I’ve seen it firsthand.
In contrast, if it was my own mother who’d found me mid panic attack that day, she would have done whatever she could to force me to go through with the wedding. She would have run to tell Matt, knowing what would happen.
What he would do.
Mariah gives Deidre an almost amused smile. “I appreciate the offer, but there’s nothing in this world that will keep me from marrying Titus.”
“Don’t say that.” Maren sighs, rolling her eyes as she shuts off the hot tool and sets it on the card table someone likely pulled in just for today. “Now your water’s going to break.”
“Don’t care.” Mariah stands up. “We’ll go to the hospital after the ceremony.” She reaches a hand out for me. “Wanna help Maren walk me down the aisle?”
I wait for the sick feeling that assaulted me when she andTitus announced their plans, but it doesn’t come. Instead, a tiny bit of happiness blooms, making it surprisingly easy to take her hand. “I would love to.”
Deidre hurries out of the room, and Maren and I help Mariah smooth out her dress and double check to make sure her hair and makeup are perfect. I honestly don’t think she cares though. She would probably walk down those stairs and up the aisle in a robe and no makeup.
Once she’s primped to Maren’s demanding standards, we step out into the hall. It’s not possible for us to go down the stairs side-by-side, so I go first with Maren and Mariah behind me. We reach the bottom, and link arms as the string quartet set up in the office begins to play.
It’s so crazy. I really thought today was going to be a struggle to get through. Instead, I find myself smiling and laughing as I walk with my friends into the front room where everyone is lined up. The first thing I notice is the way Titus is looking at the woman next to me. The love emanating from him is palpable, and it honestly chokes me up a little.
Not in a bad way. In a happy way.
A way that hopes someday a man will look at me the same way.
The aisle is short but wide, so Maren and I are able to stay at Mariah’s side all the way up to the area designated as an altar. After passing her off, I turn, ready to find a seat.
I lock eyes with Tobias. He’s standing at his brother's side, but his eyes are only on me.
And what I see in them is terrifying.
“Come sit right behind me, honey.” Deidre takes my hand, ushering me into the seat directly behind where she and Ted are sitting.
I lower into the spot, putting my eyes anywhere but onTobias as he and his brothers begin to disperse, leaving only Mariah, Titus, and the officiant standing.
When someone sits beside me, my belly does a weird little tumble, because I think it’s Tobias. I look over and discover it’s Maren, eyes misty, her lips curved in a wistful smile as she watches the ceremony.
I don’t look around. I’m not quite prepared for what I might see. I’m certainly not prepared for how it will make me feel. It’s a perfect example of ‘be careful what you wish for.’
The ceremony is short and sweet. In just a few minutes, Titus is pulling Mariah as close as he can with her pregnant belly between them, kissing her in a way that might border on indecent, before scooping her up and carrying her out of the room. The officiant, Deidre, and Ted follow right behind them.
“What is it with you guys and carrying women around?” Trevor’s voice cuts through the cheers. “I don’t get it.”
Maren leans around me, continuing to clap as she shoots Trevor a glare across the aisle separating us. “That’s because you’re an asshole.”
“You think I’m an asshole now, just wait.” Trevor dishes out a threat I don’t quite understand, and I’m starting to wish I wasn’t the one standing between them. “You have no idea what I’m capable of.”
“I’m sure that’s what you tell all the girls.” Maren smirks. “Right before they experience the most underwhelming thirty seconds of their life.”
I was worried getting through this wedding would be a struggle because of how it would make me feel. The memories it would trigger. Now, I’m a little concerned my emotions are the least of the problems unfolding.
Tucker steps around Trevor, pushing him back a step. Helooks between him and Maren. “What is it with you two?” He scoffs. “Just fuck and get over it with already.”
Maren gasps loudly, her jaw dropping open. “Never in a million years.” She shakes her head almost violently. “Not even with someone else’s?—”
Deidre steps into the room, clapping her hands with a smile. “Time to eat. Everyone come on.”
Tucker plants one hand in the middle of Trevor’s back, shoving him toward the door. Maren continues glaring at him until he’s gone, then she flips her hair, picks up Mariah’s bouquet, hooks an arm through Walker’s, and drags him out of the room, chin high in the air.
Leaving only me and Tobias.
