Page 8 of Recklessly, Wildly Yours

“Oh,” I stutter, “We’re not friends. We—”

Ethan cuts me off, humor in his eyes. “I don’t know, Maddie. I only let friends put their face where you put yours today.”

I blink up at him, feeling warmth flame its way up from my neck to my face and out to my ears.

Olivia laughs. “I’m not touching that.” She places her hand on my forearm. “You’re very welcome here.”

I’m still in the middle of recovering from the shame over what Ethan’s just reminded me of, so the only thing my brain can come up with is to blurt, “I’m wearing a wedding dress.” Even if I wanted to stay, there is no way I’d attend a wedding in a wedding dress.

A mischievous look plays across Ethan’s face. “Feel free to take it off.”

Olivia rolls her eyes but I see the affection she has for him. “Seriously, do boys ever grow up?” Then, her features soften as she regards me with care. There’s a knowing look in her eyes and I’m fairly certain she knows who I am and what today was supposed to be for me. “Are you okay?”

With that question and all the concern coming from her—a complete stranger—my throat suddenly clogs with feelings and emotions. I try to swallow them down as I nod. I also try to answer her but no words come. Instead, tears threaten and anxiety floods me. I’m in danger of breaking down in a room full of people I don’t know and if I do that, I’m not sure I’ll be able to get myself under control.

As I madly blink to stop my tears splashing down my cheeks, Ethan’s hand comes to the small of my back and he steps into my space. Softly to Olivia, he asks, “Do you have any spare clothes here?”

God bless her, Olivia grasps the situation. “Blair practically brought her entire wardrobe and she’s probably the same size as you.” She gives my hand a quick squeeze. “Come and see what she has.”

When I hesitate, Ethan presses his hand gently against my back and leans down to bring his mouth to my ear. “Let Olivia help. She loves helping people.”

I appreciate Ethan more than he will ever know. It’s been a long time since I’ve had anyone help me the way he has today.

After I shoot him a thank you, I follow Olivia to Blair who really may have brought her entire wardrobe with her. There are so many dresses to choose from. I quickly select one to change into because I really don’t want to hold this wedding up even more than I already have.

Olivia doesn’t appear concerned about that though. “Is there anything else we can do to help you?”

“No, please, go and get married. I feel awful that I kept Ethan from getting here sooner and that I’m now keeping you from your wedding. I’ll just get changed and then I’ll go.” I look at Blair. “I’ll leave your dress with Ethan. Thank you.”

Blair regards me with interest. “How do you know Ethan?” she asks.

Before I get a chance to answer her, Olivia’s mother interrupts us. “Darling,” she says to her daughter with a look of concern. “If you don’t go and get married now, you’ll be waiting a long time until we can get this church again.”

The other bridesmaid joins us. “And we’ll then have to wait all that time before our karaoke battle, and honestly, Rhodes and I are ready to win tonight, so can we please hurry this along?”

Blair arches a brow. “There’s no way you and Rhodes are taking this battle.”

“Agreed,” Olivia says quite decisively.

Now, Blair looks at her. “You and Callan aren’t a shoo-in either.”

“Of course we are.”

Blair crosses her arms. “Tell me, when was the last time you heard Hayden sing?”

Olivia frowns but doesn’t get the chance to reply because her mother gives her a look that says this wedding needs to happen NOW.

Everyone moves into action after that. A few minutes later, it’s just me and the puppy left and the silence is heaven.

I take a minute, close my eyes, and inhale a deep breath.

God knows I need it.

Running from my hotel room without planning that move was not the best choice I’ve ever made. I only managed to slip past my two security guys because I told them Tucker had messaged to tell me there were crazy fans trying to get up to my floor. After they’d taken off to look into that, I ran for a different elevator and was lucky to escape without them knowing. I do feel for them, though. Tucker will be livid and likely fire them. I make a mental note to have my assistant ensure they’re taken care of if that’s the case.

Thank goodness for Ethan. It was everything to me when he stood in that traffic and asked if I needed help. I was lucky he didn’t turn out to be a serial killer, but at that point I think I would have gotten into a car with just about anyone.

The puppy cuts into the silence with a bark that is surprisingly loud for such a small creature. I open my eyes and smile at her. “Okay, I’m going to get out of this dress and then we’re going to leave. And I’ll beg George to stop and buy you some food.”

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