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“No, sorry. But I could run over to the bar and snag some lemon juice.”
“Please, if you don’t mind. That would be beyond helpful.” Madison spins the bridesmaid around, leading her back down the hallway before glancing back at me and mouthing ‘thank you.’
I hustle out of the chapel, hopping in the first golf cart with keys I spot. Pedal to the metal, I zip across the lawn, heading toward the main resort, determined to find lemon juice for Madison Leigh.
Fifteen minutes later, I fly back into the parking spot in front of the wedding chapel, a Styrofoam cup o’ lemon juice in hand. By now, the chapel’s packed with guests, the front steps crowded with people mingling before the ceremony.
“Excuse me, coming through.” I elbow my way through the crowd, heading left down the hallway. I pause outside the white door marked ‘Bridal Suite,’ then rap on the door.
Madison Leigh pops her head out. “Oh, great.” She heaves a sigh of relief, pulling me into the room with her.
Unlike the calm of the chapel, the Bridal Suite is pure chaos. Clothing covers practically every surface, make-up and hair products strewn along the counter. Taylor Swift pumps through a portable speaker and the air is heavy with floral perfume and estrogen.
Madison grabs the cup out of my hand, whipping a plastic spoon from her purse and measuring out two teaspoons of the lemon juice. She douses a white towel with the liquid before carefully blotting at the bridesmaid’s dress.
“There. Let that dry and it should disappear, like it never happened.” Madison pats Mary Elizabeth’s arm and the bridesmaid heaves a huge sigh of relief before beaming first at Madison, then at me.
“Oh my word. Thank you so much.” Her Southern drawl drags thesoout, her eyes giving me a quick once-over. Normally, I’d be flattered, but today I’m zero percent interested. Madison has all my attention.
The church bells ring out above us, vibrating the walls, and a hush falls over the room.
“Okay, ladies, it’s go time. Jolie’s standing outside the door to the sanctuary. She’s going to cue you, so follow her instructions. Everyone have their bouquet?” Madison’s eyes dart from bridesmaid to bridesmaid, checking that every detail is perfect. Satisfied, she nods her head, and everyone falls into a single-file line behind her. I’m not exactly sure what to do, so I trot beside her, awaiting her directions.
We all file down the hall, through the quiet space, a few of the bridesmaids quietly whispering to each other. Madison deposits the bridal party with Jolie, then grabs my arm and pulls me toward the side door.
Hesitating a second, she leans in close to me, her vanilla scent enveloping me and tickling my nose.
“Thanks for the lemon juice. You’re a real hero.”
She gazes up at me through dark lashes, her sweet words sparking a warmth in my chest that pumps through my veins with every beat of my heart.
Rubbing my thumb over the hand resting on my arm, I nod. “You’re very welcome. Happy to help.”
“Sorry we didn’t get to spend any time together yet today.”
“It’s fine. I’m sure we’ll make up for it later on.”
“Looking forward to it.” She smiles at me, then shoves through the door into the chapel right as the first notes of the processional music fill the air. All eyes swivel toward us and I stand up straighter, puffing out my chest.
One of the groomsmen stares coldly at us, and my gut knots. “I take it that’s your ex,” I whisper through gritted teeth.
Madison nods. “You guessed it.”
“Seems like a real charmer.”
Madison scoffs, sliding into her designated seat toward the front of the chapel. I follow behind her, settling into the hard wooden pew. Her Aunt Edna’s two rows ahead of us, beady eyes fixated on the entrance, waiting for Charity to make her grand entrance. Bridesmaids glide in, one after the other, right on cue and taking their places at the altar. Then the music swells and everyone stands for the bridal procession.
Madison’s cousin floats down the aisle, her pristine white cloud of a dress swishing with every step. Finally at the front of the chapel, her father hands his daughter’s hand to the groom, dabbing at his eyes before taking his seat next to Aunt Edna. Charity beams at the groom and then the ceremony begins. Vows are recited and rings exchanged, although I don’t hear much of it over the pounding of my heart due to my proximity to Madison. She’s grasping my hand, our fingers intertwined, and I marvel at how small and soft her hand is in mine. The way her thumb absently rubs against my skin, igniting a hot blaze all the way up my arm. With every soft exhale, a tiny puff of vanilla hits my nose and all I can think about is licking along the perfect pink seam of her full lips and tasting her. My hands tiptoeing up her back, dragging the zipper of her pale pink dress down until the fabric’s a satiny puddle at her feet. Dipping down to suckle the delicate curves of her breasts until she shivers beneath me.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Applause breaks out and interrupts my fantasy, rousing me from my lustful thoughts. Madison glances over at me and smiles, a soft blush on her cheeks, and I concentrate on the back of Aunt Edna’s dress, counting the tiny fabric buttons and willing my hard-on to go away. Or at least become less noticeable.
Everyone stands, still clapping, as Charity and Cavill sashay down the aisle arm-in-arm. Charity waves her bouquet in the air like she’s Homecoming Queen in a parade, beaming at all her guests, and Madison smiles tightly at her cousin.
As soon as the couple passes, Madison grabs my hand and drags me out of the pew.
“Sorry, but I have to dash and make sure the reception’s all set up and ready to go. Are you okay?”
