Page 53 of Ten Christmases Without You
She regretted not reaching out to him more between Christmases. If she’d had her career sorted out, she might have had the capacity to try to develop a relationship with Charlie. Who knew where things could’ve gone. But after seeing him with Amelia, she just felt as if she’d failed to take control of one more thing in her life. Above all, she dared not admit that her disappointment was because, even after all these years, she still had feelings for him.
The song came to an end, and the DJ’s voice boomed through the room. “Could we clear the floor and have all the single ladies for the bouquet toss?”
The crowd parted and was replaced by a flock of giggling women stepping onto the dance floor.
Madison stood up. “That’s your cue.”
An icy shot pinged through Emmy’s veins. “You’re not suggesting I go up there, are you?”
“You are single. So yes.” Madison tugged Emmy’s arm, pulling her to a standing position.
“I’m not going.”
Madison’s face crumpled. “Why not?”
“Because it’s a silly tradition. And if the bouquet catch even holds a shred of magic, the last thing I want to do is stealthe opportunity away from someone who might actually benefit from it.”
“But what ifyouneed the magic?”
“There isn’t enough magic in the world to make me the next bride. And I don’t even necessarily want to be the next bride.”
“Last call for ladies,” the DJ boomed as a drum beat rolled through the room and Adrienne stepped in front of the growing crowd of women.
“Go.” Madison pushed her sister forward.
People were looking, so to not make a scene, Emmy irritably complied.
“On the count of three, Adrienne, send the bouquet over your head!” the DJ said. “Ready? One…”
Adrienne’s arm swung up into the air and then back down.
“Two…”
Her arm moved again.
Emmy, at the back of the group, stepped off to the right, hoping to be too far away to catch the bouquet. She looked around for Amelia but didn’t see her. At least Emmy had that going for her. No chance Amelia could be the next bride.
“Three!”
Adrienne threw the bouquet over her head. The ball of roses sailed toward Emmy. She tried to move, but a group of girls were beside her, trying to get it. Then,smack! The bouquet landed right in Emmy’s hands as if she were the star receiver on her college football team.
Adrienne threw her hands in the air. “Oh, my wonderful high school best friend!” She darted through the crowd and threw her pearl-lined satin arms around Emmy to the tune of the snare drum and cymbal:ba-dum-tss.
After Adrienne let go of her, Emmy put on a smile and held up the bouquet to the cheer of the crowd. She pulled the arrangement of red roses, tied with satin ribbon, under her noseand inhaled the soft scent of the flowers. Then, as everyone else made their way off the dance floor, Emmy headed toward her sister, already trying to come up with jokes.
The DJ had announced the men’s garter toss, and the single guys filled the floor. The DJ narrated the event and then the drum rolled, but Emmy was too busy thinking about how she’d stolen this moment, just as she’d said she didn’t want to do.
She cut her eyes playfully at her sister as the garter shot off, a masculine fist grabbing it above the crowd of bachelors.
Her sister’s eyes widened, a strange happiness spreading across her face.
“Emmy!” Adrienne said through the microphone.
Slowly, Emmy turned to find Adrienne and the groom clapping on the dance floor. Charlie was standing with them, holding the garter. Hadn’t he left with Amelia? What was he doing trying to catch the garter?
“Emmy,” Adrienne’s voice came through the microphone once more, this time in a low growl. “Come up here.”
The groom pulled a chair into the center of the floor, and Adrienne waved a hand toward it as if she were a game-show host.
