Page 31 of Forbidden Billionaires: Vol. 2
"Melissa?"
She immediately looked up from her phone and gave me a huge smile. "Penny, you look amazing in that dress," she said.
That had not been the reaction I was expecting at all. More like, tears and shoe throwing.
"Thanks, Melissa. Did you get my message? I know you probably..."
"It's okay. You know, sometimes I hate being right, but, it's really okay. I kind of knew it wasn't going to be a long term thing. Even though I was hoping it could be more. But I'm seriously okay."
She was saying 'okay' way too many times for someone who was actually okay. "Do you want to talk about what happened?"
"No. Not tonight. Penny, I still feel horrible about acting like such a terrible friend the past few weeks. I'm going to put this on hold until after I'm done with my maid of honor duties. I can do that," she said more to herself than to me. She seemed to take a deep breath. "You do owe me one week of sitting in pajamas and eating ice cream after your honeymoon, though."
"Deal."
Melissa laughed.
"Thank you, Melissa," I said and gave her a hug.
She didn't say anything, she just hugged me back.
Someone whistling made us pull apart.
"Alright, everyone in the bridal party, bride's father, groom's mother, and the pastor, please get in the back of the aisle for a super quick meeting," our wedding planner announced. "I was promised dinner tonight and I'm hungry."
I laughed. The reason we had picked Justin to be our wedding planner was because we thought he was hilarious. He also always seemed so calm, which I certainly appreciated. Melissa and I walked over toward the rest of the bridal party.
"I heard you got cold feet," Matt said to me.
"No joking around about that before the wedding," Justin said and gave him a dirty look.
Mason elbowed Matt in the ribs. "That's not...I didn't tell him that's what happened," Mason said defensively.
"It's fine. Hey, Matt," I said and gave him a hug.
"I'm glad you decided to show," he said and gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"Okay, everyone, pay attention," Justin said. "Leave the hugging for later. By the way, Penny and James, you both look amazing as always."
"Thanks, Justin." That was the other thing. He always gave me compliments. Just being around him inflated my self confidence.
"God, now I'm chit chatting. We'll never eat at this rate. Focus, people," he said and clapped his hands together. "What order did you want everyone standing beside you in? That dreaded question...who's the favorite?"
"Melissa is the maid of honor and Rob is my best man," James said, gesturing toward Melissa and Rob.
"They'll come in right before you two then. No flower girls or ring bearers, right?"
"Nope," James said.
"Good, just double checking. Kids ruin weddings. Absolutely ruin."
I laughed.
"No, seriously. They steal all the attention when they shit their pants on the aisle or throw petals in someone's face. Yes, I've seen both those happen. Who will be walking down the aisle before Melissa and Rob?"
"Well, I don't know, we never really discussed it. I think it would be nice if Bee and Mason walked down the aisle together," I said.
Bee smiled. "Really, whatever way you pair us is fine," she said.
