First Love Second Choice

by Armstrong, Lindzee

  Apparently Bryce only saw one of them. Jadyn.

  After a long and sleepless night, Keslee finally got out of bed at six a.m. If she couldn’t sleep, she might as well go for a walk and try to clear her head. She quietly got dressed and stepped onto the front porch.

  Keslee stumbled, nearly falling over a six-pack of her favorite soda, Dr. Pepper. She looked around, but didn’t see anyone. She bent down and picked up the soda. Taped to the top was a piece of paper.

  The Leaning Tower of Pisa is considered one of history’s greatest mistakes. It took one hundred seventy-seven years to build and began to lean only ten years after completion. But now it’s a huge tourist attraction and millions of people a year admire the structure. Not all mistakes have to turn out bad.

  Keslee set down the pack of soda in disgust. Did Bryce think he could minimize what he’d done by comparing his mistake to a famous architectural landmark?

  Keslee stewed, her feet slamming against the pavement as frustration propelled her into a jog. She alternated between a jog and a run, the adrenaline too much to contain with a simple walk. What a jerk.

  He forgave you, a tiny voice reminded her.

  Fine, she told the voice. I’ll forgive him. Eventually. But that doesn’t mean I have to date him.

  Back at the apartment, the soda still waited for her in the exact same spot. She gave it a glare and opened the apartment door, then paused. It wasn’t the soda’s fault Bryce was a jerk. In the spirit of forgiveness, she carefully picked up the Dr. Pepper and went inside, pulling a can from the six-pack ring.

  When Summer woke up, they decided to go grocery shopping. They were running dangerously low on a few essentials, like ice cream and the ingredients for Rice Krispie treats.

  “We can take my car,” Keslee said as they stepped out of the apartment.

  When they got to the parking lot, Keslee stopped. Sitting on the hood of her car was a small cooler. Keslee strode forward and yanked the lid off. A giant sized Hershey bar—her favorite—was nestled among freezer packs. Columbus mistakenly discovered America when he was trying to find India. Instead of finding a new trade route, he introduced an array of new foods to the European diet. Like chocolate. Maybe it wasn’t such a mistake after all?

  “He also introduced small pox to the Native Americans,” Keslee muttered. She cursed her love of chocolate. It was hard not to forgive Bryce when he gave that as an offering.

  “Huh?” Summer said. “What’s that?”

  Keslee shoved the candy bar at Summer. “He thinks he’s being clever or something. There was a pack of my favorite soda on the porch with another note this morning.”

  Summer read the note, then grinned. “He knows you pretty well. Dr. Pepper and Hershey’s?”

  “We’ve known each other a long time.” Although he’d only learned those two things about her more recently, through texts.

  “I bet he doesn’t know any of this stuff about Jadyn.”

  Keslee frowned. “That doesn’t matter. Are we going shopping or what?”

  Over the course of Saturday and Sunday, Keslee found four more packages. Despite her best efforts, her heart started to soften. There was a gift card to her favorite ice cream parlor with Thomas Edison’s quote about not failing, just discovering how to not make a lightbulb. A TARDIS key chain with a reminder that penicillin was accidentally discovered by Sir Andrew Fleming. Tickets to a movie theater with a short history lesson on how chocolate chip cookies were created after Ruth Wakefield ran out of baking chocolate and tried to substitute semi-sweet. The last package was a picture from their date on the Alpine Slide. They both looked so happy, so alive. The note said: Calling my (hopefully future) girlfriend by her sister’s name is a pretty big mistake. But it’s one we can recover from, if you’ll give me a chance. I may have said Jadyn, but I promise, all I was thinking about was Keslee. Let me make it up to you.

  “Give him another chance,” Summer encouraged. “He sounds really sincere, and it was an honest mistake. You do look like Jadyn, and that’s the girl he’s been crushing on for the last seven years.”

  “Exactly.” Keslee blinked back tears. “Don’t you think what he said when we kissed means something? He’s using me as Jadyn’s replacement.”

  “Let him prove you wrong,” Summer encouraged.

  Keslee hesitated, then shook her head. “No. It hurts too much.”

