Page 31 of Maggie

The worried look on his face tugged at Maggie’s heart strings. The look was so outside Wylder’s normal calm and collected demeanor. She didn’t like it. How much of a bully had this Frieda woman been to him?

“Wylder,” she said.

“Yeah?” His gaze focused on her. He bit his lower lip.

“Everything will be okay. We’ve got this,”

He nodded. He still looked unsure.

An usher called out and clapped his hands. “Everyone, take your seats.”

Maggie caught his chin in her hand and looked him in the eyes. She said, “Confidence. Certainty. We’ve got this.”

Wylder nodded again. He opened his mouth to speak, but the usher walked by them and ordered, “Let’s go, everyone. Chop chop. We have a wedding to keep on schedule.”

Maggie watched the usher breeze by and muttered under her breath. “Bossy, isn’t he?”

Wylder laughed, shook his head, and linked hands with Maggie. “Sure is. Let’s head in before he gets angry. Maybe even breaks out a spatula.”

Maggie laughed.

They joined the line into the chapel of people dressed in dazzling outfits and waited their turn for someone to seat them in the pews. They weren’t seated with anyone Wylder was close enough to speak to, so they settled into the pew in silence to wait for the ceremony.

Maggie had to commend Frieda on the decorations. A purple cloth ran the length of the aisle for people to walk down. Purple and white luxurious flowers decorated the chapel and purple drapes suspended from the ceiling. A trellis sat on the slightly elevated stage, decorated with more beautiful flowers and streamers. Everything looked beautiful.

Her thigh pressed against Wylder’s on the seat and their hands stayed clasped.

What would a relationship with Wylder be like? She knew that Wylder didn’t do relationships — everyone knew that. She traveled so much she couldn’t really commit, either — at least, not for a few years until the band’s touring slowed down. Plus, she didn’t live here — she had an apartment in New York City. The odds were stacked against them.

She watched the ceremony proceed and responded with the audience at the appropriate times, like when Frieda walked up the aisle dressed in a designer, white gown. The woman fit the gorgeous, snooty bitch stereotype. Her blond, highlighted hair was neatly wrapped in a bun on top of her head with bangs trailing down to frame her face under her veil. Her make-up looked like a professional applied it. Diamonds sparkled from her earlobes. Maggie could practically see the nasty attitude rolling off her, though.

The groom wore a tux, bowtie, neatly combed brown hair, and a pleased smirk. His look screamed “asshole from the yacht club” to Maggie.

Maggie watched the groom lift the bride’s veil. They said their vows, exchanged rings, and kissed. The actual ceremony didn’t take long. She couldn’t help thinking about her own life. Would she be up there someday with her own groom? Would she fall in love and start her own family? Had she already met her potential groom?

Maggie threw glances at Wylder during the ceremony and felt like sometimes he was watching her instead of the wedding — but she had to be imagining that, right?

Soon, the “I dos” were over and the audience gradually shifted to the dining area in another section of the church.

Wylder wrapped his left arm around Maggie’s shoulders and tucked her against his side as they moved with the crowd. “Doing okay?” he asked.

“Yeah. How about you?”

Wylder paused and replied thoughtfully. “Surprisingly good. Thank you for coming to this with me.”

Magie smiled at him. “You’re welcome.”

A voice nearby boomed, “Wylder, good to see you!”

An impressive man with a large black mustache and glasses approached them. They stepped to the side of the hallway to allow people to walk around them. He reached out and shook Wylder’s right hand. Wylder didn’t release his grip on Maggie with his other arm.

“Maggie, this is the bride’s father, my uncle Burt. Uncle Burt, this is my girlfriend, Maggie.”

Burt reached his hand out and shook Maggie’s. “Nice to meet you.”

“Thank you, you too.”

Burt looked her over. “Ah, I remember. You’re the woman Wylder has talked about at family dinner before. Why do you look familiar?”

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