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Hours later, from her seat as far in front as the Reserved signs allowed, Jessica scanned the ceremony setup at the bay’s country club, the best venue in town for large weddings. Ceiling-to-floor windows provided a spectacular view of the ocean and the boats along the marina. Thirty-foot open-beam ceilings with a light wood decor throughout gave the space a warm and intimate feel, despite the posh exclusivity of the members-only club.
Exactly a hundred chairs covered in white satin sat facing a large archway decorated with white flowers and silver snowflakes. The wedding colors of white, silver, and crystal blue weren’t the traditional red-and-green holiday choices but instead gave an air of a chilly winter wonderland, and the large crackling fireplace along the side of the room completed the cozy vibe.
December weddings had to be the most romantic. If and when Jessica ever got married, December would be her month.
Her ex-boyfriend John stood under the archway, speaking to the marriage officiant. Dressed in his black tails with a pale-blue tie and cummerbund, his dark hair gelled to one side and his face freshly shaven, he looked amazing, but not even the slightest flicker of lingering emotion for him dared to surface. It had been eighteen months since they’d dated. Jessica was completely over him.
Had she been trying to force a connection in the first place? If it had been real love, the way she’d thought it was, wouldn’t this be harder on her? Wouldn’t the previous weddings have had some heart-wrenching impact on her, too?
John glanced her way with a small, casual smile, and she returned it before shifting her attention to the other guests arriving. Groomsmen ushered family members to the reserved seats near the front, and Jessica could already feel the customary wedding tears gathering in her eyes as she saw the couple’s grandparents and aunts and uncles arrive for their big day.
The most important day of their lives. Nothing was as powerful as connecting to another person in a way that saidlet’s grow old together.
As she scanned the room, she noticed a tall, gorgeous-looking man surveying the seating selection. Almost all the chairs were taken and the ceremony was about to start. She lifted her purse from the “saved” seat next to her as he made his way down the center aisle. Her heart raced when he paused at the end of her row, glanced her way, and…then took a seat next to some gorgeous woman on the bride’s family side of the room. Jessica sighed and set her purse back down. She’d been right to assume Emily’s family members would share her hotness, but unfortunately, they all had dates.
Soft piano chords started to play, then, and she turned her attention to the back of the room. The wedding procession was about to start.
“Can I sit here?” a male voice asked.
Jessica flashed her very best flirty smile as she turned to see…Trent. Her cousin.
“The seat’s all yours,” she said, lifting her purse. So much for a hot guy offering her a tissue to wipe her eyes during the ceremony. Not that Trent wasn’t good-looking or a gentleman, but he was family.
Everyone stood as the wedding procession started, and Jessica ran a hand over her flared dark emerald-green crinoline skirt as she turned to watch the wedding party step toward the altar. She loved this part. Everyone looked so excited and happy, and the groom was so adorably nervous, his hands clenched tight in front of him, a look of apprehension on his face as he waited for his bride.
It didn’t even bother her that this groom was someone she’d once entertained the thought of forever with herself. John beamed when his bride appeared with her dad at the end of the silver-carpeted runway.
Jessica was happy for them.
Mostly.
Jealous of the bride’s gown—a mermaid-style, strapless, lace design that Jessica could never pull off—but otherwise happy.
Definitely, mostly happy.
At the altar, an emotional father lifted the veil over his daughter’s head and kissed her cheek, and then Emily joined John.
Tears had already gathered in Jessica’s eyes when the officiant started the ceremony. “Dearly Beloved, we are gathered here today…”
“This is the fourth wedding Whitney’s skipped out on in three months,” Trent whispered next to her.
Jessica nodded, her gaze locked on the wedding couple.
“I know it’s not the idea of commitment freaking her out, though,” he went on, “because Whitney doesn’t make decisions lightly. Once she commits, she commits.”
An older lady sitting in front of them turned and shot him a look.
“Shhh…” Jessica said.
At the altar, John was reading his personalized vows, and her chest tightened. How Emily wasn’t a big, sobbing mess, she didn’t know. She hadn’t realized John could be so poetic. Guess the right woman brought out the best qualities in a man.
“Tell me the truth, is itme?” Trent whispered, moving closer. “Is she getting cold feet because she doesn’t want to marry me?”
Jessica sighed as she tore her eyes away from the ceremony. “Trent, I love you like a cousin—”
“Wearecousins.”
“Exactly. But you need to shut up. This is my favorite part,” Jessica hissed.
