Page 219 of No Headlines Please

She and Ryder had said their own "I do's" in January on the mainland, because they hadn't wanted to wait. She'd had two bridesmaids – a matron of honor, Maisie, and a maid of honor, me.

Right from the start, Mom had been over the moon, telling everyone who'd listen that Tessa had made the most wonderful match ever…until she found out what was going on with me.

It wasn't that she thought Maddox was better – even if I personally believed he was the very best. No, it was the fact that, in Mom's eyes, I'd totally bested the daughter of my mom's favorite nemesis.

Was it shallow and silly?

Absolutely.

It was also vintage Mom.

As for Sloane Hayworth, she was on the interview circuit yet again, promoting her latest book, The Girl Who Came Back, in which she blamed her friends, her mom, and even the weather for the crazy PR plan that had gone completely off the rails.

For once, she wasn't blaming Maddox.

I'd even spotted her on TV the other day, sitting across from a sympathetic host, telling her story all over again. She'd gotten choked up at just the right moment, her voice catching, her eyes glistening, and her mascara somehow staying absolutely perfect.

It was impressive, in a way.

And also a little terrifying.

As for Devon and Sierra, they had beaten all of us to the altar, getting married mere months after his odd proposal to Maisie. Now, between Chicago and the island, I'd lost track of where they argued more. Weirdly enough, it seemed perfectly on brand, complete with enough drama to keep the rumor mill well-fed.

That reminded me of something.

I looked to Tessa. "Wait…aren't you gonna tell us what Mom posted?"

She grinned. "I knew you'd ask if I waited." She lifted her phone and turned the screen in my direction, so I could see it for myself.

I nearly choked. It was a blurry, clearly zoomed-in shot of Maddox in his tux, standing near the front steps. It was cropped too tight and slightly off-kilter, like it was taken from behind a bush.

But it was the caption that nearly did me in.

Look at him. Handsome, successful, and ACTUALLY at the altar. So happy for my Delaney. (Sorry, Cynthia.)

Maisie moved closer to take a look for herself. Her eyebrows furrowed. "Who's Cynthia?"

I shook my head. "Sloane's mom."

Tessa said, "Yeah, they were sorority sisters, remember?"

As if anyone could forget.

I looked back to the photo. Blurry or not, he was still all Maddox – handsome, sweet, and just a little dangerous, but never to me.

Absently, I said, "But…he's not even at the altar."

I wasn't even a little bit worried. I still had fifteen minutes before I'd be walking down the aisle. But more than that, I didn't have a single doubt that Maddox would be there, just like he'd promised.

Tessa pulled back her phone and turned to Maisie with a laugh, "And just for the record, I had to check my phone. Someone was threatening to stop by."

That made me pause. "Threatening?"

Just then, a knock sounded at the door. When we all turned to look, I heard Ryder's voice, loud and clear, talking through the gap. "Hey, just so you know, he actually showed up."

Tessa called back, "It's not funny." But then she laughed. "Okay, maybe it's a little funny."

It was even funnier when a second voice joined the first. "Hey, Delaney!" It was Griff.