Page 3 of Accidental Wedding Crasher
Maybe, after the ceremony, he’d get her a drink. If he were going to stick around at the wedding for a little while, and he probably should, she’d be more fun to talk to than the parade of elderly relatives who seemed to be following him around.
One drink. Then he’d go back to work.
CHAPTER 3
MIA
Mia watched the groom standing at the end of the aisle, his hands folded as he smiled with a mix of nerves and anticipation. He looked happy, probably — though Mia wasn’t sure she’d be able to tell. She’d never met the guy before, after all. Once again, she noted that it was strange she’d been invited to this wedding when she and Annabel were barely even friends anymore, but she was here now, and she’d try to have a good time. He looked like a Brad. She was pretty sure that was his name.
At least she’d managed to slip in without anyone noticing her late arrival. She was sitting next to a few middle-aged women who were talking softly over the processional music, and she scanned her gaze across the gathered people, looking for familiar faces. Surely, ifshe’dbeen invited, Annabel would also have invited a few of their mutual friends from college, or at least someone she recognized.
Most people’s backs were to her, though, so Mia wasn’t able to make out a familiar face. One man sitting on the opposite side of the aisle smiled at her, so she smiled back, noting that he wasextremely handsome in a tailored suit with short, brown hair and blue eyes the color of the afternoon sky overhead. She hadn’t seen him before, though.
Everyone oohed and aahed as the ring bearer came down the aisle, and Mia’s heart warmed at the sight of the little boy in his tiny tuxedo balancing the giant pillow. Although she worked with high schoolers, she loved little kids too and could have imagined being an elementary or preschool teacher in another life.Is he on Annabel’s or Brad’s side?she wondered.And is his name really Brad?She was going to have to confirm that before congratulating the happy couple.
Next came two bridesmaids and a groomsman, arm in arm. Again, Mia scanned the bridesmaids for a familiar face from college, but no one stood out. If she didn’t know anyone at this wedding besides the bride, which was looking more and more likely, the socializing after the ceremony was going to be very tricky.
The bridesmaids’ dresses definitely looked like something Annabel would have picked. They were pink and sleek and very fashionable.
Next, the music changed, and the flower girl appeared at the end of the aisle. Once again, Mia’s heart melted at the sight of the child, who was probably around six, in her poofy dress with an oversized basket of roses. She tossed petals onto the ground in front of her, and when she passed Mia, she could hear that the girl was singing to herself. The child’s long black hair was woven with flowers, and her cheeks were pink as she smiled.
Finally, the music changed again, and the bride and her father stepped out. Mia blinked several times; her friend had changed so much since college. She’d chosen a long, lacy gown with atrain and puffed sleeves, which Mia hadn’t expected, as well as a fancy hairstyle woven with roses. More strangely, when they were roommates, Annabel had had curly, brown hair, which was now straight and blond. She was taller now, too, probably thanks to heels. And her eyes were now blue instead of hazel as they’d been in college.
Oh, no.
Mia gasped, causing a few of the middle-aged women to give her reproachful looks. The reason this woman didn’t look at all like her college roommate was because shewasn’ther college roommate. The hair color and height difference could be explained, but the eye color was a dead giveaway, as was the fact that her face was differently shaped. Had Mia somehow come to the wrong venue in her rush to get here on time?
She ducked down and reached into her purse for the wedding invitation, where she’d gotten the address for the event. She double-checked, but she had the time and the location right. Then her heart sank, even as her stomach twisted. She had everything right except the date. Annabel’s wedding was June 18th. Today was June 19th. Someone completely different was getting married today, not Annabel and Brad.
How could she have gotten things so wrong? She slid the invitation into her purse and sat up again, her cheeks red. She had no idea what to do. She couldn’t slip out during the ceremony, but now she was a wedding crasher at this event. No wonder she hadn’t recognized any of the guests! And if someone caught her wedding-crashing, she’d definitely be in trouble, especially with a crowd like this.
As Mia scanned the wedding, she realized that this place was even richer and uppity than she’d expected. There was an icesculpture in the shape of a swan, for goodness’ sake, and one wall had an actual oil portrait of the couple, including the unfamiliar bride. How had she not seen that before?
Well, this was definitely the most ridiculous mistake Mia had made yet. She’d thought her biggest faux pas was walking in late, but showing up for the wrong wedding was far, far worse.
“Dearly beloved,” the officiant began. Mia brought her gaze back to the front of the room, where the happy strangers were standing, hands linked together, beaming at each other. Mia’s stomach turned again. She couldn’t believe she was crashing this couple’s wedding. “We are gathered here today to celebrate the marriage of Tyler Parks and Genevieve Saint Claire.”
So, those were their names. Mia wanted to bury her face in her hands with embarrassment. She began evaluating which escape route she’d take the moment this ceremony was over.
“Ever since they met, Genevieve and Tyler have shared a special kind of love, the kind that lasts through storms and fair weather — literally, since the two of them went sailing on one of their first dates and are planning to go again on their honeymoon.” The officiant paused for laughter, and Mia smiled despite herself. She always liked hearing stories of people in love. She enjoyed rom-coms and romance novels and even found it sweet when her students gave each other prom-posals.
Though sailing on a first date? How richwerethese people?
The ceremony continued, with the officiant expertly weaving stories of Tyler and Genevieve’s history with small snippets about their future together. Finally, it came time for the vows, and the officiant turned the floor over to the couple.
“Genevieve,” Tyler began, “the moment I saw you for the first time, I realized that I would never again have eyes for anyone but you. It wasn’t just how beautiful you were. It was that magnetic energy you have, your sarcastic sense of humor, and the way you can be just as stubborn as I am. I promise to bring you breakfast in bed every Sunday and never pull an all-nighter at work again. Or not too often, at least.”
The crowd laughed. Tyler must be a bit of a workaholic.
“I love you, Genevieve, and I can’t wait to spend my life with you.”
“Tyler,” the bride replied, “I thought I’d achieved all the success I needed when I took my fashion company public at only thirty-one, but once I met you, I realized that none of that really mattered anymore. I fell head over heels for you.” She laughed. “You aren’t like anyone else I know. I love that you can be completely logical at work but come home and be goofy with me. I remember the moment I knew I wanted to marry you: we were sitting in a cabana by the ocean in Maui, and you leaned over and kissed me, and I realized that my life would never be more perfect than it is with you.”
Mia was torn between finding this sweet and being annoyed. She was enjoying the love story, but this ceremony was exactly like she’d worried Annabel’s wedding would be: a bunch of rich, accomplished people, including a gorgeous and talented bride, and Mia sticking out like a sore thumb. The moment this ceremony was over, she was out of here.
“And now,” the officiant said, smiling enormously, “I pronounce you man and wife!”
The couple leaned in to kiss each other as the guests cheered and threw handfuls of flower petals in the air, which must have been distributed before Mia arrived. Then a peppy love song came on, and the bride and groom joined hands and danced down the aisle, blowing kisses to the gathered crowd. The wedding party followed them down the aisle, boogying to the music in a dance that had clearly been choreographed previously and practiced for hours to a song about love and life. Mia looked down at her hands. Now that the ceremony was over, it was time to slip out of here and drive the four hours back to San Jose.
