“It’s time. They’re nearly finished with the seating of the mothers,” Norah reported. “Are you ready?”
Piper pressed a hand to her belly, where a flock of seagulls was trying to beat its way out. This whole thing had been a lot less terrifying before she’d realized she was in love with Myles. The prospect of being great friends with spousal benefits had seemed like a fantastic idea. But they’d both been on an even playing field then.
Loving him and not knowing if he’d ever feel the same made the risk she took so much greater.
She tried to hold on to Tucker’s words from the night before. The guy’s crazy about you. If he’s not in love with you yet, he’s only about half a step away.
She hoped and prayed that Tucker was right.
You just have to believe he’ll get there.
Blowing out a breath, she straightened and took her bouquet from Tyler. “Let’s do this.”
She stepped into the elevator with her attendants. The ride to the roof was hardly long enough to take a breath. They spilled out of the elevator and into the vestibule to line up. Elliott held Preston to keep him from running out. Tucker and Tyler had the actual rings, just in case he flipped out and didn’t make it down the aisle. Everything was in place. A couple of hotel employees stood prepared to open the double doors to the outside.
Piper crossed to Preston, running a hand down his little vest. “Aren’t you a handsome boy in your fancy duds.”
He flashed a toothy grin.
“You remember how we practiced last night? You’re going to wait until Norah, Miranda, and Tyler go. Then you’ll go from me to Uncle Myles, down front. Okay?”
Preston clapped. “MyPie!”
“That’s right. This is all about MyPie.” She kissed his little nose and made him giggle. Turning to her friends, she gave each of them a last hug in turn. “Thank y’all for being here. It means a lot to me.” More than she’d realized it would.
“We wouldn’t have missed it for the world,” Tyler said.
And suddenly, Piper was glad of the wedding, glad to have her friends and family here. Even if nothing else about this day had been designed with her in mind, she’d have this memory with them.
She watched them line up, clutching the
ir own bouquets.
“Ready, ma’am?” one of the hotel staff asked.
“As I’ll ever be.”
The woman spoke into a headset. After a few moments’ hesitation, they opened the doors.
Piper frowned, hearing…voices, not strings. “This isn’t Pachelbel.”
From the rear of the line, Tyler looked over and grinned. “Yeah, about that. Myles arranged for us to hijack the music. You’re welcome.” Then she turned forward and began to belt out the introduction to “Seasons of Love” from the musical RENT as Norah started bopping her way down the aisle in all her rhythmically challenged glory.
Piper peeked around the edge of the door. At least a quarter of the audience was on their feet, singing and swaying in place. She recognized almost everyone she’d ever performed with. Her chest clenched and she covered her mouth to hold in something between laughter and tears. From the front, Myles’ voice rang out in harmony with Tucker and Brody as they hit the chorus.
He’d arranged for a flash mob at their wedding.
Oh my God, I love this man.
She could just barely see him as Miranda made her way down during the second verse, his shoulders twitching in time to the music. Beside him, Tucker and Brody grinned like a couple of court jesters as they continued to sing. At the far end, Grady stood stiff as a board, eyes wide, as if he’d just realized his brother had been body snatched. Piper sincerely hoped Myles’ grandmother didn’t have a heart condition.
Tyler pivoted into place at the front, just in time for a solo, by which time most of the audience was swaying along with the performers. Piper didn’t even realize Preston was dancing his way to the front until he was halfway down the aisle. She repressed a laugh. At least he was headed in the right direction. He went straight to Myles and earned a fist bump for his trouble before Leah snagged him.
When they finished, silence hung heavy over the crowd. She saw a few people pause with their hands hovering inches apart, uncertain whether to applaud. So she let out a two finger whistle and clapped herself to get them going.
As the applause faded, her pulse kicked up, waiting to see what she was, in fact, walking down the aisle to. A murmur ran through the guests as Myles stepped out of the lineup and moved to the head of the aisle so he faced her directly. His face was a shade or two paler than normal, and sweat beaded his brow.
Oh no. Was he going to bolt from the altar?