I scoffed. “We aren’t going to hook up. We are just friends now. Although I admit I am really excited to see him in person, but just to talk to him.”
She looked skeptical, “Uh huh.”
“No really. We have both changed since we’ve been apart. Don’t worry.”
“I am worried. The champagne, the low lighting, dancing, that stuff all leads to sex.”
I shook my head, “He probably has a date.”
As it came out of my mouth I felt my stomach lurch just thinking about it. What if he did have a date? I wasn’t sure if I was ready to see Andy with another girl, but I decided I would just deal with it as it came.
Krista drove me to the airport the next morning and Michelle picked me up when I got to Wichita. On the drive to Great Bend she told me about Maddy being stressed about the wedding, “Seriously. You won’t even recognize her.”
I laughed, “It’s really hard to picture sweet, innocent little Maddy barking orders at people.”
“Oh trust me. She’s lost her damn mind.”
“And how is Jake handling it?”
She sighed, “It pains me to say it, but like a fucking champ. He’s put up with her shit really well. I think he’s just so happy he’s marrying her.”
I smiled, “That’s awesome. He has always loved her.”
She nodded, “Yeah, even when he was being a total dick I suspected he was in love with her.”
“Can I ask you something without out you reading anything into it?”
“Uh, probably not, but go for it.”
“Do you know if Andy is bringing a date?”
She glanced at me before turning her attention back to the road, “I really don’t know, but why do you care?”
“I don’t. I was just curious. I mean it would be weird to see him with someone else.”
“Not because you want him back or anything crazy?”
“No, Michelle.”
“Okay, just checking.”
When we finally got into Great Bend we went back to Michelle’s apartment and I took a shower and got ready for the joint bachelor and bachelorette party for Jake and Maddy. The wedding was the following evening and then my flight was the following day. I was glad I had a little a bit of time at home with my friends.
Shelley had a baby boy eight days before so she wasn’t going to the party tonight, but insisted that she would like to be in the wedding for Maddy. Shelley was a girl you could always count on to be there for and that just proved that point even further.
Paul and Shelley named their baby, Joshua, and I had seen a ton of pictures in texts and on Facebook, but I was eager to meet the little guy in person. Shelley told me her mother was going to bring him to the reception after the wedding for a little while and I was excited. I hated missing out on the big moments in my friend’s life.
Michelle, Maddy and I bought similar purple summer dresses for the party. I slipped mine on after my shower. It fit me like a glove and almost went to my knees. It made me feel sexy and confident. I was going to need the confidence to see Andy in person again.
I fixed my hair and put on my makeup, just as I was putting on my lipstick Michelle banged on the bathroom door, “Let’s go! We are going to be late and Maddy is going to lose her shit.”
I laughed, applied the lipstick and opened the door. Michelle was in her dress, that was close to mine except showed a little more cleavage. “You are afraid of Maddy. I never thought I would see this day.”
“You just wait. You ready?”
“Yep.”
Michelle drove us out to the lake house and as we pulled up it brought me back to high school. There were several cars parked outside, I could see the light from a bonfire outside, and a lot of people scattered everywhere.
We walked inside and Maddy ran over to us wrapping her arms around both of us, bringing us all into a strange group hug, “You guys are finally here!”
I pulled back and studied Maddy, “Are you drunk?”
Jake and Andy walked over to where we were standing and I looked at Jake, “Is she drunk?”
Jake pulled her close to him, “Well, she was a little nervous, so I made her a very weak cranberry and vodka.”
Michelle looked at Maddy who was clearly drunk as hell and back at Jake, “This is not one “weak” cranberry and vodka.”
Maddy giggled, “I may have made myself another one.”
Andy laughed, “Or two.”
Maddy put one hand on her hip “Well you guys try planning a wedding, it’s not the easiest thing in the world! I deserved a little break.”
I smiled at Maddy and calmly said, “Yeah, but your wedding is tomorrow. Aren’t you a little worried about being hungover on your wedding day?”
“The wedding isn’t until six, it will be fine.”
“Yeah, but we have manis and pedis and then brunch with your mom and then we have to get our hair and makeup done.”
She smacked her forehead with her hand, “Ugh. Please don’t remind me.”
I glanced over at Andy who was grinning and I smiled back at him. Maddy grabbed my arm and Michelle’s, “Can I please have a bridesmaid’s meeting.”
We both nodded and followed her to an area in the living room where no one else was. She looked at us both and looked really stressed, “This is going to be a disaster I just know it.”
Maddy had been a worrier and a planner since I met her, so this didn’t surprise me. She wanted everything to be perfect. I put one hand gently on her shoulder. “Maddy, it’s going to be amazing. You are marrying your best friend in your home town, with everyone you love and care about watching. It’s what every little girl dreams of.”
I knew Michelle had some smartass comment ready to go, but she didn’t say a word. Maddy really had freaked her out which I found hilarious.
Maddy looked at me, “I know. I’m not worried about the actual marriage or anything, there is no doubt in my mind that Jake is the man I should be with, but his mom called today and said that she will be there. You know his relationship with his mom. It’s terrible and then I guess he went to see Maria.”
