by Lynn Stevens
“Are you ready?” Lauren’s father asked through the door. He beamed with pride at his daughter. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Lauren said. She glanced at her small bridal party. “Ready?”
“This is it,” squealed Keisha. At sixteen, Lauren’s youngest cousin still believed in fairy tales, in happily ever afters.
Macie smiled, faking the brightness as she tugged the too loose dress. She changed the streak into her hair to match the plum color. The flower girl, Ford’s niece, raced out the door followed by the other two bridesmaids, and Macie moved to follow but Lauren’s father closed the door and Lauren put a hand on Macie’s arm.
“You need to let me in, Mace,” Lauren said. Fine lines cracked her face in concern. “What’s going on?”
Macie swallowed hard and reached for Lauren’s hand, squeezing it in promise. “Not now. Please. I just need to get through today. Then I’ll tell you everything. I promise. I .... I can’t ruin your wedding with my emotional bullshit.”
“I love your emotional bullshit.” Lauren squeezed Macie’s hand back. “I’m worried about you. You’re paler than normal and your dress is too big. Talk to me, please?”
Macie closed her eyes, forcing back the tears. “Give me a few days. It’s too... raw.”
“When you’re ready?”
“I promise.”
Lauren nodded and let go of Macie’s hand. “Can you believe this is happening?”
“Yes,” Macie said point blank. “You guys were meant for each other.”
“He wants to wait....to start a family,” Lauren said, the joy glowing on her skin. “He’s got a big surprise coming in about seven months.”
“Wait. What?” Macie’s jaw dropped. “Are you serious?”
“Yeah, I’m serious.” Lauren bounced in excitement. “I found out yesterday for sure. I wanted to tell you earlier, but the chatty twins wouldn’t leave us alone.”
“Ford doesn’t know?” Macie needed to sit down. This was too much too fast. They didn’t need to rush, but that was Lauren. Full steam ahead on anything and everything.
“Nah. I’m going to tell him tonight after we get home. He’d freak right now, and he’s nervous enough as it is.” Lauren laughed, her own nerves showing through. “We’ll be fine. He’s spent too much time talking to Zac about financial security over the years. That’s set him on edge. People have made it with less.”
“My mom made it okay,” Macie said.
Lauren smiled. “And you turned out somewhat normal.”
“Meh, normal’s overrated.” Macie smirked.
Someone knocked at the door. Lauren’s father peeked in. “Okay, the bridal party is getting restless now. You ready?”
“Yeah, Dad, I’m totally ready.” Lauren linked her arm through Macie’s and whispered, “I’ve been ready for this since the day I met him.”
Macie squeezed her friend’s arm as they strode out the door. Lauren wasn’t wrong. It was love at first sight. For her and Zac, it had been the opposite. It was strange how things worked out. Maybe getting her heart broken by him was the only way this thing was going to play. Tears began to well in Macie’s eyes, but she blinked them away. If she cried at all today, it would be for Lauren’s happiness.
They stopped at the end of the procession line. Macie kissed Lauren on the cheek and let go of her arm. The flower girls and bridesmaids entered. Then it was Macie’s turn. She took a deep breath and stepped into the chapel as Frank Sinatra crooned about doing it his way. Macie’s smile widened. She’d always joked with Lauren that she’d only walk down the aisle to this song. Of course Lauren would take it too far and have Macie do just that.
Macie focused on Ford. He shuffled on his feet a bit, enough to be noticeable to his closest family and friends. Macie’s smile widened. He was nervous. Even though Lauren had said so, it still took Macie off guard. A hand fell on Ford’s shoulder, calming him instantly. Macie knew that hand, and knew she couldn’t look there. She turned her head toward Lauren’s mother who beamed like she was the bride. Lauren’s grandparents smiled politely, one grandma dabbing the fake tears.
Then she glanced at Ford again, and instead landed on Zac. His gaze was hard and cold, staring through her completely. She tripped over her own two feet, catching herself before she fell and brought a trickle of laughter to the occasion. Great, that was just what Macie was. A joke. She glanced at him again, pleading with her gaze for some response other than hatred. His expression never wavered. Tears welled in her eyes again as she took her place opposite Zac and forced herself to stare toward the doors where Lauren would make her grand entrance. If she held off crying until Lauren walked in with her father, then the tears would at least be justified.
ZAC’S HEART STOPPED beating the minute Macie stepped into the chapel. When she finally looked at him, he froze. When she tripped, he stood beside Ford like a jerk and didn’t rush to help her. But Macie never needed his help. She’d never needed anybody’s help. That was one of the reasons Lauren had the violin player switch songs to Sinatra when Macie took the aisle. And she commanded it. There wasn’t a single eye on her that couldn’t see how beautiful she looked. The plum dress hugged every curve to the point of pornography. Her smooth bare shoulders, her gorgeous hair cascading down her back. He wanted to get on his knee and beg for forgiveness.
