Page 90 of It Could Happen
I close my eyes as I replay my conversation with Parker. The time has come for me to take some risks. If I want to see where things could go with Tyler, I need to be open and honest with him. I can’t let Leslie sneak in and take over.
Yes. Tonight?
He replies immediately.
Perfect. Golfing all day and probably will get back just in time to get ready for rehearsal.
I feel a burst of anticipation as I slide my phone inside my bag in time for Caroline’s grandmother to start talking. She asks that we go around the table and offer Caroline an encouraging word or piece of advice as she embarks on this next stage of her life. As each of the women speak, Caroline’s tears continue to fall. It’s very touching to listen to what an impact she has made on everyone’s lives. Caroline is a genuine person with a heart of gold. I feel so much gratitude that we’ve reconnected and that I could share in this day with her.
Jeannie leans over and whispers in my ear, “Mark thinks he saw Rachel in the hotel this morning. Do you think she’d have the nerve to stay?”
My eyes grow wide. “I have no idea. Would she? I mean, Caroline told her to leave the suite last night. Maybe she didn’t mean the hotel.”
“The rooms were already paid for,” Jeannie says, making a face. “I wouldn’t put it past Rachel to take advantage of a free weekend. She seems to have a habit of crossing boundaries.”
Hah. That’s one way to put it.
“Hopefully, Leslie doesn’t run into her,” Jeannie adds. “Rachel had better stay clear. She’s not someone I’d want to cross.”
I shrug. “I’m not afraid of Leslie, but I agree with you about Rachel.”
I glance over to see Leslie chatting with Erica and Caroline’s mother. Despite Leslie’s intense dislike for me, I have no doubt she’d do anything for her friends. Unfortunately, she made up her mind about me even before Tyler and I met.
Our conversation is interrupted by Caroline’s mother going over the itinerary for the remainder of the weekend. The rehearsal dinner begins at six this evening and, of course, the moment we’ve been anticipating—the grand finale tomorrow.
Thankfully, the brunch ends up going off without a hitch, and Caroline is in all her glory surrounded by the women who are the closest to her.
My day gets even better when I get a message from my mother, letting me know they’ve arrived at the hotel.
As soon as the brunch begins wrapping up, I excuse myself to meet up with my parents who have already made themselves comfortable by the pool.
“Byron, she’s hereee,” my mother shouts, jumping up from her lounge chair. She’s wearing a bright green cover-up with the biggest hat I’ve ever seen. The brim nearly pokes my eye out when she hugs me.
“Hey, Mom, nice hat,” I say, rubbing my eye.
“Hi, Dad.”
“Hi, sweetheart,” he says. “Have you seen the prices on this menu? Fifteen dollars for a chicken sandwich. This is so typical for one of these hoity-toity resorts.”
My mom shushes him. She was willing to do anything to be invited to this wedding, a fifteen-dollar sandwich isn’t going to faze her.
“You look so pretty today,” my mom says, pointing to my floral shift dress.
I sit down and tell her about the bridal brunch, and thankfully, she doesn’t ask why she didn’t get an invitation. I think she’s realized that she was lucky enough to be invited to the main event.
I spend the rest of the afternoon with my parents before getting ready for the rehearsal dinner. Caroline has requested that we all wear black for this evening’s attire. Erica sends a text reminder which actually makes me a bit sad since it will be one of her last texts on the group chat. I also check to see if Rachel is still on it, and as expected, her name has been removed. This was probably one of the first things Erica did.
I slip into my one-shoulder, little black dress and black stiletto booties. I part my hair down the middle and add a few loose waves. I’m very pleased with how I look and ready to take on whatever the evening brings.
I arrive in the ballroom a few minutes early. I immediately notice Tyler, talking to Andy and his dad. Admittedly, I have to stop myself from staring because he looks so hot. He’s wearing a black suit over a gray button up shirt and no tie. The top few buttons are undone, revealing enough of his chest to make any woman drool.
As soon as he spots me, his eyes grow wide and he mouthswow.
I give him a cautious smile, and before I have a chance to move toward him, Leslie stops me. Does she have some sort of radar when it comes to Tyler?
Leslie looks absolutely stunning in her black strapless dress. Her red hair is piled on top of her head, and her makeup is flawless.
“You’re not going to believe this, butRachelis still here.” She spits her name out as if it were poison.
