Bad Boy's Bridesmaid(42)

     



 

Lindsey screamed at us both, an empty champagne bottle raised for the  final blow on whichever one of us assholes she punished first.

A startled voice squealed from the doorway. The room silenced. Rick and I froze.

"What are you doing to each other?"

Mandy rushed between us, pushing us apart. She stared at me and Rick, her eyes wide with shock.

"Nate, what are you doing? Why are you fighting? And why aren't you wearing pants?"

Rick shoved me away. "Don't worry about it. We're fine."

We were so far from fine I couldn't spit to reach the line he crossed. He straightened his tux and tossed me my pants.

"Nate just had a crisis of conscience," he said.

I rushed him. "You son of a-"

Mandy stopped me with a hand to my chest. "Stop it! We're all friends! Back off."

My anger dissolved. Mandy wore the same hideous bridesmaid dress as the  other girls, but only she filled it out right. Her silken, dark skin  complimented the god-awful teal, and the soft curls of her hair fell  over her shoulders and chest. She was the most beautiful woman here, but  she flinched away when I reached for her.

"Don't," she whispered. "I can't believe you'd hurt Rick. What's wrong with you?"

"You know what's wrong. We have to talk."

"Now?"

"Yes, now."

She shook her head. The bride stormed towards us in a cascade of taffeta.

"Now isn't the time, Nate."

"What are you doing here?" Lindsey pointed at her sister. "I thought … I thought you weren't coming."

I expected Mandy to tear up. Instead Lindsey immediately wept. She fanned her face and stomped a foot. Mandy took her hand.

"I wasn't going to miss your wedding," Mandy said. "Even if you didn't  want me here now, I think we'd both regret it when we're all old and  grey and cranky."

"Speak for yourself, noodlearms." Lindsey sniffled. "I'm already cranky."

Mandy's lip trembled. "I know you are, muffinbutt."

The girls hugged, holding each other tight. Rick thought he'd get a handshake out of it from me.

I wasn't as forgiving as noodlearms. He'd have to buy a round for me first.

Mandy pulled away from her sister. "I brought you some things."

She reached for her purse, offering Lindsey a gold class ring from the front pocket.

"Something old," Mandy said. "You used to wear this all the time."

Bryce swore. "Goddamn it, Lindsey. I thought I lost that damn ring."

Lindsey clutched it to her chest. "No. I stole it after our first anniversary. Sorry, babe."

Bryce grabbed it from her hands, shoving it on his finger with a grumble.

"Something new." Mandy gave an apologetic shrug as she handed her sister  a red air freshener for a car rearview mirror. "I was … kinda in a hurry  at the gas station."

Lindsey tucked it into her bouquet. "It's okay."

Mandy offered her the picture of our sonogram. "Something borrowed. I want that back."

"Oh … " Now she sobbed. "This is amazing."

"And something blue." Mandy smirked handing her a folded card. "Or … something indigo."

The sample wedding invitation looked as hideous now as it did then, but Lindsey actually smiled.

Mandy shrugged. "I couldn't let you get married without some luck."

"And I couldn't get married without my little sister." Lindsey pulled  her into a hug. "I'm sorry I yelled and banished you from my wedding."

"I'm sorry I let you think you could banish people."

Sandra broke up the girls, flittering between the two of them before  lamenting that Mandy's hair would have to stay down while they walked  the aisle. She clapped her hands.

"We're officially behind. Let's move it! My baby has to get married!"

She hustled from the staging room, leading the bridal party. Damn it. I reached for Mandy, but Rick already took her arm.

Mandy didn't look at me, and Rick's nose still bled. She gently touched  his swollen brow, repeatedly apologizing for my behavior.

Fuck. She was going to hate me.

I had to talk to her, but the music strummed from above. The church's  string quartet group began their set. We took the stairs and waited for  our cues to head into the sanctuary.

My eyes never left Mandy.

I searched for her between the ruffles of teal and half-busted bouquets.  She waited for her cue in silence, and she walked arm-in-arm with Rick  as Maid of Honor and Best Man.

