She wiggles free and punches me on the arm.
“Ouch!”
“You scared me to death.”
“Why are you hiding behind here?”
“I’m not.”
“Really?” I raise a brow and start laughing. “Madison, you know how ridiculous you’re being hidi
ng out here, right?”
“I can’t go in there wearing this.” She widens her arms showing me her dress.
Frowning, I ask, “I’m not sure what you mean. You look good.”
“Ugh!”
“I’m out of my element right now, why don’t I go and get Dylan.”
“Hell no!” she mumbles. “I think I’ll go change.”
“You don’t have time.” Hoping like hell she doesn’t punch me again because she has one hell of a right hook, I grab her arm and thread it through mine, and then we’re in the room.
“What are you doing?” she squeaks.
I glance at her and hold my amusement. “I don’t have all day to stand talking to you behind a potted plant.” I smirk. “Derek can’t take his eyes off of you.”
My comment gets a reaction. “Really?”
“Well, he’s currently trying his best not to look at you, but I think he’s failing spectacularly.” I glance at the man in question and although he is trying not to look at Madison, he also appears angry with himself—at least that’s my guess.
“Will you sit with me?” I don’t get much of a choice as she drags me to where she’s chosen to sit, and pulls me down beside her.
It all works out just fine when Rachel moves toward me from the opposite end of the makeshift aisle. Her father, Ramon, is behind her and then Noah, and Paige follows him.
Rachel’s face lights up when she spots me and she sits beside me. “This worked out well,” she whispers.
About to reply I catch the glare from Paige. I wish she’d lighten up. The sisters have always been close and it bothers me that I’m coming between them. I wonder if some of Paige’s anger is more jealousy—that she doesn’t have her twin all to herself anymore.
“What’s wrong with Madison?” Rachel asks.
Leaning closer, I whisper, “I found her hiding behind the plant outside the room.”
Rachel looks surprised and a small bit amused.
“I think it has something to do with Derek, but only time will tell what’s going on there.”
“He’s a lot older than her,” Rachel mumbles.
“He’s around the same age as Garrett,” I reply.
“I hadn’t thought about it like that.” Rachel turns to Ramon before she turns to me, and whispers, “You can’t help whom your heart falls in love with.”
“No you can’t.” I give her a look that tells her exactly whom my heart lies with.
Silence follows as the rest of our family take their seats with a nervous Tanner standing out front. It must be nerve racking waiting for the woman you love to walk down the aisle toward you, knowing that she’s finally going to belong to you—that no one else will ever be able to stake a claim on her.