Page 104 of My Best Friend's Mardi Gras Wedding

But he was shaking his head before she finished.“No.It can’t wait.It has to be now.Or never.”He looked physically pained.

She frowned.This was her best friend.The one person who’d always had her back.She hadn’t cared who was looking on when she’d brought a dog, a pig, and cupcakes to school for Marcus Turner.She sure didn’t care about the pews full of strangers that were watching this.

Which was a good thing because the organ had stopped playing and the other bridesmaids were clustered at the back of the church, watching, as if hesitant to come any closer to…whatever this was.

Tori took a deep breath.“Okay.Tell me.”

“I’m in love with you.”

Tori froze.

The entire church was completely quiet.Silent.Not even a gasp.

She felt her eyes widening as Andrew stared at her.

“What?”she finally half-whispered, half-choked.

He nodded.And stepped forward.She stepped back.

“I’m in love with you, Tori.”

“But…you’re doing thisnow?Likethis?”She glanced into the congregation and saw a sea of stunned expressions.But she couldn’t see Josh.

Or Paisley.She winced.Paisley wasn’t at the back yet.They could still fix this.Maybe.Possibly.

Oh God.

“I have to do it now,” Andrew said.He stepped forward again and reached for her hand.“I’ve always loved you.But I didn’t realize it was…lovelove.I always knew you’d be a part of my life and I guess I got comfortable with that.But now I’m realizing it’s all going to change and I…don’t want it to.I love you.I want you in my life.Every day.All the days.”

Tori stared at him.This man’s face was as familiar as her own.She’d known him through every life phase.Every major milestone.And yet, right now, she didn’t know who she was looking at.Andrew wasin lovewith her?No.That didn’t feel right.

“I can’t believe you’re doing this here.Now.Like this,” she said.Her voice sounded tight.She wasn’t sure if she was fighting back tears or hysterical laughter or what exactly.

“I wanted to do it before,” he said.“But,” he went on, squeezing her hands, “this is good.I’m glad about this now.This is how I should do it.This is like you bringing Marcus cupcakes.This is like all the times you’ve worn your heart on your sleeve.This is me putting it all out there.”

Oh…God.

“Andrew, I—”

“What in the hell is going on?”

The screech came from the back of the church.From the woman in white who had just pushed her way through her bridesmaids.

Paisley had arrived.

Nowthere were gasps from the pews.Everyone turned to watch her, people started talking, and the bridesmaids crowded into the aisle behind her.

“What thefuck,Andrew?”Paisley demanded from halfway down the aisle.

The gasps got louder and the minister dropped the Bible he was holding.

Tori jerked her hand from Andrew’s hold as the bride came storming up the aisle, her veil streaming behind her, murder on her face.

If her finding them kissing in Bourbon O had been an eight on the oh-shit-this-is-bad scale, this was now a fifteen.

“Paisley, I’m sorry—” Andrew started.

“No!”the bride said firmly, coming to stand right in front of them.She glared up at Andrew and actually stomped her foot.“No.You’renotdoing this.Iaskedyou after you kissed her.I gave you an out.You said no.You said you didn’t have feelings for her.You’re not doing thisnow.”

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