Page 71 of Ring Me

“Go home, Ben,” Aubrey said.

“Not yet.”

“You're not going to get a chance to make some grand objection to her wedding.”

Ben stumbled up towards the boat. “Tell her I'm here! I want to see her, to see the look in her eyes when I tell all her friends and family the truth about her! Maya!” he shouted, lips curling cruelly. “Maya! Get out here! Or are you too scared to let everyone see the real you? Shouldn't everyone know, if you're soproudof it?”

I clutched at the front of my dress. It was too tight, everything was too tight. I couldn't breathe.

“Go. Now.” Aubrey stated flatly.

“She's twisted.” Ben laughed in a broken way. “Do you think herfiancéknows? I thought he did, but maybe he doesn't. Maybe I'm the only one who knows Maya's messed up little head.”

Hot shame made me stumble; my mother caught me, looking from my face, to the scene on the dock. “Maya, calm down, you need to breathe,” she soothed me.

I sensed her unease. In a second, she... and everyone... was going to learn my kinky perversions. Ben was eager to spill what he'd called mysickness. He was determined to wreck my wedding. I should have been more worried he'd try something like this after what happened at my apartment. I was so stupid. So blind. Now it was too late.

Someone broke from the crowd at the base of the ramp. The tall woman stormed up to Ben from behind, and without a word, she jammed her hip against him so hard he toppled sideways. With a pathetic scream, he landed in the river.

“Is that who I think it is?” I asked.

“Yeah. That's my sister,” Mom replied in amazement.

Jemine folded her arms, casting a disgusted look at Ben as he sputtered, swimming towards the shore. “What a pain in the ass,” she shouted, loud enough for everyone to hear. “This is a wedding, not a daytime talk show. Who cares what some jilted ex has to say?”

Aubrey's mouth had fallen open. Now she laughed, shaking her head in shock. As my aunt walked up the ramp to pass, my best friend held up her hand. They high-fived, both of them grinning, and the crowd took that as the cue to file onto the boat.

“Come on,” my mom said, pulling me into my room. “Don't let anyone see you before the ceremony.”

I gripped the railing. “Wait.”

“Maya, please, what now?”

“Just... one more second.” Leaning over the boat, I gazed down into the murky river. Ben was finally at the shore where some security guards had arrived with a paramedic and a ladder. They lowered it down, motioning for him to climb it. He started to, but his hands slipped, and he looked ridiculous as he struggled up the rungs with his drenched outfit clinging to his body. People on the dock were taking photos. His whole face was glowing crimson from humiliation. His tie got tangled on his arm; he fell back, one of the guards snatched at him, and all it achieved was Ben's shirt getting ripped off before he tumbled, again, into the river.

My mom stood next to me. “You're smiling.”

“Am I?” I asked innocently.

“You know... I'm so glad you didn't marry a joker like him,” she sighed. We shared a look, and then we both laughed, hugging each other tight.

“Okay,” I said, lifting my chin high. “I'm ready now.”

The ceremony was a blur.

I don't know why I spent all that time choosing flowers, and center pieces, and table clothes. There could have been nothing on that boat except me and Conner, and I would have been just as happy.

But I knew some moments would be crystal clear for me as long as I lived. Like when the band began to play. It was the group that had performed on the Annie May the night Conner brought me here. I'd wanted them for the wedding, but I was worried they might not want to do a musical mash-up with Cynthia Southerbee.

To my delight, they were excited to work together.

With my chin shaking from emotion, I walked down the aisle of cherry blossoms strewn across the top deck of the boat to the sound of gentle guitar strings and brass. Friends and family sat on either side, all eyes on me, their joy enhancing my own.

I clutched the bouquet of blue tulips and baby's breath for comfort. My grandfather's happy smile was my focus. He'd wrapped a white ribbon around his cane. Taking my fingers in his, we walked slowly towards the end of the boat.

Towards Conner.

Towards my future.

---