Page 52 of The King's Fake Bride

CHAPTER 18

AMY

Gabby tosses her veil out behind her. “I can’t believe it. In less than twenty minutes, I’m going to be walking down the aisle. It still doesn’t feel real even though I’ve been planning this for a year.”

Laughing, I reach out and adjust a piece of her hair. “You look beautiful. Paul isn’t going to know what hit him.”

“I’m sure he’s asking himself what he got himself into.” Gabby smirks and looks at herself in the mirror, turning this way and that to get a better look at the dress that hugs her body like a glove.

“He knows how lucky he is to have someone like you in his life. I know that the two of you are going to have an amazing marriage.”

The wedding planner appears and gives the other bridesmaids their cue, and they all file out of the room, leaving me and Gabby alone.

Gabby turns to me, a stern look on her face. “And where is Xander? I thought he was going to come to the wedding with you?”

“He thought about it, but then there was some drama with the caterers for our wedding, so he’s staying there and handling it so I can be here with you.”

Another lie.

They keep piling on top of each other.

I’m going to have to tell Gabby the truth eventually, but how do you tell your best friend that you were relieved your fiancé said he was too busy with work to come?

If nothing else, the couple days I’m back in New Jersey are days for me to get my head together and figure out what it is that I want from my own marriage.

I’m not sure that a bakery is enough anymore.

Not when it feels like Xander and I are lingering on the edge of something bigger, but both of us are too scared to take that jump.

The wedding planner reappears at the door. “It’s time! Are we ready to go in here?”

Gabby nods at her, grabbing her bouquet. She turns to me. “You know, the other girls and I have been talking about your wedding all week. I can’t believe you’re taking us on a private plane.”

I roll my eyes and grab my own flowers. “Enough about me. This is your big day. We’re supposed to be celebrating you, and that’s what I plan on doing, even if you keep trying to distract me.”

She laughs and nods to the door. “Let’s go get me married.”

We walk through the villa, heading to the heavy iron gates that lead to the courtyard of the winery.

Gabby takes a deep breath and loops her arm through her father’s while I stand with the rest of the bridesmaids.

The soft and lilting song she chose to walk down the aisle to starts, and the first bridesmaid comes out, meeting one of the groomsmen when she steps through the door.

I take a deep breath, waiting for the others to go before it’s my turn. All I can do is focus on not tripping on the white rug that lines the aisle as we walk to the altar.

Paul beams as everyone stands.

Gabby steps out of the villa, looking radiant as she smiles. Tears gather in my eyes as I stand to the side, happy that I could be here for my best friend.

It would’ve been nice if Xander could be here to meet my friends before the wedding.

The thought is fleeting, my heart sinking deeper in my chest as Gabby hands me her bouquet.

The beginning of the ceremony is lost to me as I stand there, wondering if my own wedding is going to be as beautiful as this.

“And now, Gabby and Paul are going to say their vows.” The officiant turns the microphone to Gabby first.

She sniffles and dabs her fingers beneath her eyes. “I know this is going to sound like something straight out of a fairy tale, but when I met you, Paul, I knew I’d met the one.”

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