Page 99 of The Wedding Run
Stumbling backward, Luke’s gaze shifts to me, then veers as footsteps approach.
Marianne stumbles toward us, her perfectly lip-glossed mouth wide open. Nadine runs behind, fluffing out the bride’s veil.
It feels as if time stands still.
My breath catches in my chest, and my heart pounds. A roaring sound fills my ears. He thought I was marrying Derek and drove all this way to stop the wedding.
I’m still processing Luke’s declaration.He loves me? He loves me. He loves me!
The groom snaps out of his stupor and bounds toward us. “What is going on?”
Luke raises his hands in a gesture of surrender. “Sorry, man. I thought?—”
But the groom, all hyped on caffeine and adrenaline, takes a swing.
Luke ducks just in time.
But the groom’s fist sails over Luke and lands squarely on Derek’s jaw.
Derek staggers, crashing into a pew and smashing the peonies and roses.
A scream arcs toward the sanctuary’s beamed ceiling. Gasps reverberate around us.
Luke yanks me sideways, moving me to safety and shielding me with his body.
The groom bounces on his toes, as if to say, "Come on, who’s next?”
“It’s cool, man.” Luke presses a hand against his own chest. “All my fault.”
But Trevor takes another shot at Luke, aiming directly for his nose. Luke dodges to the right. The punch sends Trevor stumbling forward, and Luke seizes Trevor’s wrist, yanking it behind his back. Trevor finds himself suddenly caught in a wrestling hold and at Luke’s mercy.
“Take a breath,” Luke says from behind Trevor. He points the groom toward Marianne, who has her hands covering her mouth in shock. “See your bride? I made a mistake. She’s your bride…”
“Marianne,” I supply.
“Marianne,” Luke says with a nod toward the bride, “wants to marry you. She can’t wait. She doesn’t even know me. So, I apologize. Let’s move on with your wedding. You don’t want to keep your beautiful bride waiting, do you?”
Unable to escape from Luke’s grip, Trevor nods.
“All right then!” Luke claps the groom on the shoulder and pushes him toward the altar. “Get on up there and say, ‘I do.’”
Trevor stumbles forward, rubbing his shoulder and wrist. He glances at Luke once but chooses to take his place and fulfill his vows.
“You okay, man?” Luke asks Derek as he helps him off the floor.
Derek shrugs off Luke’s offer and stalks away from us. He joins the waiting, wide-eyed wedding party at the front.
Luke looks to the orchestra. “Carry on, maestro.”
The conductor waves his magic wand, and the music starts again, the stringed instruments underscoring the tension in the sanctuary.
Luke turns to look at me. “You okay, Libby?”
Words fail me. All I can do is stand there in disbelief.
“I’m sorry,” he says so softly that I’m unsure if I heard him correctly. “Please forgive me.”
He waits a few seconds for a reply, but I can’t speak. Is this a nightmare or a dream? Luke thought I was marrying Derek?And he loves me?
