Page 11 of Surprisingly Us

“What’s that?” Ramsey asks.

“An invitation to the Cartwright-McKenzie wedding.” I hold it out to him. “Reply yes.”

He glances down at the invitation, his eyes widening. “The wedding’s tomorrow. It’s bad form to RSVP this late.”

I shrug. “I didn’t get the invitation until now. And I need to be at that wedding. It’ll be the perfect way to reintroduce myself to New York City’s elite and most respected families. And possibly find a high-caliber woman I can date to impress the board.”

He sighs but nods, then picks up his phone to type something out.

I stare out the window as we pass the tree-lined streets of the city I grew up in. Everything looks familiar, yet so much has changed. I’m not the person I was when I left the city five years ago and I’m nothing close to the man my father was. But that’s not going to stop me from making sure Jerrod stays off The Spencer Foundation board.

CHAPTER 3

Colette

There’s a knock on the door. “Twenty minutes, ladies,” Johnathan, Hannah and James’s wedding planner calls, before looking around the room. “Where’s Sophie?”

“I’m here!” Sophie rushes in behind him, out of breath, and a bit disheveled in her one-shoulder gown.

Sophie skirts by Johnathan, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek as she passes.

Johnathan eyes Sophie with amusement. “Soph, do not be the reason we don’t hit the aisle at four o’clock sharp.” He taps his watch, his tone mildly scolding.

Sophie and Johnathan used to work together at Marion Adler Events where Sophie had a paid internship before she left to pursue her Sustainable Wedding Chic blog and her own wedding planning business. She’s also engaged to Hannah’s brother, Hunter.

“Cut her some slack, Johnathan,” Hannah, the bride and my best friend, teases. “She’s a mom of two five-month-olds.My nieces.”

Johnathan’s lips twist into a smirk. “You know it wasn’t those precious babies that made her late.”

Sophie’s cheeks flush pink, but the color looks good on her. “I’m sorry I’m running late. And Johnathan’s right; Hunter and I lost track of time.”

Hannah pulls Sophie in for a hug. “I love you and Hunter together, but it’s my wedding day, let’s not talk about my brother’s sex life.”

Sophie giggles. “I think we agreed tonevertalk about it.”

“Exactly.” Hannah laughs.

Emma Hart, Hannah’s wedding gown designer and the owner of Emma Belle Bridal, bends down to make a quick adjustment on Hannah’s train. Emma is married to Sophie’s brother, Griffin Hart. And Griffin works with Hunter at the Cartwright’s real estate company, Premier Real Estate.

It’s kind of wild how this group is connected.

“I found the other shoe!” Chloe exclaims, holding one of Hannah’s Christian Louboutin heels in her hand.

“Thank you, Chloe!” Emma reaches for the shoe before helping Hannah into it.

Chloe is an assistant editor at St. Clair Press and married to Barrett St. Clair, who is good friends with Hunter.

Sophie and I are two of Hannah’s bridesmaids. With a few cousins and other friends, there are seven of us total. Emma and Chloe are Hannah’s personal attendants.

As we count down the minutes to walking down the aisle, the other women are circling Hannah like a prized fighter about to enter the ring, making sure everything is in place. Her makeup artist swoops in for a last-minute touch up, while Hannah’s mom, Katherine, is furiously taking pictures in the background alongside the wedding photographer.

As Hannah’s best friend and maid of honor, I’m trying to be here in this moment with her, but with everyone around, I haven’t the faintest clue what I should be doing. Sending good vibes?

It doesn’t help that Alexei’s words from yesterday’s practice keep repeating in my head.

It’s outside the studio, in our personal lives, that we find what gives us passion in our dancing.

I’ve been desperate to talk to Hannah about my conversation with Alexei, but it’s her wedding weekend. There’s no appropriate time to pull the bride aside and lay out all my problems. I did start researching dating websites yesterday before the rehearsal dinner until a bout of hives took over and I had to stop and place ice packs on my chest.

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