I feel her eyes on me for several quiet moments, then she says, “All right. I’ll get someone you can talk to about anything.”
I feel so awful, I can’t even look at her. I want to bury my face in my hands and hide from the world, but they spent so much time making my makeup perfect that I don’t.
Feeling wretched and small, like an errant child sitting outside the principal’s office, I murmur quietly, “Thank you.”
26
Brant
Standing up here in front of all these people, beneath the natural green canopy of trees and the decidedly less natural wooden arch swathed with some kind of soft pink material is just about the last thing in the world I wanna be doing.
The guests are all in their seats, talking amongst themselves, snapping pictures, clearing their throats. I don’t even know where all these people came from, to be honest. Bri helped Alyssa with most of the planning and I just paid the bills, but I know Alyssa told me it would just be family and a smattering of friends.
I don’t have many friends, and she doesn’t either, yet all these folding chairs are full of people.
My neck is tense, as are all the muscles in my upper body. It doesn’t help that standing right behind me is the last fucking man on the planet I want at my back—goddamn Theo.
It’s my fault, I guess. I’m too antisocial. Alyssa had her sister and both of mine to stand up with her. I had Greg, the manager at the local hardware store.
He’s a real nice guy, but I guess he’s not technically my friend. He seemed shocked as hell when I stopped in and asked him to be an attendant at my wedding, but then I showed him a picture of Alyssa’s sister and explained it wouldn’t be right to make her walk down the aisle all alone since she’s single. Just like that, I had a groomsman.
The other two are just the bozos my sisters had kids with, and that means Theo is one of the assholes in tuxes standing here behind me today.
At least I only have to get married once. Aside from pallbearers at my funeral, I can’t think of another occasion where I’ll be forced to produce friends.
It’s boring as hell standing here like this, waiting for the women. I don’t want to make uncomfortable eye contact with anyone, so I look around at all the decorations Alyssa set up.
She did a nice job. This section of the yard is sprinkled with rose petals and there’s an aisle runner down the center of the seating area where Alyssa and her half of the bridal party will walk.
It’s simple, but nice. I like it. I’ll have to remember to tell her that later.
I think the procession is finally about to start when I see Bri walking toward me in her wine-colored bridesmaid dress with her hair done up all fancy…though I’m a little confused as to why she’s coming around the side of the barn instead of through it like they did at rehearsal last night. I frown, because she doesn’t stop behind the guests; she veers around them and comes straight at me.
A frown transforms my face, my gut telling me something’s wrong.
“What is it?” I ask before she even makes it to me. “Is Alyssa okay?”
She stops in front of me, heaving a sigh from hustling all that way. “Physically, yes.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
She sighs again, this time less from physical exertion and more from utter exasperation. Her gaze bounces around for a few seconds, then she looks me dead in the eye and asks, “Do you love her?”
I’m so stunned she’d ask that, I just stare at her. “What the hell is this, Bri?”
“Just answer the question. No bullshit. Do you really love her, or are you marrying her out of some sense of obligation?”
My eyes widen, half from disbelief, half from aggravation. “Are you fucking with me right now? This is my wedding day. Are you seriously still trying to save her from me?”
“No, it’s not…” Bri trails off, frowning as Theo inexplicably steps forward.
“Everything okay?” he asks.
“This is none of your business,” Bri snaps at him.
I can’t quite contain my surprise, and neither can Theo. The first bit of fun I’ve had today is looking over and seeing him gaping like a fish.
Growling, Bri grabs me by the arm and hauls me off to the side, away from nosy eavesdroppers. Once we’re a little more alone, she moves in front of me and looks up at me again. Her eyes are imploring, like she’s begging me to cut the shit and just be straight with her.
Heaving a sigh of my own, I look around at all the people staring at us then bring my gaze back to Bri. “Yes, I love her.”