2. Chapter 2
Harlow
Grayson isn’t driving fast enough. Josh is going to lose his shit that I’m late. I have like a million and a half texts from him. I guess that’s what I get for leaving my phone in the guest room.
Unplug and enjoy the night with Gray, self.
Don’t be distracted with your phone, self.
Ugh.
“Drive faster.”
Grayson glances at me, his dark brown eyes assessing. “I’m not gonna drive any faster. I’m already going five over. We’ll get there when we get there, and Josh—”
The unspoken Josh will get over it lingers. He doesn’t need to say the words for me to hear them. I know Gray as well as I know myself. I can finish his sentences.
He doesn’t like Josh. Josh doesn’t really like him either, but that was something I put my foot down on way early on. I’m not giving up my best friend in the entire world because some guy is jealous.
Some guy. Listen to yourself. That guy is almost your husband.
We finally pull into the venue, and I nearly jump out of the car before it even stops moving.
“Jesus, Harlow.”
I wave back at Grayson without even sparing him a glance. I feel bad, but I really can’t be any later than I already am.
Stumbling through the doors of the venue, I run directly into Josh. His hands come up to grip my biceps, and I tilt my head back to look at him. “Oh, hey, you made it.” He smiles, but it doesn’t quite reach his eyes. “I was starting to think you weren’t gonna come.”
For some reason that makes a nervous laugh bubble up in my chest. “I’m sorry. Gray and I watched scary movies and fell asleep on the couch. I left my phone in the room.”
He raises an eyebrow. “Together?”
“What?”
Cocking his head, his lips turn down. “You fell asleep together?”
I nod. “On the couch, yeah. Anyway,” I ramble on. “I left my phone in the room and didn’t hear my alarms. Gray woke me up and told me it was time to go.”
Josh’s green eyes dart all over my face before he finally sighs and drops my arms. “It’s okay. We have plenty of time.”
That’s what Grayson said too, and he’s not wrong. It’s not like Josh—or rather his parents—didn’t pay for everything to be handled for us. I wouldn’t be surprised if there was someone hiding out to dress me so I wouldn’t have to do it myself.
“I brought all your hair supplies. I noticed this morning you didn’t have them, so I made sure to grab them,” Josh says with an indulgent grin.
My hand comes up on instinct, trying to flatten the wild waves. It’s not going to do me any good, and I know that. The only thing that will is copious amounts of hair products, and even then… Well, anyone with wavy or curly hair already knows it does what it wants.
“Thank you,” I mumble. “And then what do we do?”
“And then we get ready for the day.” Josh leans in, pressing a quick kiss to my lips. “You’ve got your bottom lip all torn up.”
“I know.”
Gray is always on my ass about not chewing on it. Can’t help it. It used to be my nails too, but I made a deal with myself last year that I’d stop biting them. I glance down at my hands. My nails are perfect, and my cuticles are in great shape. Guess I just fuck up my lip more now.
Win some, lose some, I guess.
Anywho. “Alright, I’m just gonna…” I gesture broadly, even though I have no clue where I’m going.
Josh smiles at me. “Everything’s in that room over there.”
I follow his finger with my eyes. “Perfect. When Gray gets inside, will you send him in there?”
He nods. “Of course.”
“Thank you!” I call out over my shoulder.
The room they set aside for me is small. It can’t be any type of bridal space. I can’t imagine any bride being able to get ready in a place like this. Oh well, I’ll make do.
There’s a bag sitting on the singular couch, and I pick it up, then rifle through it. He did indeed bring all my hair supplies.
When I’ve got it all gathered, I step in front of the only mirror in the room, laying everything out in front of me on the tiny desk.
Using my spray bottle, I wet my hair down. It’s dripping in my eyes when the door opens and Grayson steps into the room.
He grins at me, shutting the door behind him. “You look like a wet rat.”
I scoff. “Thanks. I appreciate it. Just what every man wants to hear on his wedding day.”
Humming, he steps closer. “I thought you’d have a person for this?”
Turning back to the mirror, I shrug. “I thought so too, but Josh told me he brought all my stuff from home, so I guess not.”
“Wow.”
I glance at Grayson. “What?”
“Nothing,” he says, shaking his head.
“Something,” I counter.
Sitting down on the couch, he crosses his leg over his knee. I have no idea how he’s so… effortless. His dark hair is swept back off his face in a way that looks purposeful and not messy as fuck like mine.
He’s just wearing jeans and a t-shirt, but somehow he looks incredibly put together, even though I know he woke up on the same couch as me and got ready in the same amount of time.
“How do you do that?”
“Do what?” he asks, his brow quirking up.
“That.” I wave a hand over him. “Just wake up and look like that. It’s unfair.”
He chokes. Fully chokes. I watch him in amusement, hoping he gets his shit together. “Dying on my wedding day would really ruin the mood for me, you know?”
Glaring at me, he stands. “Let me help you.”
He goes through my entire hair routine, almost as good at it as I am by now, and I stand stock-still while he does.
His eyes are focused intently on his task, his fingers sure and strong in my hair. After a few minutes, his lips quirk up in a smile, and he steps back. “There you go.”
I turn to the mirror, looking at myself. “Yeah, not bad, I guess.”
My normally wild hair is tamed and presentable. Though who fucking knows how many more times I’m gonna have to do this by the end of the day.
“You’re welcome.” He sits down on the couch, crossing his leg over his knee again. “So, what are we supposed to be doing all day? Surely we aren’t gonna be stuck in this room until the wedding.”
Well, fuck. I hope not. “Let’s go find out.”
Grayson follows me out of the small room and into the area where we’re having the ceremony. They’ve already got it all set up, and it’s gorgeous—though a little much for my tastes.
