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“Do I even have to ask your answer?”

“I want to tell him I’m in for the journey. I believe every word he said to me.”

“I hear you, and your happiness is all I hope for.” He nudged me with his shoulder. “I just don’t want to see you hurt. You haven’t known this man long, and he’s already done that more than once.”

“Yes, you’re right. But I either run for the hills in fear, or I jump in the deep end and hope he’ll be there to catch me. I don’t know how I can not try.”

“Well, I’m proud of you for not trying to track him down today. Waiting until tonight is good.”

I wrinkled my nose. “Well, I’ve actually been combing a one-mile radius around the hotel since the sun popped up. I’ve even been tackled by a security guard so a real productive day thus far but no talking to him yet.”

“You focus on your wedding responsibilities and have a discussion with him tonight. If everything is looking good at the reception, I’ll disappear.”

I loved my best friend so much. Maybe it was because my love life was falling into place, but I suddenly felt matchmaking skills. “Or I could find you Ms. Right. That might be fun?”

“Yeah, about as much fun as a colonoscopy rod up my ass.” He kissed my forehead. “No thank you.”

I was walking back to my room when I ran smack into my mom and Auntie Ellen. “Well, there you are. Where’s Tawnee?”

My stomach squished tight. “Tawnee’s gone?” How could I have made such a rookie mistake? My cousin ran away less than twelve hours ago, and I left her alone?

Auntie Ellen pointed at the door next to us. “We’ve been knocking and yelling for ten minutes, and no answer.”

“Well, first of all, that’s not our room.” Relief slid through me. “Follow me, ladies.” We reached the door, and I literally whipped a cartwheel when I saw Tawnee standing in front of us. A shitty cartwheel, but nonetheless, it was celebration time.

Tawnee clapped her hands. “Look at you! Are we celebrating my wedding day?” She grabbed my mom and aunt and hugged them. “I’m getting married today!”

When the group hug finally ended, the three women in front of me ended up staring at me. Nobody was smiling but instead examining me. Could they read my mind?

My mom cleared her throat. “Fern Ethel, please tell me you’re not wearing that to the bridesmaid lunch.”

As I looked at my mother and aunt in skirts, I remembered it was a three-outfit kind of day. Morning casual, which I nailed BTW, the luncheon dressy outfit, and of course, the bridesmaid dress.

Tawnee wore a gray dress with black boots.

“Give me ten minutes to change.”

My mother nodded. “Take your time, sweetie. The car won’t arrive for a bit.”

Tawnee waved her hands. “Don’t worry too much about hair and stuff. After lunch, we’re all coming back to my room, and the hair and make-up crew will be here to gussy us up.”

We exited the elevator when Katie and Pam joined us and headed toward the front door.

I held my breath when I saw the groomsmen climbing into a limo.

I stretched my neck and got a glimpse of Gabe wearing dark jeans and a navy blazer.

I longed for his eyes to meet mine, to give him my answer in one look, but no such luck.

Instead, they disappeared into the city while I joined the conversation about Pam and her cramps.

By the time we reached the restaurant, she’d popped Midol and something my mother slid over to her with a wink.

As a member of the medical community, I didn’t even want to know.

Likely one of her questionable home remedies.

She took Pam’s hands in hers and dramatically spoke. “Honey, any discomfort will disappear in twenty-three minutes.”

Eye roll as my Auntie Ellen chimed in. “Twenty-three minutes. This is some good shit, Pam.”

We arrived at Charleston’s, and I couldn’t help but smile at Tawnee’s excitement for the big day. Her face lit up as she leaned over to me. “Thank you for finding me last night. I can’t believe the panic that took over.”

For the first time in my life, I understood crippling panic.

And now I understood getting past it. Having faith in someone and taking a risk that could be the best and most frightening thing we’d ever face.

“I think everyone has those moments. Maybe you just needed a little time to decompress and let the hype settle down.”

She giggled. “Or you take the best man for a shirtless dance off, and all problems just melt away.”

“Right?”

Tawnee looked around. “His words just cut through everything I was worrying about. I’ve only known Gabe as long as I’ve known Ed, but something about him seems different.”

I felt hearts shooting from my eyes. “Really?”

“Yeah, he’s always been this tough guy, but he was so caring and helped me see through all the crap last night from a man’s perspective.”

