Chapter 3 #2
Not once does he look back to see if Jamie follows.
“Now, I could bore you with all the ideas we’ve thought about for your big day,” Jordan is saying, flashing a brilliant grin across the table at Amy and Sam.
This he knows how to do. He’s witnessed Uncle Kenny performing for clients. Has seen Kami and Eric turn doubtful expressions into genuine enthusiasm. Even Denz had an undeniable charm about himself that won everyone over. Jordan knows he’s just as good.
It’s time to prove it.
“But I want to know your vision,” he continues. “How can I make your day the kind of memory you look back on for the next ten, twenty, fifty years?”
They’re all seated around the expansive conference room table. Typically, Jordan conducts business with clients in one of the private meeting rooms. It’s a little more intimate. But this group is too big for that. Especially with the addition of Jamie.
Jordan intentionally picked the chair farthest from him.
He can’t afford any more distractions. Or possible head injuries.
Amy says, “Well—”
“We want something big but practical,” Sam cuts in. He smiles at Amy, resting his hand on top of hers. “Romantic too.”
A blush darkens Amy’s cheeks.
Sam turns to Jordan. “But we don’t have much time.”
Jordan taps his iPad awake. “How soon are we thinking?”
“Last weekend in August.”
Adding a note to his screen, Jordan nods. Kami forewarned him about the condensed timeline.
In the past, 24 Carter Gold had at least six months to plan one of their extravagant, front-page-worthy weddings. Sometimes a year. Jordan’s not intimidated by this new challenge. He thrives under pressure.
Scoring the game-winning three-pointer with four seconds on the clock while having the flu? That’s stressful.
Pulling off a wedding in three months? Easy.
“We can make that happen,” he assures them.
“You can?” Amy asks, shocked.
He grins again. “If that’s what you need, then yes.”
“We do,” Tom asserts. He reclines in his chair, hands folded behind his head. “It’s the only time all of our schedules align.”
“Dad finally got wrangled into directing a Marvel movie,” Sam says proudly.
Jordan cheats a glance at Kami. She smiles widely. He can tell she’s dying inside.
“I only agreed if I could make it a family affair,” Tom clarifies. “Sam’s coming on as a script supervisor.”
“He went to Emory for screenwriting,” Lydia boasts, as if that wasn’t already a major bullet point on Jordan’s fact sheet.
Beaming, Jordan plays along. He wiggles a finger between Sam and Amy. “Where you two met, right?”
“It was love at first used-book purchase,” Sam tells him.
“I worked at the campus bookstore,” Amy clarifies. Her eyes soften while looking at Sam.
Jordan’s own gaze almost strays to Jamie. Just to see his expression. He fights the urge.
“We start shooting the first week in September,” Tom says. “Six months in London.”
“Late August is also the only time Wyatt will be stateside,” Lydia mentions.
“Your older brother?” Jordan says to Sam.
On cue, he nods. “Wyatt’s in the navy.”
“He’ll be Sam’s best man,” Lydia cheers.
“More like brother of honor, right?” Jordan jokes.
Amy giggles while Sam smirks. His parents, however, are stone-faced. Openly unamused by Jordan’s humor.
This time, Jordan does allow his eyes to flit in Jamie’s direction. He mouths, See? Ellen funny.
Jordan makes another note: Ban all best men from meetings!
“You’re sure this won’t be a problem for your company?” Tom rubs his gray beard. “Budget isn’t an issue for us. Whatever these two want, I’ll pay for. But we need to know you won’t back out on us. Like that rigid Something Blue Enterprises did when the timeline changed.”
Lydia forces out a smile. “Tom, sweetheart, we agreed not to badmouth them.”
“You’re right. I’m sorry,” Tom says, sounding anything but.
Jordan wonders how many one-starred, scathing reviews Tom has left on Google. And if Jordan fucks this up, will 24 Carter Gold be next?
“I assure you, Mr. McClintock, we’re all in,” Kami says, her tone amiable. “Jordan’s prepared to make this the wedding your hearts are set on.”
Jordan sits taller, his chest puffed. He turns his attention to Amy. “And your family?”
Her smile slips. “My parents are in Seoul. For … business. They’ll be back for the wedding.”
Jordan waits for her to elaborate.
She doesn’t.
Instead, Jamie wraps an arm around her stiff shoulders. “Don’t worry,” he says. “She has me until then.”
The sparkle returns to Amy’s face. “This goofball’s been a big help. He’ll be around for every part of the process.”
“E-every part?” Jordan stammers. Jamie’s eyebrows dance up his forehead. “I mean, he will! Of course.” Jordan taps at his iPad for something to do other than watch Jamie’s dumb, handsome face. “Your fiancé and best man. Helping with decisions. All the time. Sounds amazing.”
The room is eerily quiet.