Macie took her place across the aisle, where she would be in his peripheral vision for mass. He could see her chest heaving, her eyes brimming with tears. As much as he wanted it to be for him, which was a horrible thing to wish for, he knew this was all about Lauren and Ford. Macie would do nothing to ruin their wedding. If she could control herself, so could he.
The music changed, and Lauren entered with her father. Zac’s chest swelled with pride. She was perfect today. He heard Ford’s sharp intake of breath and knew his buddy felt the same. Lauren didn’t wear a veil, nor did she wear a white dress. Not that anybody would know. He only knew because Macie had told him. Macie. He needed to get her out of his head until all the pomp and circumstance was over. After the ceremony, after the photos, after the reception, then they’d talk.
Mass took forever. Zac stood when required and followed instructions, but he didn’t pay too much attention. Ford and Lauren nudged each other at the alter like two school kids. He glanced toward Macie. Her face glowed. Waiting until after everything was done was going to take the will of a hundred men, but Zac needed to do right by his friends.
When the priest called for the rings, Zac and Macie set them on the open bible. Zac grinned as they said their vows, and grinned as they kissed for the first time as man and wife. He grinned as the congregation cheered. Ford and Lauren smiled at everyone and began the march back down the aisle to a song Zac didn’t recognize. His grin dropped when he turned toward Macie and offered his arm. Without looking at him, she took it, and a part of him became whole again. He couldn’t go on like this any longer.
Macie’s body tensed. He wanted to tell her to relax, or how perfect she looked. But he couldn’t talk. How was he going to make this right, when he couldn’t even open his mouth? The minute they stepped through the doors, Macie dropped his arm like a hot potato and bolted down the hall toward the bride’s dressing room.
He never got to say a word.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The wedding party filed in, crowding the room. Macie moved to a corner to get out of the way of the chaos. Why Lauren decided to have the photos done between the ceremony and reception was beyond Macie. Logistically it didn’t make sense. Had they done this earlier, it would’ve been out of the way. They would’ve had time to relax before the reception. But Ford was a traditionalist and Lauren liked a little chaos. It actually fit them.
Macie planned her avoidance techniques while she watched the aunts clean up and the rest of the women retouch their makeup. It was simple really, just stay away from Zac. There were moments where she wouldn’t be able to. The first was when they walked back down the aisle together. She�
��d barely kept it together. Zac was as hard as granite. He couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her, let alone touch her. The next problem would be the photos. They’d do all the traditional ones, but she knew Lauren had some whimsical ideas for the fun photos. Macie had no doubt that they’d push her and Zac together multiple times. Then the limo to the reception. She’d just have to sit as far from him as possible. The biggest challenge would be the wedding party dance. She couldn’t even think about that. Considering what happened the last time they danced together.
A cold hand landed on her bare arm. Macie glanced up to the face of Lauren’s mother.
“Macie, I just wanted to thank you for helping Lauren plan today,” Sylvia said. Her smile saddened. “I wish I could’ve been here more to help.”
Macie snorted. “You could’ve, Sylvia. You chose not to.”
“Excuse me?” Sylvia put her hand to her chest as if she was truly offended.
And Macie gave zero shits if she was. “You heard me. You put your career first. You always have. So, do me a favor. When your first grandchild comes, make time for them.” Macie pushed off the wall, leaving a slack jawed Sylvia behind. “That felt good,” she muttered under her breath.
The photographer herded everyone into the chapel for the first round of photos. Macie sat in a pew, staring off into space and keeping a good distance between herself and pretty much everyone else. She couldn’t stand talking to anyone. When she had to smile, she smiled. Once those photos were done, the photographer moved the wedding party outside. They trudged up a small incline and stopped at the top of the hill. Behind them, a small meadow rolled along the earth. It was beautiful.
“Okay, everyone,” Lauren announced. “We’re going to have some fun.”
Fuck, here we go. Macie plastered on another fake smile.
The first photo was the bridesmaids and groomsmen pretending to keep a desperate Lauren and Ford apart. Macie doubted that would look good in the long run, but she wasn’t paying for the photos so it was none of her business. The next one was similar. The bridesmaids gathered around Lauren and pretended to gossip while Lauren looked toward Ford. The groomsmen slapped each other on the back in fake conversation while Ford looked around them toward Lauren. Macie tried to hide her disdain for the stereotypes. At least, she hoped she did.
The next photo was the one she’d been dreading. The bridesmaids sitting on the bended knees of the groomsmen, pretending to be happy. She waited until she had no choice to sit on Zac’s lap. His arm wrapped around her waist, squeezing her against his chest. She savored the feel of his touch, the smell of his skin, the heat of his body.
