I want my own wedding to run smoothly. I want things to all go according to plan, and I want to look flawless. But I can’t help but think my sister is being dramatic. That when it’s all said and down, it should come down to how much she loves Peter and how they can’t wait to spend the rest of their lives together.
What you look like today isn’t going to matter ten years from now.
“I’ll be down in like ten minutes,” I tell my mom, and reach behind me for Logan’s hand. We practically run down the hall and into our hotel room. Logan uses the bathroom while I grab my dress, and then we switch to get dressed. I shut the bathroom door behind me and strip down, stepping into the shower before the water fully warms up. I wash away the sweat and mud, and then get out, toweling off in record time.
I get dressed, wrap my hair in a towel, and put on one swipe of shimmery eye shadow and mascara. Then I move around like a maniac to braid my wet hair, put on deodorant, and grab my lip gloss.
“You look beautiful,” Logan says when I emerge from the bathroom.
“Really?”
“Yeah,” he laughs. “You don’t need to do yourself all up to look good, Danielle. I think you always look good.”
He’s told me that before, and he’s never been shy with the compliments. But there’s something different about them now, something that makes my stomach flutter and my pussy contract with want. Heat floods my veins.
“You look good too.”
“Oh, I know I do.” He flashes a cocky grin and holds out his hand. “Ready?”
“As I’ll ever be.” I pick up my purse and go out the hotel room door, rushing hand in hand with Logan to the elevator. We get back into the lobby with a few minutes to spare as everyone waits for Diana. When she and Peter finally come down, everyone coos over her, telling her how pretty she is and how amazing her hair looks.
My sister is pretty, and I smile when I see her. “You look beautiful,” I say, walking over.
“Thanks.” Diana beams. Then she looks at my arm. “What is this?” Her eyes go wide, and at first, I think she’s being a concerned older sister. “This is going to stand out in the photos!” And then I realize she’s more concerned about how I’ll look standing up at the altar with her.
“It’s not that bad.” I look down at the red marks on my arm. “I won’t be so red tomorrow.”
“You’re going to have to cover it with makeup.”
Smearing makeup all over the wound is the last thing I want to do, but I smile and nod anyway, because that’s the kind of person I am. It’s Diana’s wedding. I should do all that I can to accommodate her…right?
Well, as long as it’s within reason. I’m not cutting my hair, but I can dust some powder over the scratches as long as they’ve scabbed over, which they will by the morning. With a huff, Diana goes over to her friends, leaving me feeling a little sad at the relationship we don’t have.
We’ve never really had one if I’m being honest with myself. Once Dad set his sights on getting me into Yale and following the path he laid out for me, Diana went on the defense and did everything she could to get attention, which usually got her into trouble. And then, along with being the “smart one,” I was the good girl too.
Logan comes up behind me, and his hand lands on the small of my back. My stomach does a weird flip-flop thing and my pulse quickens. I turn my head to look at his handsome face. His hair is windswept and messy but looks so damn good on him. He got tanner just from that time outside, which I’m totally not jealous about at all.
My mother calls for everyone to follow her, and we start walking through the hotel. There’s a wedding going on tonight on the beach where Diana and Peter’s ceremony will be held tomorrow, so the rehearsal is taking place on another part of the lawn right outside the resort.
Logan takes my hand in his. “Gotta uphold appearances, right?” he asks quietly.
“Right.” I give his hand a squeeze.
“Please tell me we’re eating first.”
“Sorry,” I reply. “Rehearsal first. I’m starving too. You’re not in the wedding party, so you don’t have to watch us walk down a fake aisle over and over.”
“So you’re saying I can get something to eat.”
“I am. And I’m also saying you could bring me something to snack on.”
He smiles and pulls his hand from mine. “I’ll be right back then.”
The wedding planner gets us lined up, going over a few things before we do our trial run. We’re paired up by height, and now I’m standing next to Peter’s brother.