Page 139 of Fake As Puck
“Thanks. You too.”
“Nervous?”
“About what?”
“About seeing your girlfriend all dressed up. First time she’s seeing you in formal wear, right?”
I blink. What is it with everyone knowing the details of my relationship? “Right.”
“That’s a big moment. Sets the tone for future formal events.”
“Future formal events?” I ask.
“You know. Galas, charity things, your own wedding.”
I inhale, trying to not allow this to get on my nerves. “I’m not having my own wedding.”
“Yet.”
I snap, “Why does everyone keep saying ‘yet’?”
“You’ll see.”
What the hell?
I straighten my bow tie and try not to think about the fact that there’s something going on that I don’t know about.
The ceremony is held in the vineyard, with rows of white chairs arranged between the grapevines and an archway of flowers facing the rolling hills.
It’s stunning. The kind of setting that makes you believe in forever.
I take my place at the altar with the other groomsmen, and when the music starts, I scan the crowd for Liv.
I find her in the second row, wearing that green dress Tessa was talking about, and I swear she’s glowing.
Actually glowing, like she has some kind of internal light source.
She catches my eye and smiles, and something in my chest loosens.
She’s here. She came. She’s wearing the dress that makes her eyes look like emeralds, and she’s smiling at me like I’m someone worth smiling at.
The processional begins, and I watch Jake’s face as the bridesmaids walk down the aisle. He’s nervous but happy, the kind of nervous that comes from excitement rather than doubt.
Then the bride appears, and the entire crowd goes silent.
Sarah looks beautiful and radiant in the way brides are supposed to look.
But I’m not really watching Sarah.
I’m watching Jake’s face as he sees her for the first time, the way his expression shifts from nervous anticipation to pure joy.
I’m watching him mouth “wow” and tear up without even realizing it.
I’m watching him fall in love all over again in front of fifty people.
And I feel my own eyes getting watery, because this is what it looks like when someone sees their future walking toward them.
I glance back at the crowd and find Liv watching me instead of the bride.
