Chapter 8
Eden and Jacob’s wedding was so beautiful it brought tears to Jasmine’s eyes.
Man, she’d thought she was used to weddings after all this.
This was going to be a long bridal season, from what she could tell.
Her cousin Rob had gotten married just a couple of months back in Helena, Montana, and next would be Linnea and Logan, and then Jasmine would be back to a quiet apartment.
Rumor had it that Adriana and Myles were pretty serious, too, but that shouldn’t surprise anyone, after all they’d been through.
The only saving grace was that she didn’t have to look at Nathan today.
Why had she let her high school sweetheart — she hated to even think the word sweetheart around him — rule her life for so long?
Daria had had a good question last Sunday afternoon when she asked if Jasmine really hadn’t been able to get over Nathan.
Hadn’t shoving him into the far recesses of her mind been getting over him?
Apparently not. Not when the mere sight of him and the sound of his voice could stir up such resentment in her. Now she knew. Ignoring something was not the same as getting over it.
Jasmine’s cousin Francesca began to play the recessional, and Eden tucked her hand in the crook of Jacob’s arm. The two of them shared a look of such adoration that Jasmine’s heart squeezed.
Beside her, Linnea sniffled and dabbed at her eyes with a tissue. “Wasn’t that just the most beautiful wedding ever?”
Jasmine took a deep breath. “It was pretty nice. Did you get some ideas for how you and Logan want to do things?”
Behind Eden and Jacob, Hailey slid her hand around Logan’s arm and batted her eyelashes up at him. The two of them strolled down the aisle behind Eden and Jacob, with Kass and the other groomsman at their heels.
“That Hailey,” muttered Linnea.
Jasmine pushed out a chuckle. “She didn’t win, you know. Logan is just being a gentleman the way he should be for a wedding. Hailey’s lash extensions are not going to change his mind and make him decide he’d rather marry her than you.”
Linnea sighed. “I know you’re right, but does she need to keep pretending she’s the winner?”
Jasmine poked her friend lightly in the ribs. “Just ignore her. In three months it’s going to be you walking down the aisle with Logan waiting at the front. You do know there’s no need to give Hailey a second thought.”
Pastor Tomas asked everyone to rise as the ushers allowed the families in the front rows to follow the wedding party.
Myles, Adriana, and her two kids had sat in the place of Eden’s parents, representing the family she no longer had.
When they passed the row where Jasmine and Linnea waited, Jasmine caught a glimpse of a sparkling diamond on Adriana’s left hand, tucked in the crook of Myles’s arm.
She jammed her elbow into Linnea’s side. “They’re engaged!” she squealed.
Linnea’s eyes widened as her gaze landed on the ring. Adriana beamed at them and wiggled her fingers.
How had that news not spread all over Bridgeview already? Unless it had only happened yesterday. Even then, though, Jasmine felt so behind.
“Oh, wow,” Linnea breathed.
Jasmine’s sentiments exactly. She could only be happy for the widowed mom who’d found love with her daughter’s second-grade teacher, but it did nothing to make her feel any more wanted.
The ushers, Jacob’s two brothers-in-law, held out their hands to indicate Jasmine’s row could go next. She smoothed the lacy overlay of skirt as she stepped into the aisle, feet wobbling in heels she rarely wore. “What’s the plan? Are they going for photos now?”
Linnea shook her head. “No, they did those before the ceremony. Now it’s over to the community center for the reception.”
Jasmine eyed her friend as they edged down the aisle. No doubt the procession slowed as the newlyweds greeted their friends in the church foyer. “Then it won’t be too long before I can kick back into my jeans and bare feet back at the apartment.”
Linnea laughed. “Oh, come on. You’re going to enjoy dancing at the reception. Plus, the bistro handled the catering, so you know how tasty everything will be.”
Jasmine frowned. “Kass told me they had to hire staff to do it, so I hope everything is all right.”
“Of course. They wouldn’t trust just anyone with their business. It’ll be fine. You’ll see.”
They edged into the foyer and soon engulfed the happy couple with big hugs. If Linnea took an extra moment to hug the best man, Jasmine pretended not to notice as she whispered in Eden’s ear. “Congratulations. I know you two will be deliriously happy together.”
Eden’s eyes shone. “I know we will. Thank you so much for being here today.” She held Jasmine at arm’s length and gave her a once over. “Whoa, girl. You clean up real nice. Doesn’t she look amazing, Jacob?”
