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JJ and Cassie smiled at each other as the sixty pounds of sass turned the corner and disappeared down the aisle. “Well, Bambi. You ready to do this?”
“Ready as I’ll ever be.”
“Then let’s hit the runway. Gotta smile and wave boys. Smile and wave.”
“Penguins of Madagascar. I love that movie.”
Jamal grinned. “So you’re more than just a book nerd?”
“You forget master softball player.”
Jamal let out a laugh. “Your eye, my dear, says differently.”
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Cassie walked a couple of steps behind Jamal in order to grab her peach day lily bouquet off the table before it was their turn to head down the aisle. She took a deep breath. Damn the man for looking so good. She was amazed she could form a coherent sentence around him. She had seen shirtless Jamal, towel-only Jamal, and now this version of Jamal. She didn’t know which one she liked more. It was like choosing which chocolate truffle was the best in a box of Harry and David assorted truffles. They were all so different, but allso good,not to mention addicting. The tux he had donned for the wedding took him from the sexy athlete she was used to seeing to a swoon-worthy, sophisticated hunk of man. She couldn’t help staring, specifically at his ass that looked just as good in tuxedo pants as it did a pair of athletic shorts.
“Everything ok, Bambi?” Jamal asked, turning around and looking for her. “You look a little hot.”
“Nope. Not hot. Not at all. Just nervous, you know, about uh, walking. Yep. Walking. I suck at walking in heels.”
“Were you staring at my butt? You were, weren’t you?” Jamal said with a smile.
“I don’t know what you are talking about, Jamal,” she said, trying her best to frown at him convincingly.
“You so do, butt-starer.”
“That’s not even a word,Jamal,” she said with an eye roll his way. Just then, the melody of “I Got You,” by Jack Johnson began playing softly from the speakers at the front of the bridge where the rest of the bridal party was standing.
“That’s our cue. We’re up.” Cassie couldn’t help but say with a smile.
“Why the smile?” Jamal asked her out of the side of his mouth.
“Callie sang this to Kyle on their first real date,” she whispered back. “They went to see her dad and she was singing it in his car without thinking. Kyle told her it was when he fell in love with her.”
“After a first date?! That’s not possible.”
“My mom used to say when you know, you know. I think he knew. Why else would they be getting married?”
“Point taken.”
Cassie kept her focus directly in front of her, worried if she looked at the people sitting in the seats, she would stress herself out and break out in nervous hives across her neck and chest. She hated thinking she was the center of attention. Almost as if he knew what she was thinking, Jamal gave her arm perched in the crook of his a reassuring squeeze. Out of the corner of her peripheral vision, she saw him smile. At the front of the alter, she let go of Jamal’s arm and took her place as the maid of honor to the left of the preacher conducting the ceremony. Everyone’s eyes were glued to the entrance where Callie and Max were to appear any moment. Suddenly, sounds of Rachel Platten’s “Better Place,” began playing softly.
“Hot damn,” Cassie heard Kyle whisper as Callie came into view. Her friend was breathtaking. Her long, naturally curly, blonde locks were flowing down her back, a small veil tucked into the braids pinning back the sides of her hair. Max had a death grip on his daughter’s arm, his red face indicative of the tears he was holding back. The two reached the front as the song ended and Max and Callie stepped in front of the preacher.
“Who gives this woman to this man?” he asked.
“I think I do,” Max said, eliciting a laugh from the people in attendance.
“Kissing his daughter’s cheek, Max turned to Kyle and handed his daughter to her soon-to-be wife. “You better take good care of her, sonny, or I’ll hurt your other knee.”
Kyle shook Max’s hand. “You know it, Max.” With a smile as wide as Texas, Kyle pulled Callie’s hand to his mouth and kissed it gently.
“You ready for this, Curly?”
“You know it, Dimples,” she said back with a smile.
Cassie took Callie’s bouquet from her as Callie and Kyle turned to face the preacher. Cassie quickly glanced over to the groom’s side of the party and locked eyes with Jamal, realizing he was staring at her. Willing her face not to go red, she subtly moved her head in the direction of her friends to get his eyes back on the ceremony. Giving her a wink, he turned and faced the bride and groom, who were reciting their vows to one another.
