Chapter Thirteen
Melonie
“ I can’t believe you’re getting married today,” Gigi sobs into a tissue.
“Stop Gigi, you’re going to make me start to cry again and we’re about to do eyeliner.”
I watch them try to collect themselves and dab a tissue at the corner of my eye. I’m holding it all back right now because, unlike Audrey, my eyeliner is already done.
Emma, Jax’s sister, bursts into the room. “My brother is a mess over you, Audrey.”
Audrey laughs. “Why is he a mess?”
“He’s nervous. He’s worried you’ll come to your senses and run out the back door of the venue. He won’t even take a drink of the whiskey that Marcus offered him. It’s fun seeing him like this.”
“He’ll get over it. And he doesn’t have to worry about a runaway bride. I’m tying him down whether he likes it or not.”
Emma nods her head. “I pretty much told him that. But he still looked a little sweaty.”
I check my phone. We have forty-five minutes until we need to go downstairs. “Alright ladies, we have thirty minutes. G, makeup done?”
Gigi double checks Audrey’s face one more time, dabbing a bit more highlighter on her left cheek. “Makeup done.”
“Audrey, bathroom before we put your dress on. Everyone else, bridesmaid dresses.”
The three women scatter, and I shuck off my robe to put on my dress. Audrey picked out the most gorgeous bridesmaids’ dresses I’ve ever worn at a wedding—smooth black matte satin, floor length, fitted bodice, but flowy and forgiving from the hips down. Gigi looks amazing with her red hair up and off her shoulders, different from her usual unruly mane of waves.
I grab the bag from the closet that holds Audrey’s dress. We haven’t seen it yet. Audrey being Audrey went dress shopping on an extended lunch break one day.
“Bathroom done, ready for the dress.” She walks toward me. “Emma, turn around.”
“Huh?” Emma looks confused.
“You’re not allowed to see my lingerie. It’s weird.”
We all laugh, because yeah, once Audrey takes her robe off, we understand why.
“Holy shit, Audrey. Jax is going to go insane. Hope you’ve been taking your birth control.” Gigi’s eyes go wide at the white satin bustier set, complete with garter belt and thigh-high stockings.
“Ew, that’s my brother you’re talking about.”
“Sorry, Em.”
I carefully open the bag and pull out Audrey’s dress. I gather the fabric and kneel down as Gigi holds her hand to help her balance as she steps in. Once we have it on, I pull up the zipper at the bottom of the open back and button the halter straps at the base of her neck. Once it’s secure, Audrey turns around, and this time, I can’t fight the tears. She’s gorgeous. The front comes down in a v, and the dress fits her like a dream. It’s simple and sophisticated, just like her.
We all stand, silent. “Do you guys like it?” She looks worried.
Gigi grabs a few tissues, passing them around. “Audrey, you are so beautiful. This dress is absolutely perfect on you.”
I take a tissue. “You are the most gorgeous bride ever. Jax is the luckiest man on earth.”
“You guys.” Audrey yanks a tissue from Gigi’s hand and dabs her eyes. “Eyeliner.”
While we’re all fussing over Audrey and trying to keep our makeup intact, there’s a knock on the door. I answer it and find Linc on the other side. He stands in his tux, and he looks so freaking good. His dark blonde hair is textured off to the side, face clean shaven, and dark-brown eyes wide. We stand for a moment as his mouth opens, but no words come.
“Linc?”
He shakes his head. “Sorry, Mel, but you look beautiful.”
I smile. “Thanks, but you should see the bride.”
“I’m sure she looks great, but I might prefer the maid of honor.”
“Linc, stop flirting. Why are you here? We have like twenty minutes.”
“Oh, Jax wanted me to get this to Audrey.” He holds out a black bag.
Audrey notices us by the door. “Linc! I’m glad you’re here. Can you take this to Jax please?” She holds out a light blue box.
“Audrey, you look incredible.” Linc beams at her.
“Thank you, Linc. You’re looking dapper in your tuxedo.”
“Thanks. It’s fun getting dressed up, I guess. Well, ladies, I’ll leave you to it. I’ll make sure Jax gets this.” He looks at me and grins. “I’ll see you out there, Mel.”
“Yup. Now go, we have to finish getting ready.”
He stands there for a moment, then his eyes scan me from my head to my toes. When he returns to my eyes, he still has his grin, but it’s the grin I’ve only seen on him that night months ago. I feel a heat rush over me in our wordless exchange.
“Linc, you’re staring.”
He steps a bit closer. “And your cheeks are red. Sorry to tell you, but I might stare at you all night.”
With that, he turns and walks back to the stairs that lead down to the groom’s quarters. Fucking hell, I need to stay strong.