Shared

Jenna grinned. She was holding up her own tiny pair, a lacy white thong that said ‘sexy bride’ on them. Like Lauren’s, they were more than just damp. They were soaked through.

“Mine too.”

“Aww,” Lauren lamented. “Those were special! Now I feel bad.”

“Don’t,” smiled Jenna. She dropped her panties onto the bed. “These are yours now,” she chuckled. “I want you to have them, to remember this night.”

Lauren’s face went suddenly serious. She looked at her friend with love and admiration. “I’ll never forget this night.”

“I know.”

Together they rummaged through Lauren’s suitcase. Jenna came out with a sexy, triple-strap G-string in pure, bridal white. Reaching all the way down beneath her wedding dress, she stepped carefully into it.

“I guess this will be my ‘something borrowed’,” she giggled.

“Yeah, those were for Adam,” Lauren smirked.

“Not anymore.”

They finished up, and Jenna took her by the hand. Her friend’s expression was once again filled with her usual adventure and excitement… that, plus the added thrill of her impending wedding.

“Let’s go!”

Three

The wedding, of course, was magnificent.

Jenna looked breathtaking as she walked down the aisle, wearing the same gown she’d worn lying on top of Lauren only a few hours ago. She was given away by Ethan, her older brother — as much a father to Jenna as anyone since the tragic death of their parents. He peeled her veil back with glassy eyes, trying his best not to cry. To his credit he made it all the way to the end, when Jenna and Logan were finally together, hand in hand.

Lauren stood by her friend’s side as Jenna was married in the ancient but gorgeously-decorated chapel. Some priest in colorful robes spoke a bunch of beautiful words, and before anyone knew it the bride was kissing the groom to thunderous, resounding applause.

Jenna beamed her way as she turned away from the altar, and Lauren grinned back. It seemed almost surreal. After all this time, all these wonderful memories together — one of them had finally gotten married.

The small bridal party filed their way out, stepping along a blue silken runner that ran all the way to the reception area. Once there Lauren hung back, snatching a glass of champagne from a passing tray while Jenna and her new husband finished greeting the guests.

“Just look at this place,” a voice snickered from beside her. “Only Jenna…”

Lauren smiled and turned to face Aiden. Jenna’s little brother already had a drink in his hand, and it wasn’t exactly soda.

“Should you really be drinking that?” she chided him.

“Hey, it’s England,” Aiden smiled back. “No drinking age here.” He took a slow pull from the glass. “Besides, I just turned eighteen. Close enough.”

Lauren laughed and elbowed him playfully. He was as much a little brother to her as to Jenna. The crash had happened when he was only nine years old, and Aiden had taken it worst of all. Between his older siblings, and the constant presence of Lauren? They’d done their best to help him through the pain.

“So your uh… boyfriend?” Aiden asked awkwardly. “He still…”

“Gone? Yeah.”

“What an idiot.”

Lauren tried to keep a brave face. Aiden was young enough to ask hard questions, but old enough to realize her own turmoil. He was only trying to comfort her, in his own blunt way.

“After the scene he made at the rehearsal dinner?” Aiden went on. “I don’t blame you for not wanting to see him again.”

The scene. Oh boy, had there been a scene! Lauren was embarrassed all over again just thinking about it. She felt her face flush red as she drained the rest of the glass.

“You can do a lot bett—”