Alice Taylor Is More Than A Princess (Another Bailey Brother #5)

1. Alice

1

Alice

T aylor Swift was right. I am not that kind of girl. I should not be rudely barging in or interrupting this white veil and overly pastel occasion. I’m not that girl.

No. I. Am. Not.

Or maybe I am.

Because here we are…

I stand between bridesmaid number one and bridesmaid number three at the head of this church. I am in more lavender frills than anyone in history has ever worn before. It’s certainly more than I’ve ever worn—and that’s saying something. There was a time in my life when I wore a dress every day, ninety percent of them pink and purple. Sure, I was a small child, but this dress, with its miles of tulle and lacy bodice, beats all those frilly things.

Father Berks stands three people away from me, and the bride just two. Do any of them notice me attempting not to hyperventilate? Nope. They do not. Does the congregation? I don’t think so.

Everyone is so focused on the bride, on the groom. As they should be.

Amanda certainly didn’t notice when I walked in on her making out with Daniel’s best man two seconds before they sent me down the aisle with groomsman number two.

Hey Alice from one month ago—remember when your old friend Amanda, the one that you hadn’t seen in years, called you up out of the blue and reminded you of that wedding invite she sent you? Remember how she explained that one of her bridesmaids decided to go and break a leg? Remember how she said, I need another bridesmaid to keep the numbers even. Will you do it? Remember how you thought that was crazy since the two of you have only been social media buddies since graduation, but she insisted that back in high school you were friends with her and Dan? Remember how you decided to help the girl out?

Remember that? Well, you were wrong, Alice!

My cheeks are puffed with pent-up air. I realize I’ve been holding my breath through my entire inner lecture. I exhale and earn myself a look from Bridesmaid Number Three.

Can I do this? Like actually do what needs to be done? Amanda’s my friend. Or at least, she once was. But then Daniel is too. And while the timing of my walking in and seeing what I saw is very inconvenient, I don’t see how I can ignore it.

I have no other choice. Right? No man—not even Daniel, who gave in to every little thing Amanda wanted in high school, deserves to be treated so badly.

I peer out into the crowd. Most stare at the blushing bride and glowing groom, except for my mom—my stepmom, actually. Coco. She is looking at me, brows cinched. She knows me as well as any mother knows any daughter, and she can tell that nothing in my world is right in this moment.

I send Coco wide eyes. Do they say I caught Amanda kissing a groomsman five minutes ago and now I have to perform the scariest task of my life? I’m not sure. But I have to do this. Taylor Swift demands that I Speak Now . More than that, my conscience demands it.

My ears ring and my heart pounds. Father Berks stands, ready to begin his speech. Amanda wanted the most ancient and traditional of marital sermons known to man. Which means… that call for an objection, it’s coming.

My Speak Now moment.

Also, the moment I tarnish my reputation and lose a few friends—all in front of my community and my family. My parents and uncles just had to come to see me in a wedding.

“We’re gathered as family, as friends, as loved ones to support and celebrate Amanda and Daniel today.” Father Berks smiles at the pair, and my stomach rolls.

A quiet groan escapes my lips, and the bridesmaid at my left, Bridesmaid Number One, Amanda’s college roommate, turns her head to glance at me.

Still, the Father continues. “These are the people who love you,” he says. Geez, Berks, you’re really making this hard on me. “These are the ones you will turn to when life is hard. Each person in this room is someone you can depend on. With that”—he gives a half chuckle, and I’m pretty sure I’m about to have a twenty-six-year-old heart attack, right here, right now. Father Berks will have to perform a mighty miracle just to revive me—“if anyone knows of any reason why these two people should not be wed in holy matrimony, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

With the strength of a mother panda carrying her scattering cubs across a busy highway, I slowly raise my right hand until it’s level with my sight.

“Allie?” Bridesmaid Number Three hisses beneath her breath.

With my hand still raised, I quietly mutter back, “It’s Alice.”

Still, Father Berks doesn’t see me. He doesn’t hear us. Come on! Help a girl out. “Now,” he says.

I clear my throat loudly—so much that it echoes in this hall—and lift my hand a little higher. I eye the Father and give him a small wave, making sure my objection is not missed a second time.

With so many eyes on me , Amanda swivels her gaze, stopping on me. “Alice,” she whispers. “What are you doing?”

I peek around Bridesmaid Number One, past the glaring bride and confused officiator to Daniel , Amanda’s groom and my old high school friend. “Hi, Dan,” I say to the man I haven’t said more than ten words to in the last seven years. “Are you sure about this… union ?” I swallow and peek out at the hundreds of seated guests and their eyeballs boring into me. There’s Mom, Dad, Uncle Miles, and Uncle Cooper. Uncle Levi and Uncle Owen are here, too—somewhere. I scan through the crowd for my uncles but find another old friend, Zoe. She’s changed. I haven’t seen her since high school, but that’s her. And next to her—wow—a broad-shouldered looker with a smirk on his face. I don’t recognize him, but like everyone else in this room, that handsome face is staring at me.

I swallow, my pulse thrumming. Yeah … I’ll search for my uncles after I’m finished ruining Amanda’s wedding.

