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He didn’t know she was charging after him yet. No one did, not even Vicky. She’d just quietly done some research into his address via her contacts—namely Melly—and packed a light bag. Her trip would be a short one since she couldn’t leave the interior design office any more short-staffed than they’d already be with Vic leaving for her honeymoon. But if she left right after the reception, she’d have plenty of time to make the drive and state her case.
Namely that he was being a jackass, and she wasn’t having it.
It wasn’t as if she expected a thousand balloons set off at sunset. She wasn’t looking for a proposal, or an offer to move in together, or anything grandiose. All she wanted was for him to admit he had feelings for her, too, and that he wanted to explore them. Ideally, she’d also convince him that he was a wonderful guy, so much better than he gave himself credit for.
She hoped he didn’t prove her wrong on that score and send her packing before she’d said her piece, but screw it. Being shy and retiring didn’t do anything but keep you out of the game before you’d even had a chance to play. Loving Bryan represented one hell of an adventure, and she was all in.
And if he wasn’t, well, she would deal. She’d just wear him down until he changed his mind. She could be awfully persuasive when she wanted to be.
But before she did any of that, she would watch her best friend since childhood get married. She’d probably do her share of crying during the ceremony, but she was entitled. Best friend privilege. So what if she most likely would weep a little bit for her own dwindling shot at a happy ending? She’d get there. It was going to happen. Now that she’d experienced what it could be like to have that kind of connection with someone, no way in hell was she backing down.
An hour later, she helped Vic fuss with her veil in front of the cheval mirror in the changing room at the back of the church. “You look so elegant. I can’t believe you’re the same girl who mooned the whole boys’ football team after that mud run all those years ago,” Jill teased, stepping back.
“They deserved it. Bunch of clowns booing us because we took too long. Besides, I have a superior ass.”
“You do.”
“We both do.”
Jill bowed her head in a mock prayer. “Thank you yoga for giving us tight buns.”
Vic giggled and grabbed Jill’s hand, pressing it to her stomach and meeting her eyes in the mirror. “I won’t be tight anywhere for much longer.”
Jill’s eyes widened. “No way.”
“Mmm-hmm. Bun in the oven. A little late for the wedding, but hey, better late than never.” Vic grinned. “Guess that explains all those peanut butter and pickle sandwiches I’ve been scarfing down lately. And here I thought I was just broadening my palate.”
Jill pulled her into a hug. “Oh my God. I’m so thrilled for you and Cory.”
They engaged in a little happy dance that involved much squeeing and butt shaking and some barely intelligible high pitched noises. By the end of it, they were both in tears and rubbing at their makeup, which was how Dillon found them when he marched in.
“Uh-oh. The chicks are bawling already.” He wrapped Vic in his arms and gave her a big hug. “Just heard the news from Captain Oblivious. Congratulations, almost sister of mine.”
“Thanks. Sorry we didn’t spill sooner. We’ve only known for a couple of days, but we wanted to let the news settle a bit before we told everyone.”
“Huh. Novel idea, waiting a few days to tell personal news.” Jill raised an eyebrow at Vic, who gave her a sheepishly apologetic glance.
“Hormones. They’re my new excuse for everything. So far it’s working out pretty good.”
“Well, you might want to blame your hormones in advance, because your brother has a surprise for you. He just regrets he’s not here in person to tell you about it.”
Vic lifted her train and followed Dillon to the door. “What surprise?”
Jill trailed after them, smiling as she heard Vic exclaim, “Daddy!”
Bryan had done well. In spite of everything, it was going to be a very good day.
Jill cried a few tears through the father-daughter march down the aisle, and through Cory and Vic’s exchange of vows and first kiss as a married couple. She cried more when she happened to catch the bouquet from the toss at the reception. Seeing Bryan’s teammate Cade standing in for Bryan during the ceremony and blending in with the family—and especially hovering around Melinda—at the reception wasn’t the best, either.
But she laughed just as much, even digging into her raspberry chocolate mousse with gusto as the band started up for the dancing portion of the evening. She had no one to dance with, but that was okay, because she was perfectly happy eating her dessert.
Mmm. Yummy. See, no worries at all. The occasional tear that marred the perfectly smooth surface was from happiness. Today was a great day. And tonight, she’d go after Bryan.
“You good here for a bit?” Vic asked her for about the eleventh time.
Jill blinked away the latest deluge and smiled. “I’m fine. Would you stop fussing over me? Go dance with your husband.”
“Don’t go anywhere,” Vic said as she backed toward the makeshift dance floor, her hand firmly in Cory’s. He looked a bit green under his tan—probably a byproduct of being newly married and a father-to-be—but he hadn’t stopped smiling all day.
