28. Madison
MADISON
T he bridal dressing room is nothing short of breathtaking. The walls are painted a soft ivory with intricate gold trim and massive crystal chandeliers cast a warm glow over every surface around me. A full-length mirror with a gilded frame reflects the room’s elegance, and the plush carpet feels like clouds between my toes. I’ve been in here for what seems like forever helping Mom get ready. She’s finally in the other room, getting her makeup done, so it’s time to finish getting myself dressed.
My light pink, almost silver, silk bridesmaid’s gown clings to my curves in a way that feels both elegant and a little too revealing. The fabric shimmers as I move, catching the light and making me feel like I stepped out of a dream. My long hair is styled in loose waves, the ends dusting the bare expanse of my lower back, exposed by the deep scoop of the gown. My makeup is soft, with flushed cheeks and a hint of shimmer on my eyelids, but my lips are bare because Hayden will be here. I don’t need his grandmother gawking at him because my bright pink lipstick is smeared all over his face.
I glance at myself in the mirror one final time before I walk over to the oversized chair in the corner to put the lid back on the box my dress came in. I glance down and see a white sheet of paper folded over, and there's a hint of ink that has bled through. I assume it’s a note from my mom, thanking me for being in the wedding, but as soon as I flip it open my stomach drops.
Your choice. Who’s next, princess? The words stare up at me. A perfect lipstick print is pressed to the paper in the same shade I almost wore today. A sickening chill crawls up my spine as I process the message. I look around, trying to think of who could have gotten in here. I don’t know if the church was locked up overnight or who may have had access to a key.
“Madison?” my mother calls as she enters the room, and I’m jerked out of my thoughts. “You look disturbed. What’s wrong?”
I blink rapidly, masking my horror with a wide, bright smile. Folding the note quickly in half, I tuck it into the top of my dress, the paper cool against the swell of my breast. “Nothing,” I say, feigning nonchalance. I don’t need her finding out what’s going on or screaming at me for ruining her day. “I was just trying to remember if I turned in an assignment before I left campus.”
My mother rolls her eyes as she adjusts her veil in the mirror, her diamond earrings sparkling like little beacons of disapproval. “This is my wedding day, Madison. The last thing I want to hear about is some assignment. You’re here for me today and that should be your focus.”
“I know,” I say quickly, keeping my tone bright and accommodating. I’m not in the mood to fight with her, not today. She looks stunning in her wedding gown, the intricate lace and satin flowing around her like a queen’s regalia. Her makeup is flawless, her lips painted a daring red, and she’s radiating the kind of joy that makes me happy she’s finally found what she wants in Mr. Lockwood.
She glances at me, her sharp gaze softening slightly. “And Madison,” she adds, her voice dropping to a quieter, more conspiratorial tone. “I know there’s something going on between you and Hayden.”
My stomach twists into a knot.
“Keep it to a minimum in front of the guests. Hayden will walk down the aisle alone and stand next to his father, and you will walk down solo as well,” she continues, smoothing an invisible wrinkle from her gown. “Your stepfather has enough on his plate with the sideshow your stepsister put on with that grotesque sex video that was shown all over town.”
I bite down on my lip to keep from snapping back, but her words sink in and I’m… confused. All over town? Could she be exaggerating, or was that video somehow spread farther than we realized? Kirsten hasn’t said anything about it being shown anywhere else, that I know of anyway. Hayden tunes her out any chance he gets, so I need to ask him if he remembers anything about this.
As if she knows my mother is talking about her, Kirsten strides in, her lips pulled back into a tight smile. She’s definitely here for an argument, which is going to end well for me, I’m sure. I really just need everyone to get down the damn aisle so this fiasco can be over and I can show Hayden the note that’s currently digging into my cleavage.
“There isn’t a bouquet for me.” Kirsten glares at me first, and then her gaze settles on my mother. “I asked the wedding coordinator, and she wouldn’t give me an answer. What’s going on?”
“Kirsten,” my mother begins, and I already know this is going to be the start of a knock down drag out fight if I don’t figure out how to keep everyone calm, “after everything you’ve been through recently, you don’t really want to walk down the aisle with everyone staring at you, do you, dear?”
I glance at Kirsten, and though she doesn’t flinch, her hand tightens around the light pink clutch that matches our dresses. Her face is calm, but I can see she’s not far off from a screaming fit. Kirsten isn’t always the nicest to me, and sometimes her words seem needlessly mean, but right is right. My mother shouldn’t be punishing Kirsten for a private video being leaked without her consent.
“Actually,” I say, stepping forward before Kirsten can reply, “if you’re expecting Mr. Lockwood to treat me like a daughter, you might want to start treating Kirsten like one, too.”
My mother’s eyes narrow, pinning me with that sharp, piercing gaze she’s perfected. Her lips press together so tightly I wonder if they’ll disappear entirely. For a moment, it looks like she’s going to argue, but instead, she sighs and turns back to the mirror, fussing with the lace on her sleeve. “Fine,” she says coldly. “Do what you want.”
I grab my bouquet and hand it to Kirsten, who raises her eyebrows slightly, clearly surprised. “Here,” I say softly. “It’s yours.”
