Page 2 of Kiss the Bride

“My wedding is in two hours, and I don’t know what to say.”

“Livia, you’ll be fine. You and Mitch will stare into each others’ eyes and say whatever you feel.” The words are like vomit in my throat. How can I do this?Because Olivia asked you to agree when Mitch asked you to be his best man. Because Livia has been dreaming of her wedding day since she saw her first Disney movie, and part of my best man duties are to do whatever it takes so the happy couple can get to say their 'I do's'.

“You don’t understand!” Her voice cracks and I recognize the signs. She’s a perfectionist and panic is part of her process. “I wrote the perfect vows. I have quotes from poets!”

I have to hold back a laugh. Olivia doesn’t research. She doesn’t do poetry. I helped her with every English assignment, especially the romantic classics. We were the oddest couple—she helped me with math and science while I helped her pass English and languages.

“Please! Hunter, I need my words.”

“Livia, I love you, but I'mnotgoing to write your wedding vows for you.”

“I’m not asking you to, ew, gross. I need you to take me home so I can print them out.”

“Can’t you get them on your phone?” I go through the motions even while searching for my car keys. If Olivia is asking, she’s already exhausted all options.

“Please, are you going to make me beg?”

“Oh, sweetheart, you’ve never begged in your life.” Not my North Shore princess with her private schools and gold-plated upbringing. If her daddy can’t put it on platinum, it isn’t worth having.

“Hunter, please. Help me and I’ll tell you which of my friends have a crush on you.”

“I’ll be there in ten.” I don’t need her to tell me about her friends. Her closest friends, Jess and Elena, might still treat me as the villain who broke Olivia’s heart, but others have volunteered to use my body as their personal play gym. Unfortunately for them, there’s only room for one blonde in my heart or bed and she’s about to get married. Perhaps, after Olivia and Mitch jet off on their honeymoon, I’ll think about dating. Or, more likely, I’ll find a reason to leave the country again before they return—the Hong Kong office could do with another restructure and they'll respect me for handling it in person as my father's representative.

Whatever.Today, Olivia needs me, and I refuse to let her down. Keys in hand and wedding bands in my top pocket, I leave the rest of the groomsmen sans the groom to help the bride collect her vows.

What else can a best man do?

Winding my way through traffic, I can’t help but think that this should be us.

Our mothers met in high school, surviving the elite ladies’ college preparation for university and marriage. They married men who were best friends and we grew up in unimaginable wealth, luxury holidays, and expectation that we should give back through action as well as money.

We were the one percenters people dreamed of or hated. Olivia and I fell into being childhood friends, first loves, and preordained to wed after college. Except, I broke her heart before we started college. Not because of my feelings for Livia.I loved her before I knew the meaning of the word. No, I left because I resented the hell out of being almost forced into a marriage without knowing who we were without each other.

It wasn’t our fault. We’d been playmates since trapped in the portable cot together at ladies’ lunches, guests of honor at each others’ birthday parties, and dates for graduations.

Oliva was my first love, and I was hers. We had been perfect together, right up until I rebelled. Accidentally getting the marks to Sydney University, I started the year as a single man and tried never to look back.

I was an idiot.

When Mitch wanted to date my ex, I respected the hell out of him for asking first. My approval meant her parents dropped any objection and our friends breathed a sigh of relief. I tried to love her enough to be happy for them.

Mitch and Olivia.

In a couple of hours, I’ll give the best, best man’s speech of the decade while offering the couple my love and support. I’ll even wish the blushing bride a world of happiness with her new husband.

All I have to do is save the day and get her there.

I can do this.I can come to her rescue, watch her print the wedding vows, get her to the church, and crush my heart when she promises to love the lucky bastard forever.

We’ve always been friends. No one knows her better. Other than her parents, I can’t believe anyone can love her more. But she deserves to be happy, and Mitch makes her happy.

I can do this,I accelerate to get this day over with. I can be there for her. I can put my feelings aside and do what’s right for the woman I love.

This is about what Livia needs, not what I want.

She takes my breath away.

Olivia’s purple knit cardigan barely conceals the exquisite wedding gown my mother described in a detail I never appreciated.

---