Page 57 of Nothing to the Wedding

“What’s wrong with that?”

Yeah, because Savanna slept over with Tripp’s thirty-something-year-old brother all the time.No one objected to that… as far as she knew.

Tripp’s single burst of laughter snapped him right out of his funk.“This is a gift.Thank you, Savannah Mayden; I owe you.Morning isn’t such a bust after all.”He bowed to quickly kiss his mom’s head.“I’m going to tell Darroch he’s shit out of luck tonight.”

Off he went.At least the temporary fix cured his boredom.What a guy.

“Is everyone finished?”Jane asked.“We have a six-minute window to get from here into hair and makeup.And I still have to check the dresses.”

“Didn’t you do that already?”Toria asked as people pushed away plates and retrieved purses.“Check the dresses were here?”

“I checked at six a.m.and they hadn’t arrived yet.They weren’t here at seven or eight—”

“You checked?”Toria asked, incredulous.“How many times?”

“Every hour.On the hour.”Jane nodded.“And left messages.It’s important.Roxie can’t get married without a dress.”

“To this day, I have no idea how you can get up so early and still be… functional by club time.”

Another of Jane’s superpowers.

“I need to talk to you two a minute,” Roxie said when they were all on their feet, leaving the breakfast table.

“Talk to us?”Jane asked.

Roxie took each of their hands to lead them out of there, through the hotel and into the bridal room.Their staging area was adjacent, but those doors weren’t open yet.She’d have to be quick to miss the stampede.

“We making a break for it?”Toria asked.

Jane gasped.“Are you?Oh no, we’re leaving.”

“We’re not leaving.Okay…” Roxie let go of their hands to position them side by side.“Stay there.”

Backing away, she turned when almost at the dresser.And out came two red boxes.

With a flourish, she spun around with one presented on either palm.

“Ooo, what are they?”Toria asked, all intrigue.

“Z and I would never have gotten this far without both of you.”

“Yeah, because you didn’t know who he was twenty minutes ago.”

“I only went to the show because of you.I only moved to New York because you took the leap with me.And a million other reasons.You’ve talked me down so many times and so…” She brought a palm closer to each friend.“These are for you.”

Toria accepted hers.

Jane, hands clasped at her chest, shook her head.“I don’t need a present.I only found Knox because…”

When Jane’s voice broke, she and Toria went on alert.

“Whoa, hey, is that crying voice?”Toria asked, grabbing Jane around to check her eyes.“It’s crying voice and not happy crying voice.”

“Never mind.Ignore me.Oh, I’m sorry!It’s Roxie’s wedding day and—”

“Who gives a shit about that?”Toria was in momma bear mode.

“I don’t,” Roxie said to reiterate her own concern.