He was responsible. He was kind and caring. He might have taken excellent care of her.         

     



 

But I wasn't losing Mandy to him. I couldn't.

She took her place beside the altar, and her eyes averted from me. My pulse beat out-of-sync to the music.

How could I have been so stupid?

The instant she'd told me about the baby, my heart split in two and grew  double in size, beating for her and my unborn child. I should have  stayed. She deserved better than my shock, and she deserved more than a  proposal of convenience.

I never planned to settle down before, but now I couldn't imagine a life without Mandy.

I blew my first chance, but I wouldn't ruin the second.

If she'd take me back.

The bridal procession filled the church. The pews packed with family and friends. They stood as the wedding march strummed.

Lindsey was a hellcat, a raging bitch, and the craziest damn woman I  knew, but she did look beautiful. She held her father's arm and trembled  while she walked down the aisle. Conrad hugged her before giving her  arm to Bryce. She held on and whispered something in his ear.

No harsh words. No fighting.

And once Mandy pulled the ribbon with Condolences scrawled in beautiful calligraphy from Lindsey's bouquet, we were good to go.

I hadn't listened to one of the father's sermons in years. Hell, I'd  ducked out of the church on Easter and Christmas when Mom wasn't  watching.

I never once believed a word out of my father's mouth …

Except when he delivered surprisingly good advice.

The last thing I wanted was to trap Mandy in a marriage because we had a  child. The only thing that might have made it worse was marrying her to  save face in the community. I left home specifically to avoid those  types of obligations. My father had demanded I live a life of respectful  piety and perfection, and he tortured me with that fate for eighteen  years.

Mandy worried she'd be caught in a loveless life. I avoided the opposite. A life of fear.

My child would never feel trapped like that. Not as long as I lived.

"Dearly beloved … "

My father extended his hands over Lindsey and Bryce.

"I am honored to stand before you today, witnessing the marriage of  Lindsey Prescott and Bryce Washington. I've had the privilege of  watching this lovely couple grow from children into the beautiful adults  they are today, and I am so happy they are beginning their lives  together."

I didn't buy my father's fake sincerity, especially when I knew what he'd say if it were me and Mandy at the altar instead.

Mandy stared at her sister, clutching both of their bouquets in  trembling hands. She actually listened to Dad's sermon on love, life,  and commitment.

She believed it.

Every word.

Mandy wanted nothing more than that life of romance and devotion, a life I never thought was possible until I fell for her.

She watched, captivated.

And I imagined it was us before the altar-her eyes wide, her smile perfect, declaring her true feelings to all who would listen.

Dad rested a hand over the bride and groom's hands. "Marriage is a gift.  Most times it will be hard. Sometimes it will be painful. But, given  the chance, it will become your greatest joy. Just as you've grown  together as childhood friends, you will now explore this new world of  love and commitment as partners, with all of its surprises and  challenges."

I snorted. Rick frowned at me, but I didn't care.

I just had the biggest surprise and challenge of my life thrown at me,  but there was no one I'd rather handle it with than Mandy.

Hell, I didn't think life could throw anything crazier at me. Even if it  did, I'd do everything in my power to ensure she experienced only  happiness, pleasure, and love.

If that was marriage, what did I need a ring for?

"You'll find your relationship isn't simply an agreement between two  people to live in harmony," Dad said. "As a wife, you will comfort,  guide, and support your husband-even when it is hard to trust … and harder  to imagine his commitment. And, as a husband … " Dad paused for just a  moment. "You will have a great responsibility. You must become more than  a man."

I looked up. My father's glance was quick, hardly enough for Bryce or Lindsey to notice.

But I did.

And I seized a breath for whatever was coming.

"You will become a husband to a wife. A lover to a woman. Eventually a  father to a child. And while those things may sound like three separate  duties, you'll find they are one. These responsibilities are what define  a man, and you must demonstrate this honor to the woman you love."

How?

It didn't surprise me that Dad answered. He loved the sound of his own voice, but goddamn, I was glad he talked.

"How do you do this?" Dad smiled, patting their hands. "You love her. Simple as that."