Chapter 29
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
Jason
“She wouldn’t even let me see the dress,” I complain to Bouchard as we drive to the Arboretum. Hailey had said she didn’t care where we got married, but I saw the way her face lit up when she saw this place. So I booked it immediately.
He shrugs, totally unbothered. “Isn’t it bad luck, though? That makes sense, after all.”
“Well, normally, sure, but …”
When he doesn’t immediately say anything, I glance at him to find him looking at me, eyebrow quirked. “But?” he prompts.
I shift in my seat, drumming my thumbs on the steering wheel. “But it’s not like that.”
“Are you sure? It’s not like you don’t believe in luck, Mr. I Won’t Wash My Socks If We’re On A Winning Streak.”
“Hmm. Do you think I should’ve reworn the socks from the day I convinced her to move here? Or the day she said yes?”
“No. God. That’s gross, man. She’s not gonna want anything to do with you if you show up to your wedding wearing stinky socks.”
I grin, happy to have gotten him off the subject of how and why my marriage is different. I’ve explained everything to him before. If he chooses not to believe the truth, then … I don’t have to humor his delusions.
“I still think you should’ve let me do more for your bachelor party,” he grumbles.
Shaking my head, I take the next turn. “Taking me out for steak and whisky was plenty.”
“We could’ve invited more people.”
“Nah. I didn’t want a big thing with tons of people. Did Maggie tell you anything about last night with Hailey?”
“Not really. She said they had fun, though.”
“Hailey said they went to a show.” She’d stayed the night at Maggie’s so Maggie could help her get ready today. I’m a little surprised at how quickly Hailey seems to have bonded with her, but I’m not upset. It’s good she has a friend here.
I drum my thumbs on the steering wheel again as we get closer, slowing down to look for parking.
“Nervous?” Bouchard asks.
“Nah.” He laughs at my too-quick response, and I grin. “Okay, fine. Maybe a little. Wouldn’t you be?”
“If I were having a shotgun wedding that I barely told anyone about? Yeah, man. I would be. I’m still not sure what the big rush is.”
“It’s just … I’ll feel better if—”
“Insurance. Yeah. I know.” He waits until I pull into a parking spot to continue. “But she’s already recovered from the bronchitis or whatever she had. She doesn’t need ongoing medical treatment for anything, does she?”
I shake my head.
“And you paid for the doctor’s bills when she was sick already …”
He’s leading me to a place where I admit this doesn’t make much sense, and maybe it doesn’t, but I don’t care. “It means she lets me take care of her without fighting me every step of the way.”
“You sure about that?”
“Pretty sure.”
“Only pretty sure?”
“I’m sure this is the right choice,” I say definitively.
He studies my face a moment longer, then shakes his head. “Okay, man. Let’s get you hitched.”
“You have the rings?” I confirm. He and I went ring shopping while Hailey and Maggie went dress shopping a few days ago.
They’re nothing too fancy, just simple gold bands.
Hailey’s is more slender than mine, and they both have diamond chips in them, so they’re prettier than just plain gold, but it’s low profile enough that it shouldn’t get in her way while she’s playing.
I’m not sure if, or how, rings would affect that, so I figured something small would be best. And if she wants something flashier later on, I can handle that.
But Hailey’s not a very flashy person, so I doubt she’ll want that.
Bouchard and I both pull our suit jackets out of the back seat, where we’ve carefully laid them so they don’t get wrinkled or mussed. After putting mine on, he steps over and straightens the boutonniere pinned to my lapel, eyeing me critically.
“Do I pass inspection?”
“You’ll do,” he mutters with a nod.
Chuckling, I shake my head. “Thanks. You ready to perform your first wedding ceremony?”
That makes him grin. “Absolutely. I’ve been practicing.”
“Just … nothing too mushy. Or stupid.”
He laughs. “Would I do something like that?”
Giving him serious side-eye as we walk, I nod. “One hundred percent, you would.”
“Yo!” calls a familiar voice behind us, and I turn to see Dozer jogging toward us, his girlfriend Marissa walking more sedately behind him. We pause and wait for her to catch up before continuing to the place overlooking the stream where Hailey and I are going to get married.
Frowning, Marissa looks around. “What are y’all doing for music?”
I shrug. “Nothing.”
Her frown deepens, and she turns the full force of it on me. “You’re marrying a musician, and you didn’t arrange music?”
“Well,” I splutter, “it’s not like she could play at her own wedding, is it? And she just moved here. She doesn’t have connections.”
Marissa rolls her eyes. “You could’ve asked around. Or asked me. I would’ve helped.”
My brows crimp together, and Dozer fills me in. “Her sister’s a violinist too. She might’ve been willing to step in for something like this.” He glances at Marissa, who nods. “And if she couldn’t, she’d probably know someone who could’ve.”
“Oh.” Now I feel like an ass.
Her face buried in her phone, she taps and taps. “Do you know what kind of music she likes?”
“Uh …” I cast around, feeling stupid and hopeless. “Pretty kind?”
Marissa rolls her eyes at me. “Okay. Well. Hopefully this’ll be good enough.
” Then she glances back up the path, eyes narrowed, before turning to Dozer and saying, “Actually, I’m going to head back to the parking area and watch for her and Maggie.
I’ll let her pick something from my phone, then I’ll come ahead to play the music while she walks in.
She’d probably prefer live music, but something’s better than nothing, after all. ”
“I have those Bluetooth speakers in the trunk.” Dozer hands her the keys. “Grab those. They’ll be better than your phone.”