Michelle asked, “Chris’s girlfriend, Maria?”
She nodded, “Yes. And he invited her to the wedding, but he said he didn’t see her showing up. He didn’t want to talk about it very much. All he said was she was in a really bad way.”
I tried to assure her, “Maddy chances are Jake’s mom won’t even show up and if she does she probably won’t stay long. And if Maria shows up then he will probably be happy.”
Maddy flopped down and sat on the floor, “That’s better. I was getting dizzy.” Michelle pushed Maddy’s left leg closer to her right so she wasn’t flashing anyone and then Maddy continued. “Something is going to ruin tomorrow. I’m marrying the perfect guy. I just want it to be a perfect day.”
I crouched down next to her, which wasn’t easy my dress, “Maddy, I promise you as long as you have each other nothing else is going to matter. Everything can go wrong, but you and Jake will make it through it together. That’s what marriage is, the wedding is just rehearsal for that.”
Michelle looked down at me, “Damn. You so should have been the maid of honor.”
We all laughed at that and Michelle helped us both up, “Let’s go get you some water.”
Andy
I stood talking to Jake in the living room of the bachelor/ bachelorette party, drinking the rest of my beer from the keg, as I watched Michelle and Jackie guide Maddy into the kitchen. Maddy was really drunk and Jake was worried. He was watching intensely as they walked into the kitchen. He took a drink of his beer, “Do you think she’s having doubts?”
I shook my head, “No. I think she’s a control freak and worried that something is going to be out of place.”
He nodded, “That makes sense. She does hate it when things don’t go perfectly. My mom called and said she was going to the wedding. Maybe that rattled her more than she let on.”
“How do you feel about that?�
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He shrugged his shoulders, “Honestly, I don’t care who is there as long as Maddy is.”
I mocked him and held my hand to my chest, “Aw, that’s so fucking adorable.”
“Shut up. Do I make fun of you?”
“All of the time.”
He smiled, “True.” His eyes moved to the girls who were still in the kitchen. “You gonna be okay being around Jackie so much?”
I casually looked at Jackie, she looked gorgeous in a short dress and heels, although there wasn’t a time I hadn’t thought she was the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. She was the type of woman that could take your breath away. “Yeah, it’s good to see her.”
“Yeah. You’re drooling man.”
I forced myself to look away from Jackie. I really needed to get laid, my right hand really wasn’t doing the trick anymore, but I just wasn’t interested in anyone else. There was a girl at the school that had asked me out for drinks a couple months back. She was a year behind me in school and worked as one of the school’s secretaries. She was attractive, but she just didn’t do it for me.
“You just worry about getting your ass down that aisle tomorrow. Don’t worry about me.”
The party died down after a few hours and people started leaving and passing out on the floor just like old times.
Maddy and Jake were sitting on the couch talking and I decided to get some fresh air so I went out the back door to the deck and bumped right into Jackie who was reaching for the door to come into the kitchen. She moved back and I went outside. “Sorry about that.”
“I’m sorry, didn’t see you there, Andy.”
“Where’s Michelle? Don’t tell me she ditched you.”
“No she had to pee. I was about to go and find her and Maddy so we can go back to Michelle’s and get some sleep.”
“Yeah, big day tomorrow.”
“Yeah and we have so much to do. I hope Maddy isn’t too hungover.”
I laughed, “Yeah, I can’t believe how drunk she got.”
“Me either, but she just wants it to be a perfect day.”
“It will be.” I couldn’t help it and looked her up and down slowly, “You look great. Texas has been good to you.”
She grinned. “Thank you, you look good too.”
“I really like your hair.”
“So you did notice?”
“Of course I noticed. It shocked me at first, but it’s hot. And it makes you look more grown up. Professional.”
She lit up, “Thank you! I guess I just needed a change and I was hoping to look more professional.”
“It worked.”
Michelle opened the door, “Hey. You ready?”
We both jumped, a little startled, like we were doing something wrong, even though we were just talking. Jackie looked at her, “Yes. I’ll be right in.”
Michelle didn’t move and Jackie rolled her eyes and looked at me, “I guess I will see you tomorrow.”
I nodded, “Yeah I’ll see you tomorrow. Drive safe.”
“I will.” She headed back inside and Jake walked Maddy out to the car and hugged her tight before she got in the back seat.
Chapter 26
Jackie
We took Maddy back to Michelle’s apartment, gave her a lot of water and a sandwich and put her in Michelle’s bed. Michelle and I slept on the floor in the living room. We laid down and I rolled to my side to so I could see her, “You don’t have to be afraid to leave me alone with Andy.”
She sighed, “You love him. You will always love him. So being around him when you can’t be together is dangerous.”
“I’m not going to do anything stupid. I appreciate you being there for me though. You’re a really caring person. You know that?”
She cracked a smile, “Well don’t tell anyone. You’ll hurt my reputation.”
Michelle and I had been friends before we met Maddy and the rest. She didn’t come from a great home either and even though she pissed me off a lot I really cared for her. She was the most loyal person I knew.
“Your secret is safe with me.”
We both fell asleep after that and were awoken by a giddy, screaming Maddy. “It’s my wedding day! It’s here!”