  “He forgave you for pretending to be Jadyn. Forgive him for calling you by her name.”

  “I’ll forgive him, but I won’t date him. Drop it, Summer.”

  Keslee knew she couldn’t avoid Bryce forever. On Monday, she had an appointment at Magnolia Gardens with Ivie and Zak to finalize the table centerpieces. She prayed with everything she was worth that Bryce wouldn’t be there. He’d said the new employees were starting Monday.

  But he’d also said he would see this wedding through to the end. She had a feeling he wouldn’t pass up the chance to corner her.

  Bryce was waiting for them in the showroom when Keslee arrived with Ivie and Zak. His eyes locked onto Keslee’s, apologetic and full of regret. Keslee’s heart thudded and the Pop Rocks jumped to life in her stomach.

  No, she commanded herself. She would accept his apology. But she was no one’s standin.

  Keslee tried to remain present while Ivie ooed and ahed over centerpiece choices. Keslee complimented Ivie on her vision for the event and offered suggestions when Ivie started to veer in a less than aesthetically pleasing direction.

  “I think that will look beautiful,” Bryce complimented when the selection was finalized.

  “Great,” Ivie said. She turned to Keslee. “You can finish this up, right? I’m meeting my bridesmaids for dinner.”

  Keslee swallowed hard. “Sure.”

  When the door shut behind Ivie and Zak, Bryce’s hand immediately fell over Keslee’s. “Did you get my notes?” he asked.

  Keslee pulled her hand away. “Yes. And I didn’t think they were very funny.”

  “I wasn’t trying to make you laugh. I am so sorry, Keslee. What I did? It was rotten. But it was an honest mistake. I don’t know what I was thinking. Obviously I wasn’t. Please, give me a second chance.”

  Keslee wanted to so badly. But how could she trust he was in the relationship because of her and not Jadyn? She shook her head. “I can’t.” The tears brimmed in her eyes. “Please, let’s hurry and finish this up so I can leave.”

  “Your favorite part of wedding planning is the clients,” Bryce said.

  Keslee looked up, startled.

  “You like organizing events, but what you really like is making couples happy. You’ll bend over backwards to make sure their wedding day is perfect. I’ve seen it in the way you work with Ivie.”

  “What does this have to do with anything?” Keslee asked.

  “You push the clicker on your pen an obnoxious number of times when you’re thinking really hard about things. Your favorite music is country, but the modern stuff, not the old-timey twang. You like Hershey’s bars, but only if they don’t have almonds in them. In fact, you don’t like nuts in anything. Ice cream is your go-to dessert.” Bryce took Keslee’s hands in his, and this time she let him. “You’d rather sit at home and watch reality TV than go to a club or party. You’re nerdy, but in a cute way. You love Doctor Who and Star Trek, but only the original series, not the new movies. You think Batman is the coolest of all the superheroes even though it’s totally Spiderman. You suck on your hair when you’re nervous, but always notice after a moment and stop yourself. It’s you I want to get to know better, Keslee. It’s you I’m crazy about. Jadyn was a crush I had a long time ago. Even back then I barely knew anything about her.” He squeezed her hands.

  Tears pricked Keslee’s eyes. Everything he’d listed was unique to her, and didn’t describe Jadyn at all. He did see her. And he liked her. Her! Not Jadyn. She’d had no idea he’d noticed so many little things about her. “I was worried you were using me as Jadyn’s replacement,” Keslee said.
“That you liked her, not me. We look the same. When you called me her name, it ripped me apart.”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “I’ve been thinking about that all weekend. I am so sorry. I can’t imagine how that feels. All I can do is prove to you that it’s you I want to date. It’s you that loves waffles and hates pancakes, just like me. We like the same movies. Have the same sense of humor. Both feel passionate about our jobs. You’re here and beautiful and I’ll do anything to make this up to you.”

  “Anything?” Keslee asked. “Even admitting Batman is better than Spiderman?”

