Page 1 of The VIP Package

CHAPTER 1

CAMILLE

“He should be here any minute.”

I glance at my watch, then turn from the full-length mirror in the bathroom of the Multnomah County Courthouse. Facing my two dearest friends, I give them a shaky smile. “How do I look?”

Tears fill Sara’s pretty brown eyes. “Beautiful.”

“Gorgeous.” Eve steps forward and touches my boob.

Wait. Not my boob.

“You’ve got a button undone.” She fastens the white starburst at my breastbone. “Whoops, there goes another.”

“Goddammit.” I glare at the runaway buttons, annoyed with myself for not having this altered. “I might’ve picked wrong.”

Eve frowns. “The dress?”

I did mean the dress, but now that she says it, that’s not the only thing feeling a little bit off. “Is it a bad sign Hayden’s late for our wedding?”

“I don’t think so.” Sara hands me the tiny seed pearl veil she helped me pick at a Portland boutique yesterday. “I’m sure he’s just tied up in court.”

That’s the reason we’re doing this here, today. Hayden’s filing ex parte motions with two different judges; one at ten,one at two-thirty. It’s efficient to squeeze in our simple, no-fuss ceremony between them.

Eve slips a safety pin from her purse. “Want to try this for the buttons?”

“No, thank you.” With my luck, I’d stab my own tit right as I utterI do. “I just want to get this fucking thing over with.”

“That’s the spirit.” Sara props her butt on the edge of a not-very-clean sink. “Nothing says passionate romance like getting it over with.”

A toilet flushes and a sleek-ponytailed attorney in a tailored gray suit strides out of a stall. She picks up her briefcase and nods as she passes. “Congratulations,” she says. “Steer clear of the third courtroom on the left. Convicted felon with a bride fetish.”

“Uh, thanks.” I watch as she walks out the door, then turn to my friends with a grimace. “Maybe this was a bad idea.”

The fact that neither one argues should clue me in. I already know I made an impulsive choice.

No. Not impulsive.

I’ve dated Hayden Marx since grad school. He was a young, up-and-coming attorney as I was finishing my post-doc training in marriage and family therapy. We got along well and cycled through typical milestones of moving in together and building careers. Getting hitched was never a priority.

“It’s fine. Everything’s fine.” I straighten my gold and pearl choker. “Hayden and I have been through a lot. We share a house, a car, and a Netflix account.” It sounds like I’m making a case I don’t totally buy. “It was time to shit or get off the pot.”

“Beautifully put.” Eve looks at her watch and winces.

Sara bites her lip. “Why don’t we go see if Trent or Kit has heard from Hayden?”

“Good idea. Kit’s in the cafeteria.” Eve glances at me. “I can check in with him and grab us some snacks.”

“That’s okay.” For once in my life, I’m not really hungry. “But feel free to grab yourself something and see if he’s heard from Hayden.”

“Trent’s in the garden.” Sara offers a halfhearted smile. “Probably checking for terrorist activity, but I’ll go see if he’s spotted him.”

“Good plan.” I like the idea of sending out a search party. Perhaps my friends’ partners can track down my groom. “He shuts off his phone when he’s talking with judges. Maybe ex parte ran long.”

“I’m sure that’s it.” Sara gives me a hug, then slips out of the bathroom with Eve on her heels.

At the door, Eve pauses. “Text if you need anything, okay? Anything at all.”

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