Maybe it wasn’t the booze? My chest ached worse than anything else, and that was all Ryder. I missed him and needed to talk to him. Instead of thinking about that until I spun out again, I had to get up and get ready. It was already past four in the afternoon. I needed to focus and get dressed.
What would I wear? Not my best man suit, that was for damn sure. I wanted to put on jeans and a tee just for Bree’s reaction. But was that the best way to show Miles he wasn’t alone, and that we all loved him? I opted for slacks and a button-down, no jacket.
The church’s gray stone interior was cold and empty. The colorful afternoon light through the stained glass cast the darkness in deep reds, dark blues, and uneven greens. It was early, so none of the guests were there. Or anyone else. I sat in the last pew and waited.
What if Ryder didn’t show up? What if he was done with Miles, his family, and me? What if he got on a plane and moved to Mozambique to become a doctor without borders?
“Bro, what the fuck are you wearing?”
I hadn’t heard Tyler walk in, and he startled me. I glanced down at myself, then back up at him. “Do I look bad?”
Connor came up behind him. “Holy shit, you’re not ready?! What the fuck?”
Tyler said, “You look fine, but why aren't you in your suit?”
“I’m not in the party anymore. I’m only here to support Miles. Not the marriage.”
Connor’s face contorted in confusion. Tyler laughed, saying, “Hooooly shit, bro.”
Jason walked in with the rest of the Groomsmen. “Where’s Miles?” No one answered him. “Why are you wearing that?” His eyes drooped. “This is going to be a shit show, isn’t it?”
“I haven’t seen Miles since last night. He didn’t ride over with you guys?” I said.
Jason’s head fell back, and he sighed. “Miles said he needed to pick up some stuff, and was gonna grab you so you could ride over with us. That was this morning. I thought you guys were running late, or he was getting cold feet, or whatever.”
Both Beckett boys were missing? That didn’t bode well for anyone. Maybe Miles needed some time to go over all the shit we talked about the night before? Or maybe…
Miles’s parents and sister arrived. Mr. Beckett saw me, saw what I was wearing, and gave me a small nod. Mrs. Beckett asked, “Did you find Ryder?”
“No. I figured he’d show up here.”
She exhaled. “And I’m guessing Miles didn’t come to pick you up?”
“Nope.”
Connor said to Lena, “Aren’t you supposed to be in the Limo with the girls?”
She laughed. “Dodgedthatbullet by a mile.”
Tyler said, “Wait, you’re out of the party, too?”
“Oh God, yes.” She laughed. “If I was ever in it. Spoiler, not really.”
“This is gonna be good,” Tyler said, laughing. “The groom is missing, and the wedding party is shrinking by the minute.”
“Ryder’s phone is on, which is a plus,” Lena said.
Connor said, “So is Miles’s. That just means they’re ignoring us.”
“Maybe we got through to him last night,” Mrs. Beckett said to her husband.
“Don’t get my hopes up,” he replied.
The priest walked out and greeted us, followed by an older couple I didn’t know, meaning the guests were arriving. The priest told us to wait in the church’s basement and said he’d let us know when the bride arrived.
The basement looked like the setting of countless AA meetings. Low ceiling, green and beige linoleum floor, wood paneling, and a small stage. The circle of blue plastic chairs helped, too. We sat and waited. When the priest told us the bride was about to arrive, and that the groom should go make himself scarce, no one told him Miles wasn’t there. Instead, we left to wait on the church’s little back patio.
We didn’t see Bree, but I caught a few women in dusty pink bridesmaid dresses slinking down the stairs. None of them looked happy, or at least not like they were about to walk down the aisle for one of theirbesties.
