Jake met me there and kissed my cheek before we walked inside, like we weren’t standing on the edge of a cliff.
“The next time we’re here, you’ll be my wife,” he said.
“Right. Almost there, huh?” I said, managing a smile.
“The next time we’re here, you’ll be my wife.”
Maddie looked pale under the warm lighting, her eyes ringed with exhaustion. She kept glancing between me and Jake, her smile twitchy and her posture stiff. If guilt had a scent, the whole table would’ve reeked of it.
Halfway through the meal, once the drinks had settled in and the atmosphere had softened, I rose and tapped my glass. The sound echoed in the room, drawing quiet smiles and a few playful cheers.
“I just want to thank you all for being here,” I began. “It means the world to have both our families together. Especially before a day that’s supposed to be all about love and trust.”
If guilt had a scent, the whole table would’ve reeked of it.
Jake looked up at me, grinning like he’d won something.
“And thank you,” I said, turning to him. “For handling so much. You did it all, babe. From the contracts to the paperwork.”
“Someone had to keep the bride sane,” Jake said, chuckling.
“Actually, it was one of the venue coordinators who reminded me that I should probably look at those documents myself.”
I pulled out my phone. With one tap, the restaurant’s TV came to life behind me — Maya had already arranged it with the staff. Up flashed the wedding contract.
“Bride: Maddie L.
Groom: Jake Thomas W.”