After lunch, we headed back to the room, as my head bobbed around, hoping to see Gabe. Once in the room, the crew of beautifiers awaited our arrival, and they went to town with hair and makeup. Last but not least, I slid into my Maid of Honor dress.

Brandon opened his door, and I read his face.

“Yes, I look like a girly girl today.” I ran my hand across the stunning deep purple bridesmaid dress. It was long, elegant, and fit me like a glove. My cousin’s good taste had taken my figure up a notch as it hugged me in all the right places.

“Nice.” He walked around me. “Ass of a goddess…check. Tummy flat enough to host a body shot competition…check. Tits to make a stripper jealous…check. Girly girl doesn’t do it. Give me a spin.”

I spun in circles until he grabbed my hand. “Be careful. You’re going to hurt yourself.”

While I wanted to tell him to shut up, it was spot on advice for me.

“So what’s on the schedule now?”

“The car will be here to take the girls to the church shortly. Do you just want to meet me there at four?”

He sat on the chair in the corner. “Sure. When are you going to share the joyful news with Mr. Wonderful?”

“The wedding pictures aren’t until after the ceremony so probably won’t get to chat until after the I do’s.”

He stood and gave me a hug. “Well, I’m glad things are working out.” He pulled back and shot me a warning look. “I just want you to take this slow. He’s already hurt you?—”

“I hear you, but I think this is going to be my happy ending.”

He arched a brow. “Said Sleeping Beauty and Snow White.”

I popped my hands on hips. “But they ended happy…right?”

He sighed. “Did they?”

I honestly couldn’t remember. “Whatever. This is my story, and it ends in a memorable fashion. I know it.”

He gave a fretful sigh. “Explosion or eruption?”

I did a happy dance. “If he does it right—both.” That got him laughing as I skipped out the door.

“See you at four!”

Once at the church, the girls nibbled on the amazing snacks I was certain my mother had placed in the bride’s room.

The photographer stopped by to get some pictures of us as we helped Tawnee into her wedding gown. It was a strapless ball gown with bling, bling, and more bling. It was stunning, beautiful, unique, and I had no stinking clue on how she was going to squeeze through the damn door.

I ran through the church to make sure the florist had all the flowers where they were supposed to be, chatted with the videographer, and we were good to go.

I paused at the altar and admired the glass candle towers Gabe and I had created at the cabin. I decided right then and there I was taking two of them after the wedding so I could always remember our Pinterest project and weekend of everything amazing when I found my guy.

On the way back to the bridesmaids, a door was open, and I stopped in the hall to see the groomsmen laughing and talking. Gabe looked like a male model in his black tux and crisp white shirt.

I admired that strong jaw, the tamed hockey hair, and strong arms while there was a pry in my stomach, remembering what it was like be all wrapped up in him. I’d never looked forward to anything more than tonight. The night everything would change forever.

At four, my phone pinged, announcing Brandon’s arrival. I texted him to come down the back hallway, and clapped when I saw him in his navy suit.

“Look at you. You’re so handsome.”

“Thank you.” He extended his arm. “Let’s take a walk and burn off some of the nerves I see all over your face.”

We strolled down the back halls of the ginormous church.

We walked past some type of office, and my heart did a plié when I saw Ed and Gabe standing inside with their backs toward us. There he was!

Gabe slapped Ed on the shoulder. “Okay, you stay here, and I’ll grab the fellas. Time to get this show on the road.”

Brandon and I scurried around the corner and out of sight as Gabe came out and started down the hall.

I peeked around and whispered, “Isn’t that the finest tush you’ve ever seen?”

Brandon yanked me back. “I’m not the best judge of that. Be quiet, or he’ll think you’re spying on him.”

My ears perked up when I heard Gabe’s voice in the distance. “Well, look who we have here. I’m not used to seeing you all dressed up.”

There was a giggle from the hall, and I took a quick look to see a tall blonde in a blue dress.

She did a spin. “Yes, you’re used to me in sweatpants, right? Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about the weekend we discussed.”

The word WEEKEND brought on my supersonic hearing.

Gabe’s voice was smooth. “Yeah, I hadn’t heard back so thought maybe you’d gone in a different direction.”

My head swirled. This couldn’t be what it sounded like. Nope, it was something else, I was sure of it.

She nodded. “I gave it a lot of thought. I never do these kinds of things so I just wanted to make sure before I got back to you.”

I think I forgot to breath. This had to be a misunderstanding.