She brightens at that and gives him a quick kiss. “Good thinking. You’re the best.” Narrowing her eyes, she looks at me. “You could learn a thing or two here.” She points between Dozer and me. “Pay attention.”
“Yes, ma’am,” I mumble, and Dozer and Bouchard both laugh as Marissa walks back up the path.
“This is crazy, man,” Dozer says quietly as we all stand around, waiting.
“What, exactly, is crazy?” I ask, putting a little edge to my words. If he thinks me getting married is so crazy …
“Just that you’re the first of the three of us to get married.
I didn’t even know you were seeing anyone, and all of a sudden, you’re calling me up and telling me you need me to come to your wedding and sign the marriage certificate as a witness.
It’s just wild, that’s all. Feels kinda … outta nowhere.”
I grunt at that.
“He’s got a point,” Bouchard chimes in. “I figured Dozer’d be the first of the three of us to get married.”
“That’s what I’m saying!” Dozer exclaims.
“Oh? You planning to propose?” I ask, happy for the diversion they both set up so nicely. I’m not sure if Bouchard did that on purpose or not, but I’ll take it regardless.
He rubs his nose, then scratches the back of his head. “I mean, not, like, immediately. But we’ve been talking a little about the future.”
“I can do your ceremony,” Bouchard offers, looking like a little kid asking for a cookie.
“I’ve got the whole thing down. I brought notes just in case, but I don’t think I’ll need them.
” He pulls a couple of index cards out of his jacket pocket and holds them up as evidence.
“I’ve been practicing. Right, Chalmers? What’m I asking you for, you don’t know.
Ask Maggie when she gets here. She’ll vouch for me. I’m gonna kill it. Just watch.”
Dozer looks him over like he’s not sure he believes him, eyes narrowed a little. “We’ll see how today goes. Consider this your audition.”
Bouchard scoffs. “You’d be lucky to have me doing your wedding. Besides, Marissa’s the one who’ll decide. She’s the one I’ll need to impress.” He points at Dozer. “And you better make sure you handle the music. You saw how she was about this time. Imagine how she’ll be for her own wedding.”
“You heard her. Her sister’s a violinist. I’m sure we can get the music handled.”
Bouchard scoffs again. “You expect her sister to play at her wedding? You don’t think she’ll want her as, I dunno, a bridesmaid or something?”
Dozer’s brows pull together as he thinks about this. “That’s a good point.”
“Ya think?” Bouchard pokes, shaking his head. I don’t bother hiding my grin at their antics.
“Well, regardless,” Dozer says after a moment. “I’m sure she’ll know people she can recommend for us.”
“Probably true.”
“They’re coming,” Marissa calls as she appears at the top of the rise leading down to the stream here. “Get yourselves organized.”
I look at Bouchard, who looks back at me, equally confused.
With a sigh, Marissa marches closer. Grabbing Bouchard by the sleeve, she tows him between a pair of trees and directs him where to stand.
Then she beckons me over and positions me to Bouchard’s left, standing a little in front of him.
“You guys are hopeless,” she mutters. “Did you not do a rehearsal?”
I shrug. “No. Bouchard said he practiced his part.”
“Well, at least that’s something,” she says. She moves off to the side of the pathway, and that’s when I realize she’s set us up right at the end. “Dozer, get out your phone. I’ve just decided you’re the photographer.”
“I thought I was the witness,” he grouses, though he does as she asks.
“You are. And you’re also documenting the day.
This bonehead,” she hitches her thumb in my direction, “didn’t hire a photographer.
I’d do it, but I’m going to be playing the music.
” She pulls a black cylinder out of her purse, holding it while she messes with her phone.
Music starts playing and turns off again just as quickly.
“So that means you take photos because Bouchard’s performing the ceremony, Chalmers is the one getting married, and Maggie’s helping Hailey. ”
“Okay, okay,” he says, like he wouldn’t do what she asked anyway.
“Shh! There’s Maggie.”
Grinning, Maggie hustles down the path, veering off to stand next to Marissa, who taps on her phone. Music starts playing from what I now realize is the Bluetooth speaker she was messing with a second ago, and I look up to where Hailey appears at the top of the rise.
Her hair falls around her shoulders, part of it swept back away from her face, the rest curled at the ends.
Her dress is gorgeous—white and fitted on top with layers of flowy fabric on the skirt that ends a little below her knees.
In her hands, she holds a small bouquet of pink roses that match the one pinned to my lapel.
She stands for a moment, meeting my eyes and smiling nervously.
My breath catches, and I have to give myself a mental shake.
This is just so she can have insurance, I remind myself, even if it suddenly feels very, very real.
I give her a reassuring smile, and she begins slowly walking down the path.
This is … actually really perfect. As tiny and last minute as it all is, I couldn’t have asked for anything better.
The day is overcast, but not too cool. The sound of the stream behind me mingles with the strains of classical music playing from the little speaker in Marissa’s hand.
I suppose a few more guests wouldn’t hurt—maybe my parents—but the ones that are here are making sure that everything goes exactly how it should, from Maggie helping Hailey find a dress and the flowers to Bouchard jumping in to perform the ceremony, to Marissa and Dozer providing music and photography on the spot.
These are the guys I know I can count on the most, and I’m glad that I have them by my side on today of all days. The only one who’s missing, the one who I wish could be here, is Hunter. But I’ve gotten used to that ache over the years.
But at least I can keep my promise to him now.
“You’re a lucky man,” Bouchard whispers from behind me. “She can’t take her eyes off you.”
I nod. It’s mutual. I can’t tear my eyes from her either. Hailey, my gorgeous bride.