Eventually, Kami clears her throat. “We deeply appreciate you for bringing us all together, Jamie.”
“Couldn’t think of a better place to make this dream a reality,” Jamie replies.
His gaze fixes on Jordan.
Jordan pointedly looks away. “Let’s talk details. What do you need?”
“Everything,” Sam says, exasperated.
“Except the dress!” Lydia chimes. “Amy’s parents have already chosen a lovely gown.”
By the continued dip of Amy’s mouth, lovely is the last word she’s thinking of.
Jordan scribbles more notes on his iPad. “How many guests are we planning for?”
“At least two hundred,” Tom answers.
“Two hundred,” Jordan repeats.
It’s not unexpected. Jordan imagines Tom has lots of Hollywood types he wants in attendance, on top of any friends and acquaintances Sam and Amy invite. But there’s another subtle change in Amy’s face that Jordan clocks.
She blinks it away. Happy, smiley Amy returns. “We need a florist. Catering. A baker. Vendors and a venue. A DJ—”
“Live band, preferably,” Lydia interrupts. “Or an orchestra!”
“Don’t forget the engagement dinner,” Tom puts in.
“Oh, yes!” Lydia’s hair swishes as she claps. “Because we had to move everything up, these two never got to have a proper engagement party.”
She looks fondly to Sam, then Amy. They return the look: Sam’s is natural; Amy’s is a little more practiced. Lydia doesn’t seem to notice the difference.
“We’d love it if you planned a dinner to celebrate them,” she continues. “Separate from the rehearsal dinner.”
“Keep it simple,” Tom instructs. “Close friends only.”
“Late July,” Lydia tacks on.
Jordan jots as they talk. He stares down at his checklist. It’s … long. A year-in-the-making long. Like, three months might be a stretch long.
“Whatever you can do,” Amy says softly, “would mean the world to us.”
Jordan’s gaze lifts. He studies the gentleness outlining her face. The pale pink blush on her cheeks. Sam’s hand tightens around hers. A giant diamond engagement ring twinkles under the conference room’s lights.
That’s all it takes. Jordan sees the vision:
Amy and Sam on the cover of Southern Bride. A spread in People. Their first kiss and first dance and every moment in between splashed all over social media. 24 Carter Gold mentioned in every write-up. The company on top again.
Jordan, the star behind the scenes.
Then his eyes drift to Amy’s left.
To Jamie. Suddenly, Jordan sees something different:
Laughter lines etched around a grinning pink mouth as they sit shoulder to shoulder at an NBA game. Jordan explaining the rules to a confused Jamie.
Next, a sticky bar separating them. Jordan watching as Jamie messes up cocktail after cocktail, breathless from cackling.
Late night, a cozy diner in the middle of February, their knees bumping.
Fireworks on the Fourth of July, their eyes meeting.
December, cold biting at their ears. Jamie’s pink nose and cheeks. Jordan huddled close for warmth, hot chocolate between his hands.
His mouth inches from Jamie’s.
I don’t want to ruin our friendship.
You’re still figuring yourself out and I—I don’t think I’m the right person for that.
All those visions of Sam and Amy’s wedding fade like smoke. A bonfire snuffed out. In their place, Jamie pulls away right before Jordan can kiss him.
Jamie rejects him with a frown and a pleading stare.
Jamie, Jamie, Jamie.
“We’ll get right on top of everything,” Kami says.
Jordan blinks. Back in the conference room.
When Kami stands, the others join her. Jordan does too, eventually. His knees are wobbly, and that earlier nausea has returned.
Throwing up on a brand-new, high-profile client probably wouldn’t go over well.
“I’m sure Jordan can’t wait to share his ideas with you,” Kami tells the McClintocks.
He nods robotically.
“Thank you so much,” Amy says with more enthusiasm than Jordan’s prepared for.
“No. Thank you for choosing us,” Kami says. “We won’t disappoint you.”
“I know you won’t,” Jamie announces. He gives Jordan another indecipherable look. Like he wants to say something else.
Luckily, he doesn’t.
“We look forward to hearing more of your ideas, Mr. Carter,” Lydia says. She grabs Tom’s hand, leading him out the door.
Sam guides Amy after his parents.
Jamie lingers. Again, his focus falls on Jordan. The way it used to when it was only them. Hanging out. Being friends … nothing else.
After a second, Jamie turns to Kami. “I really appreciate this.”
“Don’t thank me.” She elbows Jordan’s ribs. “He’s the one that’s gonna make it all happen.”
Jamie grins evenly. There’s a small cautiousness behind it.
“Thanks, Jordan.”
It comes out so genuine. Like everything about Jamie.
“You’re welcome,” Jordan whispers long after the door closes.
He’s not sure why he bothered saying it at all. Jamie shouldn’t be thanking him. Jordan doesn’t deserve it.
Because there’s no way in hell he’s planning this wedding.