Page 2 of One Night with my Best Friend's Dad

Much to Piper’s dismay.

“Of course I did. I wouldn’t miss my daughter’s wedding.”

Piper rolls her eyes. “It’s the rehearsal.”

“Right.” He nods, his eyes meet mine again, and I feel like my secret is written all over my face. My hand instinctively goes to my stomach before I give him a thin smile and look at the floor.

As the elevator doors open, we spill out into the lobby. “See you there,” Mac calls after us as we hurry towards the doors.

Outside, Piper stops and turns to face me. Her eyes on mine and if it’s as though she knows my secret. “You sure you’re okay, Kel? You look pale.”

I force a smile. “I’m fine. Just nervous about the wedding, I guess.”

“It’s me who should be nervous.” Her eyes narrow. “Is there something you’re not telling me?”

I shake my head, my heart pounding. “No, of course not. Let’s go. We don’t want to be late.”

As we climb into the waiting limo, Piper keeps her eyes on me. It's like she knows I'm hiding something.

I give her a weak smile and turn to stare out the window. My mind racing as we travel through the city streets.

I know I’m going to have to talk to Mac and eventually Piper about my secret. I'm not ready, but I know I can’t keep lying forever. Sooner or later, the truth will come out. And when it does, nothing will ever be the same again.

I’m frightened of losing my best friend. But I know Piper will hate me once she finds out the truth. But losing her as a friend is the chance I’ll have to take.

Not today, though. She’s my best friend, and this is supposed to be the happiest time of her life. I can’t ruin that for her.

“Oh look. It’s so pretty,” Sophie, another bridesmaid, says as the limo pulls up in front of the church.

It’s a quaint town. The church is old, with stone walls and the perfect arch above the large wooden double doors, with pretty stained-glass windows all around.

We climb out of the limo, and I smooth my dress with my palms while taking a deep breath. The air is crisp and cool as it enters my lungs. It’s also the perfect day for a wedding rehearsal for a girl who’s dreamed of a Christmas wedding her entire life.

Not that Piper’s getting a Christmas wedding, but she was happy to get the theme.

I follow Piper and the other bridesmaids up the steps of the church, my heart pounding with each step, knowing I’ll see Mac again very soon.

As we enter the church, Connor, the groom, stands at the altar with his groomsmen. When he turns, his eyes light up the moment he sees his future bride.

I hate that a pang of jealousy hits me without warning. I can't help it. Since I found out I was pregnant, I knew I'd ruined my chances of anyone ever looking at me like that.

“You’re late,” the wedding planner scolds as she hurries over to us with a bouquet in her hand. She thrusts it into Piper’s palm. “We need to get started.”

Piper rolls her eyes. “Relax, we’re here now. Dad is on his way.”

The wedding planner plasters on a fake smile as we take our places at the back of the church, waiting for the music and our cue to walk down the aisle.

The doors open behind us.

As Mac strides in, my body shudders from head to toe.

He smiles at Piper before his gaze moves to me. It’s only fleeting, but it’s enough to make me fidget with the stem of the bouquet, and my face heats at an alarming rate.

I’m saved when the music starts, and the bridesmaids, including me, begin our slow walk down the aisle.

As I reach the altar, I glance at Piper as she walks down the aisle with her dad. A massive smile on her face as she stares at Connor.

Mac moves to one side, standing with the groomsmen opposite me. And now I take him in. It’s the same as the first time I met him. Then, like now, I’m not in the least bit put off by the age gap or by the silver streaks that cut into his dark hair. His body is still like the hockey players he coaches, but I know he keeps to the same exercise regime the guys do when they are not on the ice.

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