Chapter 6 – Katie
Six
KATIE
The Blake & Janie Emerson Wedding
Montage Deer Valley Resort
Park City, Utah
Morning fog floated over the Uinta Mountain Range as the sun took her time rising into the sky.
Per the weather forecast, this weekend’s guests would be blessed with two days of crisp, cool weather when they took their seats and danced on the grand lawn.
Stepping out onto the balcony, I looked below as my team lined and realigned the custom white chairs I’d ordered from a California winery.
I watched as they tied the sage green sashes like we’d rehearsed, and before I could text Madison to adjust the hydrangea blooms that lined the aisles, two arms wrapped around me from behind.
“Good morning, beautiful,” Brad whispered in my ear.
“Good morning.”
“I still can’t believe people pay thousands of dollars for one day of their lives.”
“The best day of their lives,” I corrected him. “There’s a difference.”
“If I propose to you, will you do our wedding at a discount?”
“Depends.” I slowly turned around. “How far away is the proposal?”
“Not that far.” He brushed a few strands of hair away from my forehead. “Probably after we’re ‘on’ again.”
I held back a sigh and forced a smile at the not-so-subtle reminder of our relationship status.
I’d almost forgotten that this was a “work” trip for him. That his business retreat and this wedding had happened to collide on the same weekend, and we were sharing a suite as “just friends.”
Small touches and kisses here and there? Fine.
Talks about the future or anything intimate? Off-limits.
“I need to get ready for the rehearsal dinner.” I slowly stepped out of his arms. “I’ll see you later tonight?”
“Maybe at the bar later.” He looked at his watch. “I have a private reservation with my team tonight.”
“Okay, great.” I held my fake smile as he kissed my forehead, then I slipped back into the suite.
Taking a quick shower, I pretended not to notice the tears that pricked my eyes.
I’d yet to read a romance where a relationship like mine ended in a happily-ever-after, but I was holding out hope that I could defy the odds.
Besides, romance was fiction. This was reality…
I toweled off and put on a grey dress and pinned my “planner” nametag against the fabric. Then I pulled my hair into a low bun and secured it with a glittering silver clip.
Stepping into my favorite pair of nude-colored stilettos, I grabbed my bag and headed to the door.
I stood still for several moments, waiting for Brad to look up from his laptop and tell me I looked pretty, for him to rush over to me for a long kiss and declare that we were “back on” and demand that we have sex right here, right now, but the moment never came.
His fingers continued tapping against his keyboard, and the only thing that touched his lips was the coffee mug at his side.
Stop waiting, Katie. Just leave.
I stepped out, and as much as I wanted to slam the door to get his attention, I didn’t.
* * *
The rehearsal dinner was already underway by the time I stepped into the ballroom.
Waiters and waitresses weaved in and out of the kitchen, balancing the first course on their trays as they served the largest wedding party I’d had to date.
With thirty bridesmaids and thirty groomsmen, it was a miracle that everything had gone smoothly from the start.
“I’d like to make a toast, if I could!” The best man tapped his glass on stage, and I stepped into the hall to check on dessert.
Tiramisu? Check. Chocolate mousse with strawberry garnish? Check.
“The grim reaper is here.” Madison rushed up to me. “He’s freakin’ here.”
I gasped at her mention of that code name and scanned the table for Asher Brooks.
“I don’t see him,” I whispered. “Are you sure?”
“Forty degrees to your left.”
I followed her line of sight and felt my chest tighten.
Asher Brooks was standing in the corner in one of his perfectly tailored suits, looking polished enough to pass for a guest, a cousin, or a rich family friend. No one else in the room seemed to think he didn’t belong there.
You’ve got to be kidding me.
I didn’t give him a chance to get near the guests. I stormed over and moved right in front of him.
“What the hell are you doing here?” I hissed. “You’re not on the goddamn guest list.”
“Watch your language, Katie.” He smirked. “There’s a pastor sitting at that table.”
“You’re still not on the guest list.” I pointed to the door. “Leave now before I call security.”
