Chapter 29
Everybody believes in something. I believe I will have another beer.
Pops gasps when Hailey steps out of the bride’s room into the hallway where the wedding party is waiting for her in order to start the ceremony.
“Babycakes,” he mutters as he envelopes her into his arms. “You are the most beautiful bride in the world.”
He’s not wrong. Hailey’s ivory wedding gown is made of shiny satin and fits her to a T. It’s also sleeveless, backless, and sexy as hell. Aiden is going to lose his mind when he sees her. When Hailey sniffs, I look away to give them some privacy for their father-daughter moment.
“At least she doesn’t have to worry about who will walk her down the aisle,” Phoebe complains.
“Pheebs, you have five men vying for the privilege of walking you down the aisle. Sure, your ex-husband is a total a-hole rotting in prison and your birth family sucks donkey balls, but your real family is way cooler than those asshats.”
I hold up my hands and make devil’s horns to illustrate to her exactly how cool her new family is.
“She’s right.” Ryker kisses her forehead. He holds out his elbow for her. “You ready?”
Ryker and Phoebe are first up to walk down the aisle. I make sure they are in place in front of the closed doors with Sam, Aiden’s best man, lined up right behind them before approaching Hailey.
“Are you ready?”
She sniffs again. I wag a finger at her in warning. “Oh no, you don’t. No crying. At least wait until Aiden sees you before you ruin your make-up. Probably best to wait to ruin your make-up until after the pictures are taken too. The photographer looks mean.”
“Hey!” The photographer who is kneeling in the corner taking pictures doesn’t think much of my comment. I wink at her to let her know I’m merely calming the bride down.
Hailey throws her arms around me. “I love you, Suzie Q.”
“Okay, okay.” I bat her arms away. “Stop with the emotional stuff before a rumor starts you’re pregnant.”
“After all the champagne I drank this morning?”
Good point. I squeeze her hands and get serious for a second. “I’m happy for you, Hailey. You done good.”
I can’t express how happy I am for her. My best friend has been pining for Aiden since she first set eyes on the boy in high school. It took more than a decade for them to get over themselves and find love with each other, but they made it. And today they’re getting hitched.
I release her hands and pat her thigh. Hold up. Why am I feeling something hard? “Are you armed?” I hiss at her.
She giggles. “Of course, I am.”
Is she kidding? She better be kidding. “You can’t go into a church armed in a wedding dress. God will smite you!”
“Smite me? Look at you using big words.” She leans close and whispers, “It’s a garter belt.”
Pops walks over. “Time to get you married, Babycakes.”
I wave and make my way to my position in the line. The music starts and the doors open. Ryker winks at Phoebe, and they start up the aisle. Once they arrive at the altar, it’s time for Sam and me to make the trek.
Don’t trip. Don’t trip. I concentrate on putting one foot in front of the other. When I manage the first steps without tripping over my own two feet, I exhale in relief. I got this. We make it to the front rows where the uncles and Grayson are sitting without a problem. Grayson turns toward me, and my mouth drops open when I see him wearing a suit and tie for the first time. Grayson in jeans and a t-shirt is hot. Grayson in a suit is sizzling. Oh my.
My heel catches on the carpet and I stumble. Sam lifts me by my arm to stop me from falling on my face. “Steady on, klutzy girl.”
I roll my eyes but manage to reach the altar and take my place next to Phoebe without further incident.
“You lost me ten bucks,” she hisses.
I am not dignifying her words with a reply. If she was stupid enough to bet on me not tripping while walking down the aisle, it’s her own fault. Besides, I blame Grayson. If he didn’t look good enough to eat, I wouldn’t have tripped.
The wedding march begins, and everyone stands to watch Hailey walk down the aisle. I concentrate on Aiden instead. I can tell the exact moment he sees Hailey in her wedding dress for the first time. His eyes light up and heat flares in them. His hands ball into fists as he watches her walk toward him. I giggle when he takes his first step forward. He doesn’t stop with one step. Not Aiden. He marches straight down the aisle and meets his intended halfway.