Page 66 of Nothing to the Wedding
“I’ll go first,” Roxie said.“I’m the opening act, you’re the headliner.”
She’d be the first to admit that even the dress, makeup, and hair didn’t transform her into the perfect picture bride.Jane was picture-perfect.Her gorgeous friend had the glow.Something that couldn’t be faked, the biological reaction to fulfilling an epic life goal.Shit, it was almost enough to dampen her eyes, but no way was she sitting in that chair another hour to get the makeup fixed.
“People came here to see you,” Jane said.“Not me.”
“That’s where you’re wrong.All of our people are out there.The guest list got Knox’s approval too.You don’t think everyone wants to know more about the woman who conquered Knox Collier?”She made such a vision that containing herself was near impossible.“You are so pretty.”
Toria came rushing in, tossing the door closed behind her.“If you two are done chatting it up, we have a crowd of folks and two particularly focused men waiting out here for you.I’ve got to say, when I said ‘crowd’ shit, girls, it’s like the royal wedding.How the fuck are there so many people in that room?Do we know that many people?”
Well, it wasn’t one room, it was several open to each other.That reminder, though, wasn’t helpful.Damnit Toria.The prospect of so many people may freak Jane out, but for Toria, it was Christmas.Sometimes the excitement got too much for her friend to hold in.
“Okay, if we’re doing this,” she said, locking eyes with Jane.“Then we’re doing this.”
“Is it twenty-three?”
“Twenty-three what?”Toria joined them.“I don’t get it.”
Without any uncertainty, Jane answered.“We have to be twenty-three minutes late.”
“You timed it?”Toria asked.
Wonders never ceased with beautiful Jane.Why were they surprised?Being so specific… talk about forward planning.A lot of thought had gone into this moment.A lifetime of thought.Jane hadn’t known the wedding was happening this morning, not hers, though, shit, she’d sure turned up with her ignition on.
“Why twenty-three?”
“It’s long enough to fit tradition, but not too long it might be considered rude.”
On her wedding day, Jane’s precision, and politeness, remained intact.Even being late was planned to a T.
“Oh, honey, I’d kiss you if it wouldn’t ruin your makeup.”
“No kisses,” Toria said, taking each of their hands.“Not until Jane says so.Now let’s do this.”
NINETEEN
ONE STEP, two steps.This was so much easier with Jane and Toria at her side.Not that she’d ever be without them.Jane’s solidarity was important too.This was them, doing this huge life changing thing, together.And Toria wasn’t being left behind, their confident friend was more than happy with her life and her freedom.
Married.
Shit, her heart was hopping.The three of them stood alone in the small, private foyer at the head of the aisle.Doors on all four walls, plenty of avenues for escape.Grand Hotel thought of everything.
The sound beyond the double doors up front signaled people.A lot of people.That didn’t scare her.He was in there.Her Casanova.Waiting for her.Something he was accustomed to maybe, but definitely not on this scale.
Was he thinking of their secret too?This was pantomime, theater for their egos and fans.They didn’t need to do this for them but owed it to… everyone.
Their relationship had been scrutinized and dissected on almost every platform, in every form of media.They belonged to the people they cared about, and the people who cared about them.And, yes, that included the Delights, the Crimsettes, and the Queens.
But they had a secret.One the world didn’t know.Their union, their marriage, was old news.Still, there was something exhilarating about performing under the big top.
Adrenaline rushed and Jane’s hand got clammy.Standing up in front of thousands of people was something Roxie did practically every day.Sure, most of them were numbers on a screen, but that didn’t diminish their importance or impact.Jane, on the other hand, was less experienced with being visually consumed.
“You ready?”Toria asked.
Who?Her or Jane?
Everyone had to be on their game.
“Ready,” she said and they looked to Jane.“You’ve been ready for this since you were four years old.Just keep your eyes on Knox.”
