Page 5 of Intertwined Hearts

Chapter 4

Jackie

When I woke in the morning after Hunter and I spent the night talking and watching movies, I felt kind of funny. Not likeha-hafunny, but like something that morning wasn’t quite right. Something was missing. Someone was missing. I missed him. I must’ve been losing my mind.

I missed him.I desperately wanted to hear his voice, to hear him laugh, and to see him smile again. How could he have me so spellbound that I missed him already?

We had exchanged numbers just before he left. My stomach was in knots and my fingers trembled. I had his contact information up on my iPhone with my shaky index finger hovering over the little telephone icon, ready to press it, when Nikki called.

I onlythoughtI was a wreck over the wedding checklist until I spoke with her. She told me Jeff had gone to Hunter’s house and she needed to talk to me. She must have had a checklist of a thousand things she was rattling off in an attempt to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything for the wedding. It took me about an hour to get her calmed down. I decided I needed to remind Jeff not to leave her alone again until after the wedding.

I had my own checklist of things to finish before the coming weekend. That, and I had a hellacious work schedule. This was going to be a very trying week.

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At first the week seemed to drag on forever, then, once Wednesday rolled around, it sped up exponentially. It didn’t help that Nikki was off at the end of the week and kept texting me with repeated questions about her jewelry, asking if she could leave a key with me in case Sky needed anything out of the house for Abby, and asking about each clothing item she was packing for the honeymoon. I think she got the hint when I finally told her,Bitch, just go naked the entire time. It was said as a joke, but seriously, it was her honeymoon. We both got a much-needed laugh at that one simple comment.

And somehow, by Friday afternoon, everything I needed to get done was taken care of.

In between all of Nikki’s texts, I had a couple come in from Hunter. He had wanted to come by, but there was no way. I didn’t have time. I knew we’d see each other on the wedding weekend. And I was definitely looking forward to seeing him.

My nerves took over as I drove to Nikki’s to pick her up. From her house, we’d have to go to Georgia’s, to make sure we had everything. I never would have taken Jeff for being a nosy person, but, evidently, he was. Nikki stashed her gown, and everything else she wanted to keep secret until the moment she walked down the aisle, over at Georgia’s house, out of Jeff’s view.

“Hey, Jackie,” Nikki said when she opened the door.

Nikki looked stunning. She had already done her hair. And, so far, no tears. She had been crying off and on the past few weeks for what seemed like no reason. “I was expecting a butler, but I guess you’ll do.” Nikki chuckled. “This place is fucking nice as hell.” I stepped into the foyer and couldn’t help but look the place over again. “This is the second or third time being here, and I’m still in awe.” No matter what I may have thought of Jeff, he had a beautiful and meticulously decorated home. And he was making Nikki the happiest I had ever seen her.

“So, are you ready for this?” I asked.

Oh. My. Goodness! Nikki burst into tears, again! I reached out and pulled her into a hug. I was really hoping those were tears of joy and that Jeff hadn’t pulled a dick move and upset her.

“Don’t cry.” I rubbed up and down her back as I held her tight. I was almost scared to know what had happened, but I had to ask. “You’re still planning to get married, right?”

She sniffled, then nodded her head. She didn’t say a word.

“Bitch, you better. I spent too much money on that dress, shoes, jewelry, and my hair.” We both laughed. I couldn’t help but wonder if I’d be this way if I was in her shoes. Probably not. I had no intention of having a big wedding. It would definitely have to be a much smaller scale. Large weddings were too exhausting.

“I – I’m okay,” she choked out. “I’m sorry. Everything seems to make me cry lately.”

“Don’t apologize to me. It’s cool. I get it.” I really didn’t get it, not completely. Nikki seemed to cry at the drop of a dime, and over some really non-cry-worthy things. But I could definitely see how emotions could run high and cause an unexpected meltdown at a time like this. Hell, I felt like it and I wasn’t even the bride.

She took me on another tour of the house while we continued our chat. We made our way up to their bedroom. After I told her what a beautiful house it was, again, she gutted me with her reply thatJeff’s housesure was.

I had to help my friend see the error of her statement. She was nuts. She lived here with Jeff, and was going to marry him in less than twenty-four hours, and she was referring to the house as his? My friend had taken a complete leave of her senses. Totally gone.

After we got that little misunderstanding talked through, we grabbed boxes and garment bags and make-up bags before making our way down to my car. After a couple of trips up and down the stairs, mostly by me, we got everything in the car just before Jeff pulled into the driveway.

Nikki and Jeff talked after he greeted me. I had been on my best behavior with him. I was really trying to be nice. And he did make it much easier lately.

I tried not to watch them act all lovey-dovey and kissy face, but I couldn’t help my eyes from roaming to where they were standing. They were such a cute couple, and their love for each other was so obvious. I had never seen Nikki that happy before.

Jeff whispered, not very quietly, in her ear, “I intend to make you scream later, pussycat.” Nikki gasped just before he kissed her. I had to wave the invisible white flag. Holy fuck, I really didn’t need to hear that at all.

But on the flip side, and not in a weird, creepy, eavesdropper kind of way, it was no wonder she was all over this man.

Hunter

I checked my phone constantly, waiting for Jackie to reply to my text. We were in the hotel room doing shots of Fireball, and still nothing. I just wanted to see her for a few minutes.

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