“I paid him to take a fifteen-minute walk.” He shrugged. “I’ll be out of here long before that.”
“So, you’re here to ruin another one of my weddings? I think the last three should be enough for a lifetime…”
“You do know that someone pays me for this service, right?” He moved closer. “I’m not showing up because I enjoy shattering someone’s special day.”
“Then walk away and don’t mess up this one.”
“Your groom already did that by cheating during his bachelor party—twice,” he said, holding out his phone. “I’m saving you from having to make a big announcement…”
I glanced at his screen as a grainy black-and-white video played. It was hard to see faces, but I could make out a guy bending a girl over on a dance floor.
“A dirty dance at a bachelor party?” I shrugged. “You can’t be serious.”
“Keep watching.”
The dance continued for a few more seconds, and then the video cut to a crystal-clear view of the groom bouncing a woman on his lap near a pool.
I handed the phone back without saying a word.
“Do I get the ‘thank you’ now or later?” he asked.
“Never.” I rolled my eyes.
I looked across the room just in time to see Janie glance down at her phone, freeze, and replay the exact video Asher had just shown me.
Janie shoved her phone at the maid of honor with shaking hands.
The maid of honor watched the video for all of three seconds before her face twisted in disgust. Then she spun toward the stage, marched straight up the steps, and yanked the microphone out of the best man’s hand.
“The wedding is off,” she said, her voice cracking through the speakers. “Blake cheated on Janie at his bachelor party, and she just found out. If any of you need proof, check your phones.”
A heavy gasp filled the room, and Janie shot to her feet so fast her chair tipped backward. She gathered the front of her dress in both fists and stormed out, her veil trailing behind her like smoke. Blake stumbled after her, calling her name.
Within seconds, the bridesmaids and groomsmen followed, and the remaining guests stared at their phones in shock.
I remained still, frozen in place.
There was nothing I could do about this one—absolutely nothing I could say to salvage vows that didn’t deserve to be taken.
Sighing, I looked over at Asher.
“Who hired you this time?”
“I’m not going to tell you that.”
“Can you at least tell me when they hired you?”
“Maybe.” He hesitated. “Last week.”
“So you could’ve handled this situation before we ever—”
“I didn’t get the actual video until this morning.” He pressed his finger against my lips, and my heart skipped a beat. “If I could’ve gotten it to her sooner, I would’ve.”
“Like I believe that.”
“You should.” He moved his hand, and I suddenly wanted him to put it back. “Where’s Brandon?”
“It’s Brad.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He smirked. “Are you still together?”
“We’re off and on, but still committed to each other.”
“The word ‘no’ would’ve been a lot easier to say.”
“We both have super busy careers—as you can see—and neither of us believe in long-distance or complicated things, so… When we’re off, we’re off, and when we’re on, we’re on.”
“So, you’re off right now?” He smiled.
“Did you hear any of what I just said?”
“I heard all of it.” He grabbed a cherry from a passing tray and tossed it into his mouth. “And it sounds like Brad has you brainwashed to believe his bullshit.”
“So, now you’re a relationship expert?”
“If I was, I would’ve told you to dump this guy a long time ago.” He moved closer. “No guy in his right mind would ever accept anything being ‘off’ for any amount of time with you.”
“Don’t try to give me a compliment.”
“It’s a fact.” He eyed my dress. “He’s wasting your time, and you’re wasting yours.”
“So, what do you suggest I do?” I crossed my arms. “Dump him and date you?”
“I don’t date, Katie.”
“I wasn’t saying it literally,” I said. “But for the record, I’m not attracted to you.”
“You’re also a terrible liar.”
“I would never sleep with you.”
“I can’t say I feel the same about that…”
“You’ll never get the chance, Asher.”
“Only because I’d ruin you for every guy after me if I did...” He lowered his voice. “For once, just let me have the last word before I’m tempted to pull you into a closet and give you the hate-fuck you’ve long deserved.”
I bit my tongue, and he stared at me for several moments—tempting me with his perfect eyes, his perfect lips—before he finally walked away.