I opened my eyes and stretched. “How are you not hungover?”
“I think all the water, aspirin, and eating before bed really helped. And it’s my wedding day!”
I laughed, “Well you are in a better mood.”
“Yeah, I realized you were right. Nothing else matters, but the fact that Jake and I are getting married today.”
I nodded and poked Michelle who had placed her pillow over her head, trying to stay asleep. She grumbled, “Go away.”
“Maddy, go shower, I’ll pour some coffee down her throat.”
We all eventually showered and dressed and went to our manicure and pedicure appointment.
After we were finished with our nails we went to brunch with Maddy’s mom and then we went to the salon to get our hair and makeup done.
We made it to the church a little before five and changed quickly into our dresses. Maddy was the prettiest bride I had ever seen and I made sure to tell her a few times.
Before we knew it we were all lining up to walk down the aisle.
The ceremony was beautiful and I couldn’t help, but to notice how good Andy looked in a tuxedo. I’m sure when Maddy and Jake watched their wedding video they saw me gawking at Andy more than them. I did have to wipe a couple of tears from my eyes when the preacher spoke about one man and one woman finding one another and promising to be with each other for the rest of their lives and how incredibly special that was.
After the preacher announced, “Ladies and gentlemen it is my absolute pleasure to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Keller.” We all cheered loudly and filed out of the church.
The rest of the guests headed out to the lake house where the reception was being help, but the wedding party held back to take more formal pictures. After almost an hour of posing for the camera we all went to join everyone else.
The reception was awesome. Maddy and Jake had rented a large event tent and held the reception outside. We ate catered food, and the new couple danced their first dance as a married couple and then cut the cake as more people started dancing.
Around nine thirty the fireworks went off for the lake’s annual Fourth of July Celebration and we had an excellent view from the tent. The wedding party sat with the bride and groom at a large table in the back of the room and we all sat there and watched the fireworks as Maddy and Jake huddled up together.
Paul and Shelley were the first ones to leave. They stood and Shelley looked at Maddy and Jake. “It was a beautiful ceremony. Thank you for letting us be a part of it.”
Maddy and Jake stood up and Maddy hugged Shelley, “Thank you so much for being in the wedding. I know you guys are exhausted. Kiss that baby for me.”
“Of course. You guys have a great time on the honeymoon and then stop by when you get home.”
“Absolutely.”
Shelley turned to me, “And you have to spend more time with Joshua soon.”
“Definitely. Next time I’m home I will give you a call.”
She smiled, they said goodbye to the rest of the group and headed out.
Jake’s friend that I walked down the aisle with had to leave soon after that, because he had to catch a flight back to Alaska.
And soon it was just me, Andy, Michelle, Jake and Maddy left at the table. Maddy and Jake went back to the dance floor after the fireworks and Michelle grabbed my shoulder, “Oh shit.”
“What?”
She whispered, “Logan is here.”
I looked around and finally spotted Logan Taylor, he was Chris’s friend in high school and the only guy I knew of that was able to get to Michelle. “So?”
“So, why the hell is he here? I heard he moved to L.A.”
“Well Chris and him were really good friends, I’m sure Jake invited him.”
Michelle c
hugged the rest of her champagne in her glass and stood up swiftly to get a refill.
I laughed at how frazzled she still was by him and then looked over at Andy who was picking at the cake on his plate. He was sitting a few seats away, but we were the only ones left at the table. “Nice wedding, huh?”
“Yeah, it was. Of course it was hard to pay attention with you staring at me the whole time.”
My face flushed, “I was not.”
“Yeah right, I saw you.” He grinned, that sexy, cocky smile.
“Well you do look good in a tux.”
“I look good in anything.”
I shook my head at him, he was flirting with me like crazy and I loved it. “You just keep telling yourself that.”
He moved to the seat next to me, “It was hard not to stare at you. You look beautiful.”
“Yeah well I always look beautiful.” I joked while I took a sip of my champagne.
“I know that’s why we made such a good couple.”
I couldn’t talk about us being a couple, so I changed the subject. “I finally got to meet Joshua. He’s a cutie.”
He took a drink of champagne. “Nice transition.”
I laughed. I couldn’t get anything past him. “I know.”
“Yes he is very cute.” He sat his glass down and stood up. He help out his right hand to me, “You wanna dance?”
His words brought back memories from prom. I was hesitant, “I don’t know.”
“Just a dance, Jackie, it’s a wedding. You have to dance.”
I stood up, “Okay, one dance.”
He led me out to the dance floor, the lights were dim with accent lights everywhere and there were a lot of people dancing around us. He pulled me close to him and allowed my body to melt into his. He had his arms around my waist and mine were around his neck as we swayed to the soft love song playing.
It felt so nice to be that close to him again, but so dangerous. I could hear Krista and Michelle’s voices lecturing me about how this was stupid, but I shut my eyes and held onto Andy.
We didn’t say anything while we danced, we didn’t have to. When the song ended I forced myself to pull away and look up into his eyes, “Thank you for the dance.”
Evolve (Soulmates Book 4) Page 15
