Page 14 of Love Unscripted

“Excuse me,” Granny Smith croaks.

Liam offers her his winning grin. Oh, he’s even charming to the oldies.

The minister clears his throat. “Can we have the rings?”

Rex bolts to his feet, waving a velvet box. “Me.”

I giggle. He’s adorable in his mini tuxedo. A million times more charming than Mr. Ashley, here.

Rex rushes from the front row and his shoe catches on a table.

The table that displays the wedding cake.

The enormous six-tiered cake wobbles at the top end. It shakes like a mini earthquake hit, and the cake shifts into the Leaning Tower of Pisa. The crowd lets out a collaborative breath.

Phew. Not too bad.

Just then, when I thought all was okay—the bride and groom topper falls over. Well, if that isn’t symbolic, I don’t know what is.

Liam laughs.

He laughs!

I stare at him in disbelief. It’s our wedding, dude. Don’t you care that every possible disaster is happening? My grandmother belched on national TV.

Laughter spills out from behind him. The best man is chuckling. Pam and Melanie join in. Sitting on the bridal side, my mother reddens, her cheeks puff out, then she loses it too.

My mom has the funniest laugh, and I don’t hear it often. I call it the rubber-ducky laugh. It starts as a soft squeak but ends as a honk.

I clutch my belly, aware of a subtle vibration. A sliver of amusement expands in my abdomen. It spreads through me like a wave and transforms into a torrent of giggles and—oh no . . .

I snorted.

Like a pig.

On TV.

I burst out laughing. The dam has broken. It must be from all the tension I was holding and I needed a release.

Liam holds my arm, rubbing circles over my back. Can this be any more ridiculous? He’s trying to calm me, but his effort only makes it worse. My knees are weak, I double over, my hair flopping to the floor. My shoulders shake. I haven’t laughed like this for—forever. Since I was a kid. I gasp in breaths.

I need to pull it together. Cameras are rolling.

I flick my head up, and my hair and veil go flying back into position. My face must be cherry red. Liam’s holding back a chuckle. We must compose ourselves and finish the show.

He wipes a tear from under my eye. “Ready?”

I chew on my upper lip and nod. “Yep. Sorry about that.”

“It’s fine. Thoroughly entertaining.” He winks.

The minister removes the rings from the box Rex offers so innocently—like he didn’t just cause an uproar.

We exchange vows and rings, then the minister steps back. He pauses for a second before announcing to Liam, “You now may kiss your bride.”

Oh, yeah. About that. My eyes latch onto Liam, and my throat becomes tight.

Air. I need air.

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