“Excuse me, Maid of Honor,” the photographer said. Macie’s eyes snapped open. “Could you smile?”
Macie tried. She really did. But she couldn’t.
“I’m sorry,” the photographer said as he stopped beside them. “But you’re going to ruin the picture if you don’t smile more.”
Tears filled her eyes. Ruin. That’s all she every did. She ruined everything.
Macie pushed herself free of Zac’s grip. “I can’t do this anymore.”
Then she ran as fast as her heels and dress would take her. She didn’t get very far before a hand clamped around her arm, spinning her around to face her assaulter.
“What’re you doing?” Zac dropped her arm as if it burned him. “You’re screwing up—”
Macie felt everything inside her break, including her careful control. “That’s what I do, Zac,” she said. “I ruin everything.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I meant the pictures.”
“Right. Sure. That’s exactly what you meant.” Macie turned away from him so he wouldn’t see her cry. But, damn it, why shouldn’t he see her cry? She’d poured her heart out to him and he still rejected her based on some dumbass idea she wanted revenge on him. She spun back around and jabbed her finger into his chest. “Just say it. Come right out and say what you want to say, Zac. We might as well do this now.”
“This isn’t the time or the place to have this discussion.” Zac took a hand out of his pocket and ran it through his hair.
“Yes, it is,” Lauren shouted from where the wedding party stood watching the showdown.
“Shhh,” Ford ordered.
“What? It’s true,” Lauren said.
“Just say it, Zac. Put a damn fork it me, I’m done.” Macie shook her head at his continued silence. “You say I ruin everything? Well you ruined me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he snapped.
“I love you, you jackass. That’s what that’s supposed to mean,” Macie shouted. Macie’s tears flowed freely, and she gave exactly zero shits about ruining her makeup. This ended here and now. “So just say it. Say you hate me. Say what a horrible bitch I am. Say you don’t love me so I can move on with my fucking life.”
“I can’t say that,” Zac yelled back.
“Why not? It’s the truth. You’re too damn noble to—”
“Jesus, Macie, do you ever shut up?” Zac’s voice echoed off the rolling hill. “It’s not the truth. I love you, too. Feel better?”
“Yes,” Macie shouted. The words hit her like a jackhammer in the chest and she stumbled back. Zac’s arm wrapped around her, pulling her close. Her entire body heated and she could barely ask, “What’re you doing?”
Zac trailed his fingers down her cheek. “This,” he whispered before pressing his lips to hers.
“It’s about damn time,” Lauren shouted. “Now get back here so we can finish our photos. You’ll have time to kiss and make up later.”
Macie and Zac broke away from each other.
“You mean it?” Macie asked. She needed to hear it one more time to believe it.
“That I love you? Yes,” Zac said before planting another quick kiss on her cheek. “And that I still want to kill you? That, too.”
Macie laughed as they walked back toward the wedding party. “Well, let’s just take that aggression out in the bedroom.”
“Or in my car at the reception.”
“If we even make it out of the building.”
Zac laughed, lifting Macie off her feet and spinning her around. “You drive me crazy, you know that?”
“I hope to for a very long time.”
EPILOGUE
Lauren fake sipped her champagne. It barely touched her lips, but she was determined not to let any of it down her throat. Just the thought of a baby growing inside her made her heart race and her cheeks warm. She had The Glow.
Ford kissed her cheek as he sat beside her.
“Hey,” she said, not taking her gaze off the dancing couple in front of them. The DJ changed the song to YMCA, which got the crowd really going, but the couple didn’t let go of each other as they swayed.
Ford nudged her arm. “You ever going to tell them?”
Lauren laughed, louder than she intended.
“What?” Ford lifted his champagne flute to his lips and drained the glass.
“Tell them what? That we knew they were each other’s pen pal?” Lauren raised her eyebrows and stared at her new husband. “Are you insane? They’d never talk to us again.”
“Well, to be fair, we didn’t know until the end of the semester when you moved the app to a different server. They were the only two active accounts.” Ford smiled, then glanced at her champagne flute. He raised an eyebrow. “Not in the mood to celebrate?”
Lauren leaned in and pressed her lips against his. “I’m in the mood to celebrate in a different way, husband.”
“Then let’s start the honeymoon, wife.”
Also by Lynn Stevens
Roomies
Westland University Series
Full Count
Game On
Just One... Series
Just One Summer
Girls of Summer Series
Extra Innings
LYNN STEVENS FLUNKED out of college writing her first novel. Yes,
she still has it and no, you can't read it. Surprisingly, she graduated with honors at her third school. A former farm girl turned city slicker, Lynn lives in the Midwest where she drinks coffee she can't pronounce and sips tea when she's out of coffee. When she's out of both, just stay away.
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