Page 51 of Best Man
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Fresh and clean and awake, Paulina stepped outside. The sky was clear and blue and the late morning sun shone hot and bright, which was great news for the outdoor ceremony. The grass was only a little damp beneath her shoes, but it would dry in the hours before the ceremony.
She hopped into her truck and drove over to the barn. Working quickly, Paulina moved all the sky lanterns out of the barn and into her truck for later. Once she’d hidden the surprise back at her yurt, she headed over to the farm house.
She found the party in the enormous bathroom of Piper’s master bedroom, where the girls lounged in their jammies and bath robes. They erupted into a cheer and applause when Paulina walked in.
“Yaaaaay!”
“Hi everybody!” she said, happily passing out hugs to the bridesmaids. “Sorry I’m late!”
“G’morning, smiles,” Austen said when they hugged. “You sure look happy.”
“Do I?” Paulina asked, trying to hide it, but her smile only grew wider.
“Sure are. In fact, I’d say you’re glowing.”
“Well, it’s a great day! My sister’s getting married,” Paulina said, happy to have a good excuse.
“So how’d that mysterious project go?” Emma asked when she hugged her next.
“Great! We got a lot done.”
“What was it, anyway?”
“My lips are sealed,” Paulina said with a wink.
“Yeah, but were they sealed last night?” Austen joked from behind.
Paulina laughed. “Oh, please. You guys are so ridiculous.”
She saved the bride for last. She squeezed her sister tight. “PIPER! YOU’RE GETTING MARRIED TODAY!” she yelled.
“I FREAKIN’ KNOW!” Piper squealed, and the sisters hopped around as they hugged.
“So?!” She shook Piper by the shoulders. “How’s it feel?!”
“Great.”Piper did a happy dance in her bathrobe, swinging her hips and poking her fingers in the air. “At the end of the night, I get to call my best friend my husband. And the best part? I’msoexcited for all of this madness to be over.”
“Same.” Paulina snickered. She parked her bottom on the bathroom vanity. “So, what can I do for you, sis?”
“Ready to do my hair?” Piper asked. “ ‘Cause I am, if you are.”
“Yup!” Paulina slid right off the vanity and grabbed the curling iron. Piper wanted to wear her hair half-up, with loose, wavy curls and a braid. They’d already practiced the style several times over the past few weeks to perfect it, so Paulina knew just what to do.
The other bridesmaids gathered around to watch and talk as Paulina sectioned off and began to curl Piper’s hair.
“Oh, wait! Before you get started—did you clear out the barn yet?” Piper asked. “Because Veronica was all pissy about a bunch of stuff being in there about an hour ago.”
“I moved everything before I came over,” she said. “You didn’t go in there, did you?”
“No, I got your text telling me to stay out. What’s in there, anyway?”
“The surprise that Sasha and I were working on,” Paulina said, and instantly regretted it—she hoped no one had noticed. But theyallhad, of course.
“SASHA?!”
“Who the heck is Sasha?”