She hesitates for a moment, then takes the bouquet from me, a satisfied smile spreading across her face. I usher her out of the room and down the hall toward the sanctuary where the ceremony will take place.
We stand together, waiting for the signal, and she leans toward me, her voice low. “My father is furious about the video,” she murmurs.
I glance at her, unsure of what to say. I want to ask her if it was shown anywhere else or sent to anyone personally,but before I can respond, she adds bitterly, “He’s more upset about that than the fact you’re fucking my brother.”
The words hit me like a slap, and I flinch despite myself. Her tone isn’t cruel, just blunt, so I decide to let it roll off.
The soft strains of music drift through the hallway, signaling it’s time to start. The chapel is breathtaking. Light spills through the high arched stained-glass windows, casting colorful patterns over the polished wooden pews. Soft white lilies and delicate pink roses line the aisle in cascading arrangements, their subtle perfume mixing with the faint scent of aged wood and the flickering candles lining the altar. Everything is draped in ivory silk, from the ribbons adorning the pews to the flowing fabric draped across the altar. It’s elegant and classic. It looks like Mr. Lockwood gave my mother exactly the sort of wedding she would dream of.
Kirsten’s dress shimmers under the sunlight streaming through the windows. She goes first, holding the bouquet tightly in her hands, her shoulders straight. She beams at the guests already seated in the pews. They’re spread out across all of the rows, but they’re all here for Mr. Lockwood. My mother’s family cut her off when she chose to stay with my father, and honestly, I can’t blame them. Kirsten’s smile is bright, almost defiant. I can’t help but think she’s enjoying proving everyone wrong by sauntering down the aisle instead of hiding away. Mr. Lockwood, already standing at the altar, watches her with a deep frown etched into his face.
Waiting my turn, my eyes instinctively search for Hayden. He should be standing next to his father, but the space where he’s supposed to be is glaringly empty. My chest tightens as I glance around, scanning the room for him. I know Hayden is more than capable of taking care of himself, but I don’t like that I can’t find him.
I’m fidgeting with the skirt of my gown when Hayden appears beside me. I swear the sight of him makes my heart stop for a beat. His charcoal gray suit fits him perfectly, the crisp white shirt underneath highlights the golden tan of his skin. His tie is knotted expertly, and I wonder who he threatened into tying it for him because he hates anything that isn’t a t-shirt or a hoodie.
It’s Hayden’s hair that really gets me. The dark strands are slightly tousled and just long enough to fall into his eyes.
Without thinking about the audience we have, I reach up to push it back, my fingers brushing against his forehead. He smirks, his lips twitching like he’s holding back a witty retort.
It’s his eyes, the way they soften when they meet mine, that make all of my worries disappear for the moment. Speaking of worries, I push up on my tiptoes and whisper, “Got another note.”
Hayden frowns, his brows pulling together as his jaw tightens. I discreetly pretend to adjust the top of my dress and then slip the folded note into his hand. His fingers brush mine as he takes it.
“It was in my dress box,” I explain softly. “Do you think it could’ve been planted days ago?” I look around and then back at Hayden. ”Or maybe they’re here now.”
Hayden’s jaw clenches, and I can see the muscles flex beneath his perfectly sharp cheekbones. I let my gaze trail over him for a moment, taking in the strong lines of his profile. Straight nose pointing to the full lips that have ruined me, and those lashes that Kirsten would kill for. I knew Hayden was handsome the moment I saw him, but standing here next to me, he’s something else entirely. He’s stunning.
I almost forget that I’m next to walk down the aisle. “My turn,” I tell him and take one step forward. Hayden shadows me, offering his arm to me. I look up at him with confusion.
He flexes his arm under my touch as I loop my hand through it, and I feel the strength in his bicep. “Our turn,” he murmurs.
I should tell him this isn’t what our parents want, but he already knows that and doesn’t care. Hayden wants to walk me down the aisle, and that’s exactly what he’s going to do. He leads me forward, and I let him because that’s what I want too.
As we walk down the aisle, Hayden leans closer, his breath tickling the shell of my ear. “This dress makes me want to murder every man in here, in case you were wondering,” he says, his tone low, meant only for me. “I’m not going to be able to keep my hands off of you.”
I can’t help the smile that spreads across my lips. “I missed you,” I whisper back, glancing at him out of the corner of my eye.
His entire face lights up at my admission, and the warmth of his expression makes me forget that there are at least two dozen people watching us. For a moment, it’s just the two of us, and I can feel the last of my walls crumbling down for him.
There’s a softness in Hayden’s voice when he says, “ I missed you more, baby.”
When we reach the end of the aisle, instead of letting me go, Hayden lifts my hand to his lips. His touch is light and reverent as he brushes a kiss over my knuckles. A collective “aww” rises from the seated guests, and heat rushes to my cheeks.
Hayden’s lips curve into a smirk as he releases my hand, his dark eyes never leaving mine as he moves over to stand with his father.
As I step to the side, taking my place next to Kirsten, the wedding march begins and all the guests stand and turn to wait for my mother to appear.
“They should have played the Wicked Witch of the West theme song,” Kirsten says, and she’s not quiet about it. Mr. Lockwood looks like he’s really going through it so I don’t say it out loud, but they really should have.