned and pressed the call button.
“Well, this is a surprise. Shouldn’t you be offering her the contract, or were you planning to woo her a little with dinner and a dance first?”
“What do you mean, they’re getting restless?”
“Hold on.” There was the sound of movement and a female voice floating through the speakers. “I’ll be right back, sweetie. Stay here.” A few second later, he spoke more directly. “You realize we’re three hours ahead. I’m off the clock.”
“Someone I know?”
“Just a friend. Tess already sent a car for her.”
If there was a catchphrase for Liam’s social life, it was “just a friend.” I’d been out with my best friend enough times to know that if a woman made it into his bed, chances were, he wasn’t going to see her again. Half of his assistant Tess’s job was shepherding the parade of one-night stands out of his apartment.
“She sending pancakes too?”
“It’s only nine, so probably a hot dog.”
“Room and board. That’s quite the service you’re providing over there.”
“Only until midnight. Then I turn into a pumpkin.”
“All right, Cinderella. Tell me what you meant about the restlessness.”
Across the tent, there was a rush of noise as the lesser bridesmaids and groomsmen reentered the party. No sign yet of the bride or groom, nor of Laney and her douchebag ex. They were probably still taking pictures, which meant I had a few more minutes.
“Nothing major. But Mom did mention that Owen was taking one of the board members out to dinner. I sense some wooing.”
