Chapter 5
five
Talia
The music starts, and I glide down the aisle, my gaze fixed on the beautiful mountain view rather than the altar where the groom and groomsmen are waiting.
It really is beautiful here. I wonder whether Lana and the twins would be interested in partnering with me.
I’ve always hated the idea of a trust fund, but knowing that, because of it, I could live and work here in the mountains, I don’t hate it.
I wouldn’t even mind tending the vineyard. I might not know how to grow grapes, but I’m more than willing to learn. Maybe I’ll even find a mountain man to marry who isn’t a male stripper, have a couple of kids, and live happily ever after.
Who am I kidding? Lex is the only man I want. Hopefully, in time, I’ll forget him and move on.
Reaching the end of the aisle, I take my place beside the other bridesmaids. When I glance at the groom’s side, I realize Marx isn’t there. In his place stands a smiling Mr. Moreno.
What the hell? Where’s Marx?
“Isn’t it romantic? Mr. Moreno claiming Rachel as his own on the morning of her arranged marriage to his son.” One of the bridesmaids leans in and whispers in my ear.
I’m not sure “romantic” is the right word. It’s more like an episode of Jerry Springer or Maury Povich, but who am I to say?
The bridal march begins to play, and I watch as my father walks Rachel down the aisle, her face lit with a genuine smile I’ve never seen before as she looks at Mr. Moreno.
I take a quick peek at Mr. Moreno, a large smile on his face, with not a care in the world that he’s marrying a woman half his age who only yesterday was his son’s fiancée.
It isn’t long before the ceremony ends, and the minister instructs Mr. Moreno to kiss his bride as the wedding guests clap in approval.
I don’t feel like partying at the reception, but as the maid of honor, I still have duties to perform.
The first is to check in with Lana, Liv, and Lyra.
As the guests filter into the winery, I go in search of them.
I find Liv and Lyra huddled in the kitchen, whispering about some unknown issue.
“Is everything okay?” I say, causing them to jump apart.
“Everything is perfect, just perfect,” one of the twins says, but the look in her eyes says otherwise.
“Something's wrong. I can see it in your eyes.” I step closer, waiting for their reply.
“It’s Lana. We can’t find her or the original groom.”
“What?” There’s no way Lana ran off with the groom. They don’t even know each other.
The confusion must be written all over my face as the twins try to reassure me. “Don’t worry. Everything is fine. Lex stepped in and is helping with everything.”
“Lex? Why would he be helping? I’m sure he has another gig tonight.” Just saying it cuts through my heart. I wonder which lucky woman will warm his bed tonight.
“Gig?” they say in unison, in that freaky twin way.
“Wait, do you really believe Lex is a male stripper?” one of them says.
“Oh, Liv. I can’t wait to tell Lana about this if we ever find her.” They must not be too worried about their sister, because they break out in giggles.
“If he’s not a male stripper, what is he?”
“He’s our brother,” Liv explains. “We didn’t have a stripper for the bachelorette party.
We tried to convince him to do it, but he refused until you ran into him and mistook him for the stripper.
” He might not be a male stripper, but he evidently didn’t want to wake up next to me this morning.
“He told us the two of you hit it off last night, but he didn’t share the specifics.
He’s been as angry as a bear, trying to get everything done so he could return to you. ”
It hits me. Everything Lex has done to make this wedding run smoothly has been for me. As the maid of honor, it’s my responsibility to make sure everything goes off without a hitch. “I’m an idiot.” I silently curse myself for assuming the worst of Lex. “Where can I find him?”
“He’s helping out at the bar. It seems everyone is hell-bent on getting drunk tonight.” Liv smiles.
“Not a bad idea, sis.”
I rush out of the kitchen, not bothering to join their playful banter, and go in search of the man I’ve only known for a few hours, who has come to mean so much to me, praying that he feels the same way about me.