Page 84 of Bridesmaid to Bride

The orchestra begins Pachelbel’s Canon in D Major, so I breathe in the fresh coastal air and inch my way down the aisle of satin yellow with white rose petals, trying to make my gaze appear like I’m looking at Zach as I’m side-eyeing West. I take in the scene, realizing this is everything Paige would’ve ever wanted. This cliff-side grassy knoll is decorated to perfection with floating lanterns moving in the breeze. Ocean waves lap in the background, and the most beautiful version of this bridal march I’ve ever heard plays, and it’s live.

Ugh, Paige isn’t getting to have any of it. Sure enough, my eyes tear up, and I’m glad to be feeling real emotions in this very fake event.

When I make my way to the front of the aisle, the canine bridesmaids and groomsman are running around like they're in fast motion and barking at everything. I mean, these dogs aren’t trained for anything except to do their potty outside. So Dad and I wait as the hotel staffer guides them away and into the resort, where they can bark their guts out if they feel so inclined.

Once they’re gone, I finally look at Zach and hope he’s better at pulling this off than I am. He flashes me a genuine smile, and I’m sure he’s feeling the same way I am right now.

But all I can think about is that he does my sister. And they are into some kinky shit.

Do not gag, Eva.

At the same time, this makes me see how much he must really love my sister to be engaging in this charade.

The bridal march stops, and the TV cameras move around us to take different shots—I’m sure of us gazing into each other’s eyes. But I’m intently staring at the rippling ocean just beyond Zach.

Please, let’s just get this over with.

Dad kisses my forehead before taking his seat in the front row.

Skye, in all her mustard glory, raises her arms and starts her speech on how marriage is about dirty countertops. But then she somehow weaves that into something beautiful, and I should’ve known better than to doubt Skye. Finally, she takes out the rings and asks us to repeat after her. She looks at Zach and says, “I, Zachary Adler, take Paige Steinberg to be my lifelong partner. To love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health.”

Zach shifts on his feet and repeats the vow with a nervous smile.

I can’t believe this, but I’m actually jealous that Zach is almost done with his part.

Skye turns to me and says, “Repeat after me. I, Paige Steinberg, take Zachary Adler to be my lifelong partner. To love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health.”

I glance at West to bring my emotions to the next level, then work to get my facial expression to where it needs to be. When I feel ready, I say, “I, Paige Steinberg, take West Quinn to be my lifelong partner.” I go to finish the rest of my sentence, but Skye’s face drops, and gasps echo through the crowd. The camera guy zooms straight in on my face as the realization dawns.

I said West’s name, not Zach’s. I said the wrong freaking name. Oh my God. Oh my God!

I let out a laugh that sounds like a squawk and quickly restate my line, as if that’ll make everything okay. “I, Paige Steinberg, take Zach Adler to be my lifelong partner. To love, honor, and cherish, in sickness and in health.” My voice shakes, and I swear I’m sweating so much it’s pouring out of my head.

Zach swallows so hard his Adams apple bobbles, and when I manage to meet West’s gaze, his expression is one of shock, but maybe happiness too?

Not to be redundant, but oh my God.

I had one job. One job—to stand in for my sister for a fifteen-minute ceremony so that she and Zach could make it out of this whole TV shitshow alive, and I screwed it up royally.

Paige will never forgive me, and I don’t blame her. I wouldn’t forgive me.

Zach and I put rings on each other’s fingers, and it seems like it’s taking everything in Zach not to give me a glare of death. I don’t know how we’re going to pull off a believable kiss after all this.

Trying to fix things, I blurt, “I said West’s name because he was standing in the wrong place, and it distracted me. West, you’re too close. Weren’t you supposed to be farther away?”

I know that’s a terrible excuse, but I have to say something. Anything.

Obediently, West moves over, which makes all the groomsmen have to shuffle. But hey, we’re rolling with it.

I know the kiss is coming soon, so, once again, my mind flips back to West and me at the airport, and how I felt with our bodies pressed together.

I’m kissing West. I’m kissing West. I’m kissing West.

It’s over quickly, thank God, and Skye is croaky when she says, “Now I pronounce—oh, wait!” She lets out a squawk-like laugh. “I forgot. Does anyone object to this marriage? Speak now or forever hold your peace.”

“Wait!” The word slices through the air.

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