Page 21 of Private Dancer

It’s been two weeks since I was fired from Briarwood Entertainment. And to make matters worse, I lost my job at The Palace. Carter fired me himself when I arrived at work the same day I was fired from my internship.

Luckily, I received a check for my full back pay from my internship with a note explaining there had been a mix-up and it was indeed a paid internship. I know Ryan, Jake, and Alec had something to do with sending me the check. My pride wanted to rip the check-up and forget I ever met them, but my bank account wouldn’t let me.

My college advisor also notified me that I had passed my internship and would receive my diploma in the mail since graduation had already occurred last weekend.

The money and the time off gave me time to sew Ella’s wedding gown and my Maid of Honor dress, with enough left over to keep a private nurse for my grandmother until I could find a real job.

I look around the church, wondering if I will ever get married. I doubt it. Alec, Jake, and Ryan did a number on me, and I’m not sure when or if I will ever be ready to let someone else in my heart.

I will grow old as the crazy old cat lady, playing Aunt to all of Ella’s children she plans to have.

I feel Ella stiffen beside me, “Are you ok?” I whisper to Ella. Not only am I her maid of honor, but she also asked me to walk her down the aisle to give her away.

“I’m fine, Bri.” She tugs on my arm, stopping me from asking any other questions.

“Ok, but if you need me to kick Bran’s ass, I will.” I squeeze her arm. “I love you, Ella. You know that, right?”

Ella’s life is almost as messed up as mine, but at least she knows her three men love her, and at least two of them pulled their heads out of their asses and are marrying her today.

“Yes, Bri, I know and love you too.” She smiles, and she looks like my old friend again before the stress of losing one of her loves weighs her down.

I know it will be hard for her to hear, but she needs to move on with her life. If Bran doesn’t want to marry her, at least she still has Rowan and Cael.

“So, trust me when I say you’re doing the right thing. You need to move forward with your life and quit waiting for something that might never happen.” I catch sight of three men I vowed I never wanted to see again. I turn my head in the opposite direction until we are farther down the aisle.

What are they doing here?

“What are they doing here?” Ella whispers to me, nodding at the back row where Ryan, Jake, and Alec all sit staring at me.

“I have no idea who you are talking about?” I straighten my shoulders, lift my chin, and stare at the minister at the end of the aisle. I bite the inside of my cheek to keep from crying, still not understanding what they are doing here at Ella’s wedding.

How dare they ruin Ella’s wedding.

We continue down the aisle until we reach the minister. We stop and I lift Ella’s veil, kissing each of her cheeks, “You got this, girl.” I say before taking my designated maid of honor position. Rowan and Cael take their place next to Ella.

The minister starts the ceremony, but my mind wanders to Alec, Jake, and Ryan.

Why are they here? My mind keeps repeating.

“Does anyone here object to the union of Ella to Rowan and Cael? Speak now or forever hold your peace.” Silence fills the church as we all collectively hold our breath.

“I object!” Bran’s voice carries through the church.

All eyes stare at Bran, waiting for him to continue his interruption, “One of the grooms is missing.” He calls out to the minister.

Bran whispers something to Ella, and the minister coughs politely, “Now that all the grooms are present, let’s finish the ceremony.” He says with a hint of laughter in his tone, the guests join in and laugh.

The minister backs up to the vows and then continues with the ceremony. Luckily, the rest of the ceremony went off without an issue.

“I now pronounce you husbands and wife. Gentlemen, you may now kiss your bride.”

Ella kisses each one of her grooms, and I can’t help the longing that tugs at my heart.

This could have been me with Alec, Jake, and Ryan, if only.

I stop my thoughts, refusing to go down that rabbit hole of wishful thinking.

Ella and her grooms walk down the aisle. The minister instructs me to follow. I take a deep breath and hold my head high. I have no idea why they are at Ella’s wedding. As far as I know, they aren’t friends with any of the grooms, if the way they acted towards each other at the park that day is any indication.

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