Chapter Thirty-Seven. Pallbearers
Chapter Thirty-Seven
PALLBEARERS
As Saturday arrived, so too did the pre-wedding excitement.
Their Group Breakfasts continued, with Danny contributing his predictable bagel spread.
They sat huddled at his dining table, licking cream cheese off their fingers and listening to Drew complain about salmon and Morgan share her immense knowledge of rye bread after nearly a year in Denmark.
But soon Danny was off, fielding calls from his staff and doing everything he could to make sure setup was going to plan.
There were two hours between the ceremony and the reception start, and while everyone else was free to do as they pleased, Cam and Danny would be rushing from the ceremony to finish the preparations.
While Danny took his phone calls, pacing around in suit pants and nothing else, the other three fought over the bathroom.
Unsurprisingly, Cam and Morgan won out, knocking shoulders in front of the mirror as they both attempted to do their hair and makeup.
Drew complained from the hallway, forced to use a wall mirror to mousse his hair.
Despite the chaos, there was something magical about the morning, about the four of them getting ready for Cory’s wedding. They’d been there for each other, through so many milestones, so many changes.
The sentiment almost brought her to tears. Except she really didn’t want to ruin her makeup.
“Wait!” Morgan faltered in front of the mirror, gaze jumping between her reflection and the dress hanging on the door behind them. “Cam, you’re wearing black? I’m wearing black!”
“So?” Cam was halfway through curling her hair. “Black is good for formal. It’s safe.”
Morgan groaned, twisting her mascara tube shut. “Black is my color.”
“You don’t own the color because you live in Europe. Otherwise, you have a bone to pick with the guys since they’re both in black.”
Drew poked his head into the bathroom. Like Danny, he was wandering around shirtless, dressed in only black pants. When Cam and Morgan noticed, he grinned and flexed his arms. “Morgan, leave her alone. Today’s like her funeral. She’s allowed to wear black. I’d even say it’s encouraged.”
“It’s not my funeral! What does that even mean?” Cam asked.
“Your ex is getting married. That’s basically a funeral.”
She scoffed. “Our breakup was mutual!”
Drew leaned against the doorframe, practicing his smolder like a ’90s runway model. “Was it actually? That sounds like revisionist history. I thought he dumped you.”
“It. Was. Mutual!” Cam repeated. “Not that it matters. I’m very happy for Cory, and I’m wearing black because I look hot in black. That’s all.”
“She’s right,” Morgan said, running Cam’s straightener through her blonde hair. “She does look bomb in black. The brunette helps. Very lady of darkness. I dig it.”
Danny peered into the doorway, all smiles. “Reg is officially with Ms. Garber, so no need to worry about a ball of golden fur ruining your outfits.” While he was gone, he’d put on a white shirt. “I think we should head out within the next half hour.”
Drew groaned. “I’d be ready if it weren’t for the mirror hogs!”
Morgan glared over her shoulder. “If you want a hog, how about I wrestle you like a pig?”
Danny laughed and nudged Drew into the hallway. “We’ll let you ladies be,” he said. “Remember, we’re leaving in thirty!”
When they disappeared, Morgan turned to Cam and smirked. “Sucks he put a shirt on.”
“Shut up.” But Cam agreed. Wholeheartedly. “Let’s just get this over with.”
Morgan held up a fistful of lipsticks. “Blood red, wine red, or girly pop pink?”
The church was a twenty-five-minute drive from Danny’s apartment.
It was in a picturesque location, the small white structure surrounded by beachside views and a towering magnolia tree.
The exterior was transformed for a cocktail setup, inviting guests to snack on hors d’oeuvres and drinks before the ceremony began.
They arrived together, walking side by side in nearly head-to-toe black. Morgan wore a jaw-dropping black jumpsuit, her blonde hair pin straight and her lips blood-red. Both guys rocked the usual wedding attire of black suits, and Cam …
Cam went all out.
Because Drew was right. As happy as she was for Cory, he was still her ex, and he was getting married. She searched high and low for the perfect dress, eventually finding one at a local boutique. It was tight but not too tight, mid-length, and had spaghetti straps suitable for the heat.
She felt beautiful.
Upon arrival, it was mingling time, and Cam clung to her friends, knowing she had a target on her back. She saw Cory’s brothers disappearing in and out of the church, dressed in matching tuxes and pale lilac ties. Cory’s father gave her a polite hello, and Cory’s mother even hugged her.
There were college classmates, Cory’s high school friends, cousins she remembered from the family cookouts she’d tagged along to …
It was a lot to take in. She huddled under the magnolia tree, sipping on iced tea and checking her phone every few minutes, wondering when they’d be escorted into the church. Danny joined her, a plate of fruit in hand.
“You okay?” he asked, eating a strawberry. “You look flush.”
“Well, it’s hot.” Despite the proximity to the water, the temperature was teetering into the nineties. “But … I’m okay. It’s just a lot to process.”
“I’m sorry. We can take you home—”
“It’s not that. Really. I’m so happy for Cory. It’s just … eerie.” She cleared her throat, using her clutch to fan herself. “This could’ve been my wedding.”
“Well,” he whispered, dark eyes on her, “for the record, I’m happy it’s not.”
“So am I.”
“You look beautiful, Cam. Just … stunning.”
She was already red from the heat, but his words had her darkening further. “Yeah, well … you clean up nicely, too.” She tugged the sleeve of his jacket. “You must be sweating.”
“I’m always sweating next to you.” When she bit her lip and looked down, he chuckled. “Sorry. I’ll be good.” He grabbed her hand and squeezed it gently. “We should head inside. I can see them wrangling everyone into the church.”
They reunited with Drew and Morgan, and together, they found seats on the groom’s side.
The chapel was quaint, with walls of stained-glass windows and rows of wooden pews.
Purple and white flowers lined the aisle and looped along the seating so every surface popped with color.
The guests funneled in, and within ten minutes, the ceremony began.
It was surreal when Cory took his place beside his brothers, laughing, his eyes bright and teeth sparkling white. He’d always been handsome, and for years, Cam thought his would be the face she woke up to every morning.
Now, the thought made her stomach hurt. Throughout the wedding, she found herself turning to Danny.
To watch his eyes widen with every word spoken by the happy couple, to watch his smile grow when Cory and Tabitha shared their first kiss as husband and wife, to watch his shoulders relax when everything went off without a hitch.
She imagined writing vows about his brown eyes. She imagined uttering words of forever to his dimpled smile and contagious laugh. When everyone cheered, crying out as the newlyweds exited the church, Cam realized how stupid she’d been.
As Drew said—it’d taken her funeral to realize it.