Her voice got quieter. “But if the offer’s still on the table, I’m a yes.”

There was silence. Maybe this was an offer for brunch?

“Hey, I’m sorry, but something’s kind of come up.”

I squeezed Brandon’s hand. I was what had come up. Me. There would be no more future weekend things because I was the last and final.

I peeked to see her jump closer to Gabe.

“Come on, Gabe. I’m sorry I thought about it too long, but this would be great, and I kind of really need this right now.”

The pounding in my ears was deafening as spots crawled in front of my eyes while he remained quiet for what felt like forever. Why wasn’t he shooting her down?

“Listen, I?—”

“Gabe, come on. I know you want to do this, and it would be amazing. Please say we can.”

I heard him exhale from my spot around the corner while I held my breath.

“Okay, let’s do it.”

I swear every ounce of life in me drained onto the floor as a defeated sorrow swept through me like the aftermath of a devastating tornado.

The cheeky girl nearly sang out. “Great. There are two weekends that would work for me. I’ll text you the dates, and you pick which one is best for you.”

“Sounds good.”

His footsteps disappeared down the hall while my heart jumped from my chest and did a kamikaze death dive out of the stain-glassed window beside me.

“Fern, look at me.” Brandon’s voice echoed in my ears as reality twisted itself around me like razor wire.

“Oh no.” Gabe’s words repeated in my mind and stabbed me again and again. “What just happened?”

Brandon’s hands held my shoulders and turned me toward him. “Fern, inhale.”

“How did this happen, Brandon?” My eyes burned. “He tricked me.”

His warm embrace made it real. Feeling his arms around me made it painstakingly clear that Gabe’s arms would never be there again. Blinking didn’t persuade the tears to wait as they were dead set on making a grand entrance.

“Because he’s pure evil. I know it stings like a bitch now, but better to know than to think he spoke truths last night.” He rubbed my back.

“I can’t believe this. I’m so stupid.” My own words wrenched my stomach. “After what he said at the ice arena, telling me he didn’t want to be with me, and then last night saying he did. I was just lining up to take another punch. What in the hell is wrong with me?”

He ushered me through an empty hall and leaned me against the wall. “Nothing is wrong with you. You believed what someone told you because you’re an honest, trusting person. You are so good, and you never deserved this.”

I struggled to pull it together when at the same time a bead of sweat rolled down my back. “I need to get out of here.”

“Fern, you’re the Maid of Honor. You can do this.”

Gasp. “No, I can’t.”

Brandon changed to his firm voice that I normally kind of liked, but not so much at the moment.

“You’re Tawnee’s cousin and Maid of Honor.

You will walk down that aisle with the fakest smile you’ve ever worn.

” He handed me the handkerchief from his pocket while he straightened my hair.

“I will accompany you to the reception, hold your hand the entire time, and as soon as humanly possible, I’ll get you out of there. ”

“Every part of me hurts, Brandon.” My voice cracked, and I felt snot coming out of my nose. “He was never going to love me.”

Brandon grabbed the handkerchief from my hand and started working on my endless stream of mucus. “He doesn’t deserve you.”

“That’s what people say to pathetic losers. I’m a loser.”

I didn’t expect him to put his hands on my shoulders and shake me while my head bobbed around, but he did. “Stop this!” He whisper-yelled at me. “He’s a dick. You’re wonderful. End of story. Now pull your shit together. You have a job to do.”

I wiped my face and nodded.

“I’m walking you back to the bridal room. You shove all this pain down deep and act like you never gave a rip about that fucker. You got me?”

“I’m afraid to see him?—”

“You’re a tough broad who can handle anything. You suck it up, be amazing, and we’ll key the shit out of his truck in the parking lot later. Okay?”

I inhaled deeply. “For Tawnee.”

“After today, you’ll never have to lay eyes on him again. You look at me when you’re walking down the aisle. You look at me when you’re up there, and I’ll be by your side the second it’s over. Do you hear me?”

I nodded, grateful for his strength. “I hear you.”

I ran into the bathroom, pleased to see the makeup artist clearly used hurricane proof cosmetics, as I was still in good shape.

We made it to the bridal room where Brandon shushed me inside. I was over the moon to see Pam, Liv, and Tawnee holding a shot glass in hand. Alcohol was now the word of the day.

“Get over here!” Katie handed me my shot. “Here’s to Tawnee, Ed, and happily ever after.”