It seemed Jacob could barely take his eyes off his bride long enough to give Jasmine a quick glance. “You look great, Jasmine. Thanks so much for coming and sharing our happy day.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for anything.” And she meant it, too, for all the grouching she’d done in the past week when Linnea had forced her to go shopping for a new dress.
Her roommate pulled her out of the church and down the steps where they scurried to Linnea’s car in the parking lot. One downside to riding a motorbike — it wasn’t the perfect vehicle for a woman in a dress and high heels.
“Brrr.” Linnea rubbed her hands together before turning the ignition key. “I’m glad our wedding is in July so we can do it outdoors.”
All Linnea and Logan had to worry about was rain, not that it was common in Spokane in mid-summer. Still, there were more things that could go wrong in July with an outdoor wedding than an indoor April wedding.
In moments they’d pulled up in the parking lot of the Bridgeview community center.
The newly renovated building, which had once been an art gallery, was about to house its first wedding reception.
Jasmine could suffer through a few more hours if she needed to.
At least the dinner and dance wouldn’t bring Nathan to mind as much as the wedding had.
She needed to get him out of her brain and keep him there.
She and Linnea were not the first to arrive. They entered the brick building and offered their coats to Jasmine’s cousin Landon, who was acting as coat checker this evening.
Jasmine ran her hands down her pink skirt one more time, glad for the swirling fabric to distract her from the reality of a snug bodice.
Linnea turned to her, patting her up-do with one hand. “Do I look all right?”
“You look awesome,” whispered Jasmine. “Am I okay?” She did a little swirl, relishing the feel of the soft lace twirling around her knees.
“You look great.”
But Jasmine barely heard her roommate’s words. Just a few feet away stood Nathan Hamelin in black slacks and a black button-down shirt, every hair on his head gelled to perfection. The five o’clock shadow he often wore was gone.
The smile froze on her face. How dare he look so good? Smell so good? Because even from here she caught a whiff of the woodsy cologne he seemed to favor. Drat the man anyway.
“Nathan?” Linnea glanced between them. “What are you doing here?” Her hand went to her mouth. “Um, I’m sorry. That didn’t come out right. You just surprised me, is all.”
Nathan’s gaze remained fixed on Jasmine’s. “Hailey hired me to run the catering this evening.”
Of course. Just when Jasmine thought she had a Nathan-free day.
Nathan’s feet welded to the wood floors of the Bridgeview community center.
It should be no surprise that Jasmine looked amazing all dressed up.
The last time he’d seen her in anything other than jeans or khakis had been her high school prom.
She’d only been a girl back then. Yes, a girl who knew what she wanted, but young even so. Now…
He swallowed hard, trying to get some moisture back in his mouth.
Although her figure hadn’t changed that much since she was eighteen, now she was all woman.
For the first time since volunteering to run the catering for this event, Nathan wondered if it would be acceptable for the wait staff to invite a woman to dance.
He shoved the thought aside with an angry shake of his head.
“Hailey and Kass did all the hard work. Today it’s just a matter of getting everything served. I have Shay and Dafne helping out.”
Dafne? Jasmine hoped the workload wouldn’t be too hard on her young pregnant cousin. Last she’d heard from Peter, Dafne had not yet decided whether to give her baby up for adoption or not. With about two months left before the birth, she’d need to make up her mind soon.
Jasmine clutched at Linnea’s arm. “We’ll just go find a seat.” She pulled Linnea around Nathan and checked to make sure there were no place cards at the main tables. Confident they could sit anywhere, she towed Linnea to the farthest corner.
Linnea shook away her grip. “Hey, I won’t even be able to see Logan from here.”
Jasmine closed her eyes for one brief moment. “Help a girl out, please. ”
Linnea leaned closer, her eyes glittering.
“Stop being such a scaredy-cat. Honestly, this is not where I want to sit.” She pointed to a table halfway up the room.
“That’s where I’m headed. You are welcome to join me or not.
” She strode away, her lithe form swaying slightly as she went.
Linnea was no more accustomed to high heels than Jasmine was.
Stay in an oblivious corner, probably surrounded by strangers? Or go sit with Linnea? Jasmine sighed and scurried after her friend. “Sorry about that.” She slid into the chair at the end of the table.
Linnea raised her eyebrows and gave her a significant look. “Your life is going to be miserable until you deal with him. You know that, right?”