  “Even that,” Bryce agreed. “Long live Batman.” He leaned forward, capturing her lips with his. Keslee let herself sink into the kiss. His five o’clock shadow rubbed against her face in a way that made her skin tingle. “I’m here for you, Keslee,” he whispered against her lips. “Jadyn may have been the one I thought I liked, but you are the girl I’m falling for.”

  Keslee claimed his lips with hers once more.

  CHAPTER TEN

  Keslee looked around the Gardenia room at Magnolia Gardens with a satisfied smile. Ivie and Zak had just left, amid a shower of rose petals, to start their lives together as husband and wife. The day had gone perfectly, and the pure joy and happiness on Ivie’s and Zak’s faces was worth the craziness of the last three months. This was the part of wedding planning Keslee loved most—seeing all her hard work and the bride’s vision come together in a perfect day that the couple would cherish for a lifetime.

  But while the bride and groom may have left, a handful of party-goers were still taking advantage of the open bar. Keslee reminded the bartender to close up shop at midnight, then sank into a chair. Her feet ached after a long day and she wanted a few minutes to sit before cleanup began. She still had a long night ahead of her.

  Hands rested on her shoulders. She looked up, and Bryce’s lips settled on hers. She grinned, wrapping her arms around his neck as he stood above her, and they spent a few pleasant moments kissing. The last couple months as his girlfriend had been heaven.

  Bryce took Keslee’s hand and tugged her to her feet. “Dance with me.”

  Keslee let him lead her to the dance floor. The song was fast-paced, but Bryce pulled her close and they swayed together at a much slower tempo.

  “The ceremony and reception were beautiful,” Bryce said. “The photographer got some great shots for the ad campaign.”

  “I’m glad. I have a feeling I’ll have a lot more brides come through here in the future.”

  “I hope so. You did a fantastic job today.”

  “Thank you. Ivie and Zak were happy, and the guests seemed to enjoy themselves. That’s all that really matters.”

  Bryce pulled Keslee closer. “All that really matters to me is you.”

  Keslee blushed, burying her face in Bryce’s shoulder to hide her flaming cheeks. She still couldn’t believe she was lucky enough to be Bryce’s girlfriend.

  “We’ve had a good time the last couple months, haven’t we?” Bryce asked.

  Keslee looked up, catching Bryce’s eye. “I think so.” She bit her lip. “I haven’t been this happy since Jadyn was alive.”

  “I’m glad you’re so happy.” Bryce cleared his throat. Swallowed hard. Looked away. His fingers tightened around her waist, and they stopped swaying. “I’m not very good at this kind of thing. But Keslee, what I’m trying to say is … I’ve fallen in love with you. You own me, heart and soul.”

  Warm tingles started in Keslee’s scalp and spread throughout her body until they reached her toes. Keslee took Bryce’s face gently between her hands. “I love you too, Bryce.” Then she kissed him.

  EPILOGUE

  Summer spoke around the bobby pins in her mouth. “Just a second, I’ve almost got it …” She stood on top of a Queen Anne chair, towering over Keslee. Without her heels, Summer’s flowing red Grecian-style dress pooled around her feet, looking like rose petals resting on the cream-colored chair cushion. She placed another bobby pin and Keslee felt it prick her skull. “Sorry,” Summer said. “There. Tell me what you think.”

  Keslee slowly turned and faced the full-length mirror in one corner of the bride’s room at Magnolia Gardens. The veil was perfect, placed just at the crown of her head and trimmed in delicate lace. With trembling hands, she smoothed down the white satin of her dress.

  “It’s perfect,” Keslee said. “I feel like a princess.”

  Summer wrapped an arm around Keslee’s waist, and their eyes met in the mirror. “You make a beautiful bride.”

  Keslee laughed, repositioning the jeweled belt at her waist. “I’m not used to being on this side of weddings.”

  “Well, it suits you.” Summer grabbed a tissue from the vanity. “I swore I wasn’t going to cry. I’m still furious at you for forcing me to find a new roommate.”

  “I know.” Keslee hugged Summer close. “I’ll miss you, too.” Of course they’d still see each other, but it wouldn’t be the same. “As soon as we finish remodeling the house, I’m inviting you over for a movie night. Promise.” Just yesterday, Keslee and Bryce had closed on a cute little house in the suburbs. It was small, but had a fantastic den in the basement. As soon as Keslee and Bryce returned from their honeymoon, they would start remodeling.

