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“What?” I took another slow step forward. I didn’t dare look up at the waiting groom. Liam would kill me if I threw off the timing of his wedding.
“Cici,” Stacy said, insistent. “You should ask her again. To marry you.”
“Wait… Like tonight?”
“No, no, no,” Stacy murmured as we halted to pose under the flashing photographer’s orders. “But soon.”
Stacy gave my arm a squeeze before slipping her hand from my grip to sit down in the front row. Beside her, a framed picture of Tim Grove smiled. Stacy reached over and gently tilted the frame, making sure it was completely even and level on the chair beside hers. Swallowing my suddenly tight throat, I looked up at the altar.
“Brady?” That was Liam.
I jerked back to awareness, stepping over to stand on the second step behind Ian as the music slowly quieted.
As if on cue, every head turned, staring at the closed doors for a glimpse at the bride.
I stared too, but not at Liam’s bride. At my own future. And they were beautiful.
***
Cici
If Ashlyn didn’t get her cute little butt down that aisle in the next five minutes, I was going to carry her down it myself. I wasn’t sure where my niece and best friend had gone, but a few weeks ago she had transformed into a fire-breathing bridezilla. And while I was happy to humor her most days, today I was out of patience.
My back was throbbing. My hands and feet were puffy. My makeup was done in the car on the way here. I looked like a hot mess.
I guess I shouldn’t be stressed about it. No one expected the nine-month pregnant woman to wow anybody, but I wanted to. Well, I wanted to impress Brady. Because in the past months since we got back together, things have been so great.
We’d had an enormous fight about diaper cream brands. He’d zipped me into my favorite dresses even when I knew they didn’t really fit. I lived in robes or stolen bits of his wardrobe. I was just hoping that tonight he would have a glimpse of the nonpregnant version of myself.
I cast a quick glance down my dress. I was in a delicate, soft gray dress, the gauzy fabric flowing across my rapidly changing body in a way that was as flattering as I could hope for. Beside me, Samantha Macklen, Liam’s sister, bustled around. She wasn’t a bridesmaid, something that didn’t seem to bother her in the least, but had acted as my extra hands these past few weeks when things got difficult.
“Thanks, Sam,” I whispered to her as she stepped close to Ashlyn to fluff her train one last time. Emma Hansen, my new employee and fellow bridesmaid, fidgeted beside me. I smiled down at her. Petite and curvy, she’d only been in the city a few weeks, and already I could tell she was exactly what our little company needed. Her quick wit and big laugh were more than welcome in our offices. She’d even managed to win over Luna, which was a feat all on its own.
“You ready?” I asked Ashlyn, gritting my teeth as my back throbbed again, low and hard.
Ashlyn turned, her beautiful face suddenly pale under her makeup. “Thank you all so much. I’ve been such a monster.”
“Nope, no tears.” I held up a hand. “We totally understand. We love you no matter what. However, I will lose my mind if we have to put your makeup on you again.”
Ashlyn grinned as Samantha and Emma both giggled behind me. “Deal,” Ashlyn said softly.
“I’m proud of you, Ash,” I told her, my hand smoothing the edge of her veil. “You deserve every bit of happiness.”
She pressed a hand over mine, trapping it. “You do too.”
“I know,” I answered, my heart throbbing in my chest. “I’m working on that.”
Breaking away before I broke my own declaration about crying, I assumed my position behind Emma’s dark curls. And when the processional music began, my feet moved forward of their own accord.
Dazed, I felt the gazes of everyone in the wedding slide over me. Jerking my chin up, I gripped my bouquet tightly, placing one foot carefully in front of the other. I’d never shied away from public scrutiny, and today was no different. Especially when halfway down the aisle, I looked up and caught Brady’s gaze.
The frank adoration in it actually made me blush. I could feel his admiration as I continued to come closer and closer. When Emma broke away, I was left standing front and center.
Hi,I mouthed to Brady silently.
His chocolate gaze warmed.You look beautiful,he mouthed back.
I grinned, picking up my dress and assuming my maid of honor position beside the arbor archway. As soon as I did, the music changed subtly, slowing.
