Page 77 of Before You Say I Do
Karen twisted her mouth one way, then the other. “None?”
“Precisely. Not one. These brides never run, even when they don’t love the groom. Even when they’ve slept with someone else. Even when she’s told me she’s fallen for me.”
A few moments passed when nobody spoke. Outside, a couple walked by on the pavement, laughing as they walked.
What Jordan would give to be that carefree. Right now, her life was balanced on a knife edge, and either way she jumped, she was going to get hurt.
“Do you have to go to the wedding tomorrow? If she’s not going to follow through with you, it seems unnecessarily cruel for you to have to watch her get married.”
“It’s my job. The one she employed me to do.”
“But the circumstances have changed. Surely there’s some leeway if you end up falling in love with the bride, and her with you?”
Jordan quaked at Karen’s words. “Nobody said anything about love.”
“What do you think this is, then? Infatuation? Because it doesn’t look like it from where I’m sitting. You’ve been a basket case since you got back on Monday. From what you’ve said, so has she.”
“It doesn’t matter, does it? Nothing’s going to change before tomorrow.”
“Unless something or somebody makes it change.”
Jordan turned to Karen. “What are you suggesting?”
“That you don’t fall for people willy-nilly. Abby’s got under your skin, and you can’t ignore how you feel. If she feels the same way, maybe you should ask her before she walks down the aisle. Straight up, ask her.”
“Are you crazy? I know my feelings are real. I think hers are, too. But what if I’m wrong? Or worse still, I’m right, but she’s not prepared to blow up her wedding day?” Because that was what had happened up until now.
“Then at least you’ll know, and you won’t spend the next year wondering what if.”
“No, but I will spend the next year looking for another profession, seeing as nobody will employ me as a professional bridesmaid anymore.”
Karen waved a hand. “You said yourself you can’t stay in this game forever. Besides, you could work again, just maybe not in these precise social circles.”
“I think word of a bridesmaid shagging a bride might get around.”
“I don’t think you should focus on that. Instead, turn your attention to how you’re feeling about Abby.” Karen put a hand over Jordan’s chest. “What happens in here when I say her name?”
Jordan gulped. “My heart starts to race.”
“How does it feel when I tell you she’s going to marry Marcus?”
“Devastating.” Jordan sat back, and removed Karen’s hand. That answer came in a flash. “If she goes through with it, I don’t think I’ll ever do this job again, anyway. It’ll always remind me of her.”
“Wow.” Karen tapped the dashboard again. “So if she gets married, you’re changing careers. If she doesn’t get married, you’ll have to change careers, too. With the job out of the equation, what have you got to lose? You’re her bridesmaid. You’re going to see her in the morning before the church. Just tell her how you feel. And if she still goes through with it, she was never worth it in the first place. Because you deserve someone who wants you and only you.”
Jordan stared at her best friend.
Karen was right. This was a matter of the heart. As such, she couldn’t ignore it.
Her phone lit up with a text message. Jordan glanced down at it.
It was from Abby.
Jordan began to shake. Was she thinking the same thing and taking action? Jordan’s heartbeat vaulted upwards as she grabbed her phone and pressed the text button.
Hi Jordan. I’ve been thinking about what Delta said, and maybe she’s right. You shouldn’t come tomorrow. It’s going to make it too hard for both of us. Thanks for everything. A x
Jordan stared at the text message. All the stars in the universe burst. The sun drained of heat. Her heart shattered into a million tiny pieces.
