Page 155 of Reconciling With the Rival

I tilt my head at my soon-to-be-wife, remembering that nightverywell. She cornered me at the hockey house and spewed a bunch of bullshit. I think she just wanted to chat with me. This girl has had the hots for me since we first met—no matter how much she denies it.

“I don't remember that,” Paige says. “But I am a genius, aren't I?” She looks at Oliver.

“You’re the smartest, love,” he says as he kisses her forehead.

“You don't remember because you were drunk after one drink,” Hads smiles at her.

“Oh, that makes sense,” she nods. “Ella, what time is this all happening?”

With that, Ella reaches into her purse and pulls out new itineraries for everyone. “It’s our last night, and this is how we’re making it count! So, everyone be ready by three!”

“Got it!” Paige says as she all but drags Ella into our bedroom while the guys and I remain in the main area of our hotel room. The eight of us all have adjoining rooms—our door leading into Hads and Grant’s room. Amelia, Henry, Paige, and Oliver have their own connected room across the hall.

“I’ll order some room service. Are you guys hungry?” I ask the guys as they all stare at me. “What?”

“Why don’t you let us take care of that?” Grant says, taking the phone from me.

“Why?”

“Dude, it’s your wedding day,” Oliver pats my shoulder.

Henry sits next to me. “Let us take care of this, and you can relax and think about your wife in the other room.”

Ella’s going to look beautiful no matter what, I’m sure of it. She did forbid me from looking at her dress, but I’m sure it’s going to be gorgeous. Ella has this annoying habit of looking astonishing in anything she wears. She’ll say it's the clothes, but I say it’s because of the girl wearing them.

“All I have to do is put my suit on and fix my hair,” I tell them. “It’s not too much, guys. I promise.”

“Well, then you have to actually get married,” Henry points out.

“That’s the easy part.” All three of them look at me like I’m insane. “What?”

“You’ll absolutely have a freak out at some point today,” Grant tells me.

“No, I won’t.”

“That’s the exact same thing Oliver said.” Grant smiles as he jams his elbow into Oliver’s side. “And then he worried about the color tie he was wearing all fucking day. It was hilarious.”

“Grant, you were the one who almost shaved your head before you walked down the aisle,” Henry points out.

Oh, shit. I remember that.Am I going to freak out? I’ve known about this for months, and all I’ve felt is excitement, but these fuckers are making me second guess myself.

“It didn't look good enough! You know what? Save it, Hayes. When you get married, I guarantee you’ll have some sort of stupid meltdown like we all did.”

“Hey! I’m not a part of that statistic yet,” I remind them.

“Just wait,” Grant and Oliver both tell me.

About an hour later, as the four of us are sitting and watching a show, the food arrives, and the girls walk out of the room—half of their hair not done and only part of their makeup applied.

“You guys look…”

I cut Oliver off. “Beautiful. He was going to say beautiful.”

“Well, duh,” Hads says. “But you,” she points at me, “can’t see Ella until the ceremony. So, turn around.”

“Is this really necessary?” I ask them.

“Just do it,” Grant tells me, turning me around himself. “Come on out, Ells.”

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