Daniel studies me. We were once friends. I channel that history and will him to read my mind. I sweep my gaze from Amanda to Groomsman Number One and back again. My eyes fix on the two. Get out while you can, Dan! I project the words through the air and into Daniel’s head.

Daniel’s brow furrows, and he slides his gaze to his bride. “Amanda?” he says, but his tone is questioning. My message isn’t getting through. Come on, Dan…

Amanda gives her groom an innocent gaping stare. It’s impressive. It’s also a lie. She shrugs her bare shoulders. “I have no idea.” Those long, fake lashes blink my way as if she’s not a guilty cheater. “Alice?”

The tulle in this dress is officially suffocating me. I clear my throat in the silent hall. I glance out at the crowd, and there’s Owen. His eyes are on me, intent and kind. My uncle smiles, and it gives me the courage I need.

“Miss?” Father Berks says. “Do you have a legitimate legal issue with this union?”

“Uhh,” I say, and my voice is too loud and acoustic in this hall. The sound is traveling all the way to the back row. I keep my eyes on Father Berks and say, “I have a moral issue.”

A dramatic cry sounds from the crowd, and I wonder if Amanda’s mother has fainted.

“Alice Taylor,” Amanda mutters, her teeth grinding together. “I knew I shouldn’t have asked you to be a bridesmaid.”

I clench my jaw, ignore her jab, and keep my eyes on the groom. “ Daniel , I think Amanda has something to tell you.” I tilt my head Amanda’s way, trying and failing to keep my voice from traveling.

Growling, Amanda snatches a dumbfounded Dan by the hand and pulls him to the side of the church. Their whispers filter through the space, but I can’t make out a single word.

The priest pulls out a handkerchief and dabs at his forehead. My skin itches beneath the yards and yards of purple tulle attempting to choke me. So much fabric for one dress. I’m going to die of heat, or itchiness, or possibly from Amanda’s garter tied around my throat.

Minutes pass, and I might as well have a heat lamp shining down on me. Yep, the crowd’s eyes have turned into lasers swiveling from the bride and groom’s huddle to me. Then back again.

“Allie,” Bridesmaid Three whispers beside me. “I can’t believe you’d do this.”

I realize there are more important things to worry about, but it’s my instinct to correct her. “Alice,” I say before snapping my mouth shut. The single word catches in my dry throat. I can’t say any more. Number Three may not understand, but I had to do something. Taylor gets it.

Amanda and Daniel return from their huddle, and Father Berks eyes them over. I’m eyeing them too. Why isn’t Daniel running for the exit? He was a 4.0 student—surely he can solve this puzzle.

The couple stands in front of the priest as if everything is fine. As if having your wedding being objected to and huddling up in the middle of the ceremony is an everyday occurrence.

“Are we ready to continue?” Father Berks asks.

The couple nods—both of them! Even dumb ol’ Dan. Clearly, he’s not as bright as I once thought he was. None of my subtle signs to save the man have made it through his thick skull.

“Umm…” I can’t help it—I raise my hand once more. Because Dan still needs saving.

There’s a groan from the crowd, and somewhere out there, some member of the audience mutters, “Oh, Alice.” I’m guessing that audience member belongs to my family. I’m guessing they aren’t thrilled with my actions. But I don’t have time to care. Amanda and Dumb Dan are about to get hitched.

“Just making sure that we’re actually ready to continue?”

“Yes, Alice!” Amanda spits my name as if something rancid has filled her mouth. But I’m innocent here. She’s the guilty one. She should be saying her own name that way.

My eyes drag over to Daniel. Sweat beads on his forehead. I lift my brows, silently asking: Really? Still?

That clueless man nods. “Yes,” he says to Father Berks.

“And she told you?” I whisper. “You know…” Not wanting to say out loud in this echoing hall and in front of a priest that I caught Amanda and Groomsman Number One getting it on before I was summoned down the aisle, I lift my hand, fist it into a ball, and kiss the side of it. When Dan says nothing—I kiss a little more passionately.

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” The acoustics in this hall make sure that every word muttered is heard by all, and that was definitely my younger brother. But what does York know? He’s seventeen.

Daniel cinches his brows skeptically, but he doesn’t motion to leave. He has no follow-up questions.

“Miss—” Father Berks says.

“Alice,” I tell him.

“Alice.” He gives me a tentative smile. “Would you like to sit in the audience, or maybe leave ?—”

“Oh.” I swallow, my head hot. I’m going to die at this altar covered in tulle and sweat. Gosh dang it, Taylor. This was supposed to work. “So, we’re proceeding, then? We’re one hundred percent sure about this?” I keep my eyes on Daniel, sending him all the ESP I can, but he only stares back at me like I’m the one in the wrong. Haven’t I made myself clear? I made out with my fist. Does it get any clearer than that?

Father Berks motions to the audience, inviting me to sit with them again.

But won’t moving only draw more attention to myself? “I’m fine right here.”

I glance back at the crowd. Coco’s stress wrinkles are working overtime. Dad’s eyes are full of concern. My nineteen-year-old sister, Lula, might be smothering a laugh while York is hiding his head in his hands.

I don’t search for my uncles again. I don’t need any more anxious glances. I breathe and think.

Okay, Taylor, what now?