She lays the phone down, and she cuts her eyes to me.
"What's wrong?" I ask her.
"That was Jay. I could barely even understand him." The fear in her eyes breaks my heart as she lets out a loud "ugh," throwing her phone down.
"It's 8:30 in the morning. Is hedrunk?" She looks away quickly, wiping tears from her eyes.
"Let's go get him. If we go now, we can bring him back here until after the wedding." She nods, and we head down to her car.
It takes a combined effort, but we are able to drag Jameson out to Hanna's car. He is mumbling about how much he loves her and how he wants to get married. Hanna looks over at me and rolls her eyes. After a struggle up the stairs, we get him settled onto the couch. I nod to the trashcan, and Hanna drags it over near him. It isn't 30 seconds later that he's throwing up. Hanna sits next to him and rubs his back as he continues to spill it out.
"I didn't make it six months, B. Please don't leave my brother." He runs his hand over his mouth and settles back on the couch. I turn around to respond, and he is passed out. He has obviously forgotten that Judson has made that choice for both of us.
"Hanna, why don't you stay here with him for a couple hours to make sure he is going to be okay, and meet me at the wedding in a little while." She gives me a hesitant look as she glances over at Jameson.
"Yeah, maybe that is smart."
I pull into the venue and shove everything I may need into my backpack. I slide the camera strap over my neck and cram some extra SD cards into the front zipper of my bag. It's cold outside, and the weather is gloomy with flurries of snow falling from the clouds. The ceremony is inside a stunning stone building and will make for the most beautiful memories.
I have yet to meet the bride, we've exchanged a few emails, but we never got the chance to meet face-to-face before this day arrived. I make my way into the bridal suite, and an army of pink dresses appear.
"You must be the photographer! I'm Katherine. It's so nice to meet you." She pulls me into a hug like she has known me forever.
"Thank you so much for choosing me to capture your day. I'm really excited to get started. Just act like I'm not here. I'll be between here and the groom's suite before the ceremony."
After taking a ton of pictures, I make my way over to where the groomsmen are. There are two guys, probably in their late 50's, smoking cigars on the deck.
"Hey guys, I'm Blakely, the photographer. Care if I get some pictures?"
These guys look important and powerful, like they are ready to take someone's entire life and crush it between their palms and fingers.
"Sure, but you will probably need the groom." He nods toward the bar.
I make my way over to the bar and take a seat on the stool next to him. He doesn't take his eyes off his drink.
"I'm Blakely, congratulations on the big day. I'm here to take pictures."
He doesn't respond, just slides his drink glass back and forth.
"Is everything okay?" I ask.
"Is anything ever okay?" He responds, and boy, do I feel that.
"Good point." I nod to the bartender, and he brings me a shot, I turn it up, and the sound of the glass hitting the counter draws his attention.
"You don't look old enough to be drinking."
His words bring out the tigress that I try to keep in the cage.
"You look too old to be drinking."
He erupts in a burst of deep, growling laughter, lifting his glass.
"Touche."
"So why are you at the bar? Cold feet?" I ask, instantly regretting the fact that I have no filter.
"No." He barks, tilting up his glass and finishing off his drink.