Everything is white and gray and classy, with white flowers adorning each table. There’s a massive white carpet leading down the aisle toward the front where floor-to-ceiling windows overlook the river behind us.
Grayson whistles. “Holy shit.”
“Yeah.” I grimace. “I didn’t want anything this fancy.”
Running his finger over one of the tables, Gray sighs. “Yeah, I know. Can’t believe he talked you into all this.”
Well, it wasn’t really that he ‘talked me into it.’ More that his family was paying for it all, so it felt like I had to do what they wanted.
“Yeah, but he let me pick the honeymoon.”
Grayson laughs. “I wish I could have seen his face when you told him you wanted to go to Vegas.”
I bark out a laugh. “Well, I’ve never been, and I thought it sounded fun.”
Shaking his head, Grayson smiles. He’s got one of my favorite smiles in the world, and ever since I was a kid, watching him smile at me has sent warm little tingles through me. He’s my favorite person. Or… well, my second favorite person, I guess.
“Only you would pick Vegas and not… I don’t know—a freaking beach or something.” He raises his eyebrows. “What’s the point of having a rich husband if you don’t cash in on the fancy honeymoon?”
I roll my eyes. “The wedding is fancy enough as is, thanks. And you know I don’t care about money. Besides, he’s not rich.”
“Right,” Grayson says, nodding solemnly. “Just his family.”
“Speaking of…” I glance around. “Why the hell did I have to be here so early if no one else is?”
Grayson pulls out a chair at one of the tables and sits down. I’m not sure if he should, considering how pristine everything is.
“What time are your parents coming?” I ask, staring out the window toward the river.
“They said they’d be here around four. They’re coming with yours.”
“I’m gonna go find Josh and figure out what I’m supposed to be doing.”
Tipping his head at me, Gray smiles. “Have fun with that. I’ll be here if you need me.”
“Oh, honey, you look so handsome.” Mom adjusts my tie, even though Grayson just tied it for me, and it’s definitely straight.
“He sure does.”
Gray’s not looking so bad himself. As my best man—duh—he’s decked out in a tux that looks very similar to mine. It’s fitted on him and perfect. I don’t fill mine out nearly as well as he does.
Standing up, he slides his phone into his pocket. “It’s about time. Are you nervous?”
I shake my head, then nod. “Kind of. There’s like… a million people out there.”
Mom brushes her hands down my lapels. “Now don’t you worry about that. You’ll be just fine.”
Grayson’s lips tilt up at the corners. Leave it to a mom to tell you it’s all gonna be fine. It’s almost like she forgets she raised me and that she doesn’t know I have a tendency to trip over my own feet.
My stomach flips wildly. “It’s going to be okay,” Grayson says, stepping closer.
Reaching up, he picks up a lock of my hair, moving it off my forehead. I stare up at him, keeping my eyes on his. There’s nothing in the world like knowing he’s here for me. If I’m being real honest? He’s the only thing keeping me from freaking the fuck out.
Josh’s brother, Andy, is his best man, and I’m surprised.
For most of our relationship, they haven’t even spoken to each other.
Family drama, Josh once told me. I was worried about that at first. My family is close-knit and supportive of each other, and we haven’t had any notable issues. Not like that, anyway.
His parents have always been nice to me, though, so I didn’t push when they invited half the damn city to what I wanted to be an intimate gathering. Just the thought of all those people, though… Sheesh.
Even from in here, I can hear the low murmur of the crowd outside, and I know that in a few minutes, I’m gonna have to walk past them all and toward Josh.
The door creaks open, and the noise from the crowd grows louder. Dad pokes his head around the corner. “They’re ready for you.”
I blow out a breath, and then another.
Then one more for good measure. Never can have enough oxygen, you know?
“Stop biting your lip,” Grayson murmurs, carefully pulling it free of my teeth with his thumb. “You ready?”
I nod. “Ready as I’m gonna be, I think.”
I take one last look around, then follow my dad, mom, and Grayson out of the room.
Thankfully, the crowd is quieter now. Only the slight whispers of people instead of the dull roar from before.
We’re waiting for Josh outside the closed double doors of the ballroom when the door to his dressing room opens.
My eyes snap in his direction, only to come face to face with Andy.
His eyes widen when he sees me. “Hey, Josh still isn’t quite ready.
Quick change of plans, alright? I’ll go grab him. You walk first?”
Fuck. I do not do well with changing plans. But I don’t want to be a bother, and especially not today, so I swallow hard and nod. “Okay.”
Relief colors his expression, and he gives me a concise nod. “Be right back. Give me five, then you can walk.”
Mom and Dad follow him with their eyes as he walks away.
“Well, that’s bad manners.”
“Grayson,” I hiss.
He shrugs, staring after Andy. “Well, it is. After all the shit he gave you for being late, the least he could do is get out here on time.”
Well, he’s got me there. “Can one of you set a timer so I know when to walk?”
Grayson looks at his watch, then nods. “I’ve got you.”
It feels like seconds and somehow hours before Gray glances at his watch again and then nods. “Okay. It’s time.”
Fuck. Alright.
He opens the big door just a crack, then peeks his head inside. “Okay. They look like they’re ready. The band just nodded at me, so.”
I stand to the side while he opens the door, Mom on one side of me and Dad on the other, my arms looped through theirs as Grayson fully opens the door and steps through.
We practiced this last week, so when the sounds of violins reach my ears, I start counting in my head.
Twenty-eight, twenty-nine, thirty…
Mom and Dad move with me as I step through the doorway.
Every set of eyes turns to me at once, but I don’t want to look at any of these people. I was supposed to be looking at Josh, but fuck. There’s a reason I didn’t want to go first.
So instead of looking at my soon-to-be husband, I lock eyes with Gray, then take a deep breath and start making my way down the aisle.