  “If you’d told me a year ago that you’d be marrying Bryce today, I would’ve called you crazy,” Summer said. “I thought for sure lying about Jadyn would end in disaster.”

  It almost did, Keslee thought. She was so glad neither she nor Bryce had let it ruin their potential. “Bryce keeps assuring me that it’s a great ‘how we reconnected’ story for the grandkids.”

  Summer snorted, then grabbed another tissue and dabbed at her eyes. “It’s definitely that. I really am so happy for you.”

  Keslee smiled. “I know.” She glanced at the grandfather clock on one wall. “Ten minutes. We need to make sure the last of the guests are taking their seats, and that the ushers close the doors five minutes before the ceremony. The photographer should be in place at the front, and the minister at the end of the aisle.”

  “Keslee.” Summer grabbed her hands and held her gaze. “You’re the bride today. The wedding planner has it all under control.”

  Keslee put her hands to her cheeks, feeling their flushed heat. “You’re right. Sorry. It’s hard to switch from wedding planner mode to bride mode.”

  “Here.” Summer grabbed her small red clutch off the vanity and opened it. She shook a mint from a container and held it out. “I might’ve borrowed your wedding day grab bag idea. Don’t you always give your brides one of these before they walk down the aisle?”

  Keslee took the mint and placed it on her tongue. “Yes, I do. Maybe you should quit teaching kindergarten and become a wedding planner.”

  “Not a chance.”

  There was a knock on the door, and Liz entered—one of the wedding planners Keslee worked with at The Frosted Bride. “It’s time,” she said.

  The walk from the bride’s room to the gardenia room was a blur. Keslee waited outside the double French doors with her father as Summer, along with her three other bridesmaids, walked down the aisle. Then the wedding march began. Keslee took a deep breath, and the doors opened. The Pop Rocks weren’t just jumping in her stomach today—they were giving off more of a Mentos-and-Coke feeling, really.

  Keslee’s heart fluttered in her chest as she took her first step down the white aisle strewn in wild flowers. She was aware of the guests standing to either side of her, their smiles wide and encouraging. But her attention was focused on Bryce. He stood underneath a canopy of red balloons at the end of the aisle, in a black tuxedo and red vest and tie. What Keslee knew—and the guests wouldn’t find out until the reception—was that Bryce had a Superman shirt on underneath his tux. He looked as inviting and tasty as Dr. Pepper, a Hershey’s bar, and double chocolate fudge brownie ice cream all rolled into Batman jammies and reality TV. Keslee’s heart nearly exploded with happiness. There was sadness, too—just a ting
e—that Jadyn wasn’t standing at the front as maid of honor. But she couldn’t help thinking that this was how it was supposed to have happened all along. Maybe, just maybe, Jadyn had been the one to orchestrate her meeting with Bryce at the grocery store exactly one year ago.

  At the front of the aisle, Keslee’s dad kissed her cheek, then placed her hand in Bryce’s. Fire ignited at his touch, flowing hot through her veins. Even after a year, he still had that effect on her. His eyes met hers and that dimple appeared in his cheek, the one that she’d never been able to resist.

  The minister invited the crowd to sit and the ceremony began. Keslee and Bryce gazed into each other’s eyes and recited their vows. Before she knew it, the minister was pronouncing them husband and wife. Bryce wrapped an arm around Keslee’s waist and pulled her forward, his lips soft and gentle on hers, but a hidden passion seething just beneath the surface.

  “I love you,” he whispered in her ear. “Thank you for making me the happiest man alive.”

  “I love you, too,” Keslee said.

  He kissed her one more time, then they turned to face the crowd. Everyone rose to their feet and cheered as Keslee and Bryce made their way back down the aisle.

  Keslee’s finger brushed against her tattoo as they headed toward the gardens for pictures. Bryce glanced over at her and grinned, the dimple popping in his cheek.

  She might not have been Bryce’s first choice. But she was his first love.

  That was more than enough.

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