Page 63 of Love in Fine Print

And she’d RSVP’d that she would be bringing a plus one. I decided to keep that tidbit to myself and just watch how it played out. It would be more fun that way.

I turned my attention back to adjusting my tie when a knock sounded at the door.

“Come in.”

Billie Bliss, the wedding coordinator, poked her head inside the room and announced, “It’s time.”

Olivia mentioned that Bailey, her best friend, was normally the “day of” wedding coordinator, but since she was on maid of honor duty alongside Trevor, who was acting as man of honor, she’d handed the reins over to her sisters Birdie and Billie.

It was strange how small of a world it was. I remembered Gran talking about the Bliss sisters a few times. She was friends with their grandmother Betty Bliss who owned Bliss Bridal. Gran had wanted to set up playdates for me with the sisters when I spent summers with her since we were around the same age, but the girls were always out of town back East with their father, so I’d never actually met them until today.

“Let’s do this!” Declan enthused as he grabbed Jake, who was serving as co-best man, and Coach Graham, who was officiating the ceremony, each by the shoulder. “Let’s get our boy married.”

My hands were sweaty as I walked behind Billie and Jake, flanked by Declan and Coach Graham. They were discussing the Marauders' chance at the Super Bowl this year, trades that they’d wished had happened, and Marcus Dixon, the new quarterback’s, injury.

As we continued down the hall, everything started getting a little blurry. For a second, I thought I might pass out. I took a deep breath and tried to calm the anxiety that was snowballing inside of me. I hadn’t expected to be nervous today, considering this was all for show. I was used to eyes being on me. Besides playing in front of hundreds of thousands of people, I’d guest starred on several TV shows and cohosted the ESPN Awards twice. I wasn’t a stranger to being the center of attention. But this felt…different.

I kept reminding myself this wasn’t real. This was a one-year contract. This was no different than the contracts I’d signed with the Marauders. Except this wasn’t football. This was marriage. But it wasn’t the lifelong commitment that most people made when they were doing this.

So why in the hell did I feel like I was about to pass out?

We reached the door that led out to the concert hall where the ceremony was being held. The Great American Music Hall was a popular wedding venue, but thankfully there had been alast-minute cancellation and Bailey had been able to swoop in and secure the venue for us.

I stood on the sidelines just right of the stage that was decorated with flowers, lights, and more flowers. I could see the guests seated in black folding chairs. Soft music began to play over the speakers and Billie instructed Coach Graham, Jake, and Declan to walk out in front of me.

“Do not lock your knees. And remember to breathe,” Billie instructed as she practically pushed me out onto the stage.

I walked out, and there was a spattering of applause and a few whistles from, I assumed, former teammates. My side of the ballroom was filled with guys I’d played with, coaches, and their significant others.

My aunt from Texas was there with two of my cousins. I’d never really known her. She was my mom’s big sister. Every year since I was a kid, she sent me twenty-five dollars for my birthday and Christmas. It used to come in the form of checks; now, they were gift cards. I thought it was sweet that she still sent them even though I’d had multi-million-dollar contracts.

As I scanned the room an all too familiar sick feeling grew in my stomach. There was one face that was blatantly missing. My father. He’d never shown up to any of my football games. Never attended one school play, academic awards ceremony, graduation from middle school, high school, or college.

I didn’t even want him to be here today, so I didn’t know why I was feeling the way I was. I shouldn’t even have told him about it. I knew he wasn’t going to come. But I had. That was my bad.

As I continued looking around, I saw Miss B. I’d made sure that she had a front-row seat and hired a caregiver to attend with her. I told her that Julia was a friend of mine who was coming to the wedding solo, and asked if Miss B could keep her company. She didn’t know that Julia was a nurse; if she had, she would have refused to come because she wouldn’t have wanted anyoneto ‘make a fuss.’ But I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy myself today if I’d been worried about her.

The doors in the back opened and I watched as Trevor and then Bailey walked down the aisle toward me and both took their places on the stage.

After they were in place, the doors closed once more and the lights and music changed. All the guests stood, and I found myself holding my breath in anticipation. Then I remembered Billie’s instruction. Don’t forget to breathe. I exhaled right before the doors opened once more, revealing Olivia in a form-fitting white gown and long veil.

There was an audible intake of breath from the guests. She looked fucking incredible. I’d thought she looked like an angel the first time I’d seen her, but now, now she looked like she’d just fallen from heaven. She looked ethereal. She looked otherworldly.

“Wow,” Declan commented beside me.

Everything had happened so fast, I realized then he still hadn’t met Olivia. He’d flown in last night and Olivia had been home packing. We didn’t have a rehearsal dinner since our wedding party was so small and Bailey was in it and somewhat of a pro.

My heart thudded wildly in my chest as Olivia’s Uncle Mort ushered her down the aisle. My hands were sweating, and I felt myself starting to get dizzy once again. As soon as she got close enough and our eyes met all of the nerves, all of the anxiety evaporated. It disappeared, just like everyone in the room.

She joined me on stage and I was barely aware of Coach Graham instructing everyone to be seated as I stared into her golden gaze. I couldn’t explain what I was feeling but it was powerful, and all-consuming. It was a connection that I’d never experienced in my life.

During the entire ceremony, I never looked away from Olivia. Every once in a while, she would glance at Coach Graham and over at our guests, but I could not take my eyes off of her. I was absolutely mesmerized and totally lost in her eyes. I felt like I had been transported to another dimension where time was standing still.

It wasn’t until I heard my name that I snapped back into the moment.

“Do you, Benjamin Whitaker?—”

“Rocket man!” Someone yelled my nickname out. I was pretty sure it was Gus Benson who had been my center for eight years.

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