Page 52 of Hers to Marry
Kat’s eyes saucered.
Drew chuckled. “Nervous?” he whispered while the preacher went on about why they were all gathered here today.
Kat nodded.
Drew took her hands in his and squeezed. He recited his vows, and Kat followed in a shaky voice. Drew winked at her and squeezed her hands again, which Kat was sure were drenched with her sweat. There was no reason for her to be this nervous. Drew didn’t love her, this wasn’t a real wedding, and her heart was safe and sound. No risks.
No Steven.
“You may now kiss the bride.”
Kat’s eyes shot to her mother’s who nodded furiously, her grin so wide Kat thought to have her doctor make sure she was on the right medicine. Was she this happy because it might be the only time to witness her middle daughter get married? Fake married, rather? Muriel sat in the front row, shoving her hands together in the air.
The pastor leaned in close. “Uh, you don’t have to, if you don’t want—”
“We got this pastor.” A warm hand circled her waist, and Kat’s gaze vaulted to Drew’s. “Make it look real,” he whispered.
Kat closed her eyes as Drew’s lips covered hers.
Finally.
Warm lips glided gently over hers. Kat tasted the sweet flavor of icing she had used to frost some of the cupcakes she’d brought. His smooth facial hair smelled like spice and lightly tickled her mouth. She moaned slightly, thoroughly enjoying the taste of him.
Drew brought her flush against his chest, and she melted into his body. She wrapped her arms around his neck, slipping her fingers into his hair and holding him firmly to her. He parted her lips, and they slowly, eagerly explored each other in a way Kat hadn’t dared dream.
People hollered and cheered, but Kat barely heard anything above the pounding of her own heart. Her lips clung earnestly to his, desperate for the moment to never end.
Mom was right: Drew was her Steven. She didn’t want to live regretting not being with him. And the way he held her to him, she couldn’t be the only one thinking this was real.
Make it look real.
The words came rushing back to her in a tidal wave of ice-cold water that hit her square on, and she stiffened. Drew abruptly ended the kiss and searched her eyes.
This wasn’t real.
It was a reenactment. Drew was only playing the part of a groom in love. He was in love, just not with her.
Kat felt sick to her stomach. How had she allowed herself to really kiss him? Did he know she wasn’t acting at all?
He grinned at the crowd and waved. He tucked her hand underneath his arm, and he practically had to support her weight as they walked down the aisle to a cheering crowd.
Kat caught Muriel’s pleased look while passing and then saw her mother’s worried one. She must’ve read Kat’s face, read how Kat had finally given in to her feelings and they weren’t going to be reciprocated.
At the end of the aisle, Drew pulled her in for another quick kiss before lifting her up and carrying her over some imaginary threshold. Kat managed to give a wave to the crowd before allowing Drew to carry her somewhere away from the scene. Hopefully, back to the changing tent so she could get out of these clothes and go hide in the car.
She couldn’t even look up at her handsome fake-groom. He had to have known she was kissing him for real. And he was too nice of a friend to give her away.
He was no longer Steven, the boy in love. She was.
Stevenette, maybe.
There really wasn’t a good girl’s name…
