Page 25 of All Autumn
“No, I don’t like leaving you, Jackson,” she’d said, sounding like a freaking robot.
Then we’d tried to get her to have lunch with us the following day, and he’d nixed that, too. After the rehearsal dinner we hadn’t seen her. They weren’t even staying in the valley. Jackson had booked them a room in Asheville. I guess we should feel lucky that she had even shown up.
“I hate him,” Jenn said.
“I do, too, but today is for you. We’ll worry about her tomorrow.” I stepped back and ran my gaze over her. “Dylan should worry about embarrassing himself when he drools at the sight of you walking down the aisle.” That put a smile back on her face.
The door opened, and Savannah slipped in. She rushed to us, then pulled us into a hug. “You look so beautiful, Jenn. Please be happy.”
“I am and I will be.” Jenn glanced toward the door. “Where’s Jackson?”
“Mary cornered him, so I was able to sneak away. She’s asking a thousand questions about what it takes to be a model.”
Jenn and I laughed, and then my amusement faded. “You shouldn’t have to sneak away to see your friends, especially on one of their wedding days.”
Savannah turned pleading eyes on me. “You don’t understand. Please, don’t hate me.”
“We could never hate you,” Jenn said. “We’re just so worried about you, and you won’t explain anything to us.”
“There’s nothing to explain. But I couldn’t let today go by without telling you both that I love you and miss you so much. I have to go before he comes looking for me.” Then she glanced at me. “I’ll meet you at the door to the church.”
“Nothing to explain, my ass.” I said after she was gone. At my wedding she’d at least dressed with us, but apparently even that wasn’t allowed now.
“She’s starting to scare me.”
I glanced at Jenn. “Me, too. But today is your happy day. Don’t let her take that away from you, okay?”
“You’re right. No sad pandas allowed at weddings, especially when the bride is marrying the most amazing man in the world.”
“He is that.” He really was, and I was a little envious. I’d thought the same thing on my wedding day. The difference was that Dylan was the real deal. He’d even followed Jenn to Greece just to tell her he loved her. That had been the most romantic thing ever.
“I don’t care if you are on your honeymoon. I want to see pictures in my e-mail of Italy and the villa y’all rented as soon as you get there.”
She smirked. “You might have to wait a day or two. I’m guessing I’ll be a little too”—she made air quotes—“busyto take pictures right away.”
“Well, since it is your honeymoon . . .” I waggled my eyebrows, causing her to giggle.
A knock sounded on the door, and I went to see who would show up next. It was her parents. Her mom and dad were the coolest people in the world, and I’d often envied her, wishing they were mine. Growing up I spent more time at Jenn’s house than my own. Her parents treated us like the kids we were, never putting us in the middle of their problems. Not once had they expected Jenn to choose between them, and I envied her for that.
“Dylan asked me to give this to you,” her mom said, handing Jenn a small, square box. I’d intended to leave, allowing Jenn and her parents a private moment, but giving in to curiosity as to what Dylan’s wedding gift was, I stayed.
Jenn opened the box, and her smile was as beautiful as everything else about her was on this day. With love shining in her eyes she held up heart-shaped dangling earrings that matched the emerald heart necklace he’d given her when he’d tracked her down in Greece.
“You’re one lucky dog, Jenn,” I said to her with a smile, and then I slipped out of the room.
She’d hit a billion-dollar lottery in Dylan Conrad. As I walked out of the hotel, heading to the wedding chapel to wait to walk down the aisle ahead of her as her maid of honor, I tried not to envy her.
My jumbled thoughts were on my own wedding and how my dreams had been crushed by my cheating husband. I no longer missed Brian, but I did miss Connor.
Savannah leaned against me when I stopped next to her, but she didn’t say anything. Even here where we gathered to walk down the aisle ahead of Jenn, she wasn’t free of Jackson. He stood not more than four feet away, his attention on her. Was he worried she’d say or do something he wouldn’t like? I slipped my hand down and squeezed hers, getting a squeeze back. She was breaking my heart, but I didn’t know how to help her.
I glanced down the aisle. Dylan stood, hands clasped in front of him, his gaze intent on the entrance where I stood. He smiled, and then his eyes moved past me, waiting for his first sight of his bride.
Connor and Adam stood next to him, and I tried not to admire how handsome they were in their black tuxes. But my eyes insisted on seeing nothing but Connor. Since that night we’d kissed a month ago, he’d made himself scarce, and I wished I knew why.
Was our kiss so terrible that he couldn’t bear to be around me anymore?
She was sobeautiful that I couldn’t take my eyes off her. Autumn, not the bride. Although Jenn was beautiful, too. But it was Autumn I couldn’t stop looking at. She wore a strapless pale blue, knee-length dress that was a perfect match to her eyes. Her blonde hair was swept up in a fancy do, with tendrils curling around her face and down the back of her neck. My mouth watered just looking at her.
