Page 165 of Dangerous Encore
With everything in place, I really do feel like I'm going to be a blushingbride.
I'm confident I'm going to lookbeautiful.
I stick to tradition and take it straight to Piper's place. We're all meeting here to get ready tomorrow morning. It takes so long we have to start in the morning (eleven a.m., but still. It counts asmorning!)
But I don't mind the thought of hours in the makeupchair.
There's a pang in my gut when I think about walking down the aisle sans Dad. Looking to my friends to note Mom'sabsence.
But it'smanageable.
This is the rightdecision.
I don't want to spend my wedding day bracing myself for an insult, a tantrum, aguilttrip.
I want to spend it thinking about forever with myfiancé.
* * *
After a few rounds of tea/coffee,Piper and I head over to our not exactly a rehearsaldinner.
It's at Joel's place, of course. Piper tried to volunteer hers, but we decided we can't trust the boys not to peek at the dress. And nobody wanted to drive all the way to Orange County to party at Ethan and Violet'sapartment.
Which leaves us crammed into Joel's cozy two bedroom. Everyone is here—Piper, Kit, Joel, Bella, Ethan, Violet,Carrie—
Carrieishere!
I run to my best friend and throw my arms around her. "It's beentoolong."
She nods. "You lookbeautiful."
"And you?" I take in her trendy haircut and her all black attire. "You look so New York. It'sdisgusting."
"I know. I'm in love. Not as in love as you, but still." She smiles as she looks around the apartment. "You couldn't invite any single guystothis?"
I laugh. "Sorry."
"They're just all sofuckinghot."
"I think Logan is coming." I look to my fiancé, chatting with his sister in the corner. "Is Logancoming?"
"Baby, that hurts," Malteases.
"Probably. That's all Logan does." Joel bounces over to us and introduces himself to Carrie. He tilts his head, trying to wait out a fangirlreaction.
But it's not going to happen. Carrie's only knowledge of Dangerous Noise comes from mygushing.
I take Carrie around the party, introducing her to everyone. Her cheeks flush from the attention, but she shows no signs of celebrity-inducednervousness.
Just the regularwhy is everyone looking at me when I'm not the one getting marriednervousness.
"You want a drink?" Ioffer.
She nods and moves into the kitchen. We do our usual thing. Our old usual thing—whiskey sour. Well, sort of. Joel has whiskey and he has lemons. Closeenough.
Once our drinks are full, we raise ourglasses.
"To you living a freaking dream life." Carrie smiles. "Girl, how the hell did youmanagethis?"
