Page 72 of Kiss Me Forever

"I guess you will."

Chapter Fifteen

It had been sixteen days since she'd seen Alex, Andrea realized, as she zipped herself into her bridesmaid's dress. She'd kept herself busy with work and wedding events, managing to get her article written as well as participate in her sister's bachelorette weekend, bridal shower, rehearsal dinner and now the wedding. But all the while Alex had been on her mind. She couldn't believe how much she missed him. It was a deep ache that started in her heart and spread to every nerve ending in her body.

She'd thought of calling him so many times, but she'd always stopped herself. She'd wanted him to reach out to her first. And since her article had come out the day before, she'd been checking her phone even more frequently. But he hadn't called. Maybe what she'd written hadn't made a difference.

She sighed as she looked in the mirror and told herself she was a fool for thinking he'd get in touch. Alex was a man who needed a woman in his life he could trust, and that wasn't her.

"Why are you looking so glum?" Liz asked, coming up behind her.

She turned to her friend and fellow bridesmaid and forced a smile on herself. "I was just lost in thought."

"Thinking about Alex?"

She frowned, wishing she hadn't shared her feelings for Alex at the bachelorette party, but after a couple of glasses of champagne, she'd found herself confessing everything to her friends—not the part about Alex's past, but the part where she'd let herself fall in love with the man she was supposed to be profiling. She hadn't told them about her betrayal either; she'd just hinted that she'd been a little too ambitious and thought she'd hurt him. They'd all been intensely curious, but good friends that they were, they hadn't asked too many questions. They'd just tried to cheer her up and make her feel better.

"I did let myself go there," she admitted. "But I'm done. Today is about Laurel. Is she finished with her pictures yet?" Her mom and sister had been taking some photographs in the garden outside the church for the last half hour.

"Yes, she's her way here," Liz replied.

"Great." Andrea turned back to face the mirror. "We don't look too bad."

"No, we don't," Liz agreed. "I'll never wear this dress again, but at least it's not hideous, just really frilly."

The lacey mint green dress was not Andrea's taste either, but it fit perfectly with Laurel's vision. She smiled at Liz. "The first dress of many."

Liz smiled back at her. "Well, no one else seems to be even close to getting engaged, so hopefully bridesmaids dresses will improve before the next wedding."

Andrea laughed. "I seriously doubt it. By the way, how is your dad?"

"He's a little better, but he has officially retired from the company, which is going to make my life more challenging. I'm going to have to make myself extremely valuable to his partners or they'll find a way to kick me out."

"What are you going to do?"

"I'm in the running for a big new account worth millions of dollars. If I can bring it in, the partners won't have any choice but to keep me, and then I can keep my dad's legacy alive."

"I wish you luck."

"Thanks. I think I'm going to need it."

As Liz finished speaking, the door to the church dressing room opened, and the bride and the rest of the bridal party poured into the room. Jessica had arrived the night before from San Diego with her six-year-old son, Braden. Andrea adored Braden. He and Jessica had slept on her pull-out couch the night before, and she'd had some time to catch up with Jess whose divorce had left her reeling but determined to make a better life for herself.

"Hi Andrea," Braden said. "I'm going to carry the rings."

She smiled at the proud look in his eyes. "I know. I can't wait to see you walk down the aisle." Braden was completely adorable in his black suit and dark green tie.

"I just hope he doesn't drop the pillow," Jessica said.

"He'll do just fine."

"Everyone looks so beautiful," Jessica added, wistfulness in her voice. "I really wish I'd done my wedding right the first time."

"You'll have another chance," Andrea assured her. "And we'll all be there for you the next time."

"Well, it won't be any time soon."

"We have time for one toast," Kate interrupted as she and Liz quickly handed out glasses of champagne. "Andrea, do you want to do the honors?"

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