Chapter 50
THE WORST MAN
REMY
It’s official. Of all the worst-case outcomes I’ve ever envisioned, this one definitely takes the cake. But I’m a planner. A fixer. I’ve got to solve this problem, and that has to start with getting the half-drunk best man out of the way.
With my nerves frayed and my emotions raw, I lift my chin and say to the guy I’m so glad I’m not marrying, “Even if my romance was all fake, you need to go.”
Okay, that’s something. That’s a start. I can keep fixing things for my sister.
But as the sound of shoes clicking down the hallway grows louder, Jameson rolls his eyes. “Yeah, I’ll get out of here. I can’t wait to tell Parker what you were trying to do to me. Bro code.”
He wheels around with his stupid beer still in his hand and runs smack into…the bride.
I gasp as he wobbles, then plants his wing-tipped foot right on the train of my sister’s wedding dress. He tumbles forward, ripping the train off her dress with a loud tear, his beer bottle toppling to the floor with a splash.
My heart craters. Just when you think things can’t get worse, the universe says, Hold my beer so I can fucking spill it on a wedding dress.
“Leave,” I seethe as the commotion in the hallway grows. More footsteps.
Caroline stares down at the beer-stained dress with venom in her eyes. Then, as cool and collected as I’ve ever seen her, she looks up at him and whispers in a deadly voice, “I’m going to do something I should have done a long time ago.”
Her groom appears, pulling up at her side. Parker’s brow is furrowed; he looks pissed. I didn’t know he had any expression on his face besides worship of my sister. He points to the dress, then to Jameson, then the dress again, and he says, “Did you just spill beer on my bride’s wedding dress?”
Lake clears his throat, helpfully adding, “He also ripped the train.”
Parker licks his lips, breathes out hard, then says, “You ruined our wedding and Caroline’s dress. Also, I just watched the whole fucking live stream. What the hell is wrong with you? Get out.”
Jameson whines, “But I’m your best man.”
“No, you’re officially the worst man,” Caroline corrects coolly.
“And I will gladly see you out myself,” Parker says, standing firm.
Lake raises his hand. “I could toss him out for you. I’d be happy to help.”
Parker smiles again. “Thanks. Why don’t you do that? I need to tend to my bride.”
Lake grabs Jameson by the collar of his dress shirt and drags him down the hall as Caroline turns to Parker and says, “Sweetie, I should’ve told you a long time ago—but your best friend is a jerk. Also, that was the hottest thing you’ve ever done.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t do it sooner.”
“I’m sorry I didn’t do it when he broke my sister’s heart,” she says to him, and they’re so loving, so doting, so clearly in love that it makes my heart soar for them but ache a little more for me.
“But now I need to fix this dress, stat,” Caroline says. “Where’s Margot? Fallon? Someone has to—”
I raise my hand. I do have a solution. “I have a dress for you.”