Chapter 6
CHAPTER 6
A NNIE
Walking into the church with fifteen minutes to spare before the start of the five p.m. wedding, I gasp at the elegance before me. Well-placed candles create an ethereal glow and blush-colored roses adorn the front of the church. Romantic music flows from the piano.
Spotting Janie, I make my way to her and scoot down the wooden pew into the spot she’s saved for me. I’m feeling self-conscious that I let her talk me into the short, emerald-green dress with the sweetheart neckline and off the shoulder sleeves.
Janie looks up at me. “Holy shit! You look hot, Annie.” she whispers.
I roll my eyes, but she secretly makes me feel better. It’s not that the dress is too revealing, especially compared to some of the more risqué ones I’m noticing as I check out the crowd. It just shows more cleavage than I’m used to having on display. I mean, I pretty much live either in scrubs, a T-shirt and running shorts, or sweatpants ninety percent of my life, so it’s easy for any dress to seem more revealing .
Though I’ve told myself not to—and that I don’t care—I catch myself scanning to see if Jack is here. Hmm, the wedding is about to start and he’s not here yet. Maybe he’s just coming for the reception.
The piano music, while still soft, becomes more pronounced, and I turn back toward the front of the church. I’m pretty sure my jaw drops when Teddy and the groomsmen walk in through a door off to the side of the altar and Jack is the best man. Just when I didn’t think he could get any hotter, he proves me wrong in a tux that makes me want to— Stop! You’re here for a wedding, not to lust after Jack.
Maybe Janie’s right and I need to get some action to get this man out of my head. This is not like me. Even with Jason, it took three months before I considered going out with him. I met Jack what, a little less than a month ago? I decide then and there that, should the opportunity arise tonight, I’m going to get this man out of my brain.
I’m pulled from my thoughts when the piano stops and a string quartet plays a beautiful rendition of Beethoven’s Ode to Joy . The bridal party comes down the aisle.
The bridesmaids all look so gorgeous in strapless, long, flowing black gowns as they make their way to the front of the church. Next, an adorable ring bearer, maybe four or five years old, comes down in a darling little tuxedo and plants himself in front of Jack.
When the music changes to the Wedding March , we all stand. Emily, looking so amazingly stunning in a fitted ivory lace gown, makes her way down the aisle, accompanied by… Fitz.
Well, that’s unexpected.
I mean, we haven’t really talked much about the wedding at the few book clubs I’ve attended, but I guess I’m surprised I didn’t know Fitz would be the one walking her down the aisle. It makes me wonder if Emily has also lost her father and it chokes me up for a second, remembering how I felt planning my almost-wedding, knowing my dad wouldn’t be there.
As Emily arrives at the front, I turn to face fully forward, wiping tears from my eyes. When I look up, I’m met with the probing gaze of Jack’s familiar gray eyes, and he almost looks concerned. I compose myself and give him a shy smile, which he returns with a beaming one of his own and a… wink. A wink that makes me feel tingly in areas of my body I have no business feeling tingles in while I’m in a church.
JACK
It’s only a few minutes before we need to head out into the church, and I’m straightening Ted’s bowtie for him. “How are you feeling, buddy? Nervous? Excited? Both?” I ask him.
“No, Jacky, no nerves at all. You know I’ve loved Emily since we were practically kids. I’m not sure either of us thought we’d make it here after some of the stuff I pulled. But, now that we are, I’m just excited.” He beams.
“I’m so proud of you, Teddy.” I need to pause and clear my throat because, damn, I think I actually might cry. “You’ve overcome so much and have never had an easy go of it, but you face every day with joy, and I know you’ll be a good husband to Em. It’s an honor to be your best friend, man.”
“Well shit, Jack. Now you’re gonna make me look like a crybaby, too,” he teases, wiping his eyes. “Seriously, though, I’m only here because you’re the kind of best friend who never let me give up. I owe you so much.”
“Bullshit. I was just along for the ride. You’ve done the hard work,” I say before pulling him in for a hug.
When we make our way out to the front of the church, I scour the crowd looking for Annie. I don’t see her, though, until she stands when Emily walks down the aisle. Shit, I know I should focus on watching the bride, but I can’t take my eyes off Annie. The way she looks in that green dress, with her auburn curls flowing loosely down onto her ivory shoulders and her mesmerizing eyes—it all has me suddenly growing hard. What the fuck ? Thank God everyone else is watching Emily, or I’d be really humiliated right now. I discreetly put my hands in front of me to camouflage my… situation.
Still not able to stop looking at Annie, I notice she seems to be crying—and not that normal crying some women do watching a bride come down the aisle. She almost looks… sad. When she catches me looking her, she gives me a sweet smile. Excited, I can’t keep from smiling back and then I wink at her. Christ, what is wrong with me? Read the room, Jack. Why the hell am I flirting with a woman in the middle of a wedding right after she’s been crying ?
Man, Annie Brooks has majorly thrown me off my game.