Chapter 22: : Chapter 22

Aaron and I don’t talk much after that. He has the fan on, because we’re both sweating and tense. When the Midnight Lodge comes into view on the horizon, he pumps his fist. “Haha! Told you I’d get us there.”

I open up a text to Eva and type in: Almost there. ETA: 5 minutes She responds with: We have everything ready for you. Plus a double mimosa because I think you’ll need it.

I smile nervously. She has no idea. I’ve never needed a drink so much. But I think I might do better with a double shot of straight vodka. Thanks.

Aaron coasts into the lot and pulls in under the overhang by reception. I open the door and jump out before he fully comes to a stop, nearly careening into a line of luggage carts. Eva, my mother, Natalie, and Cara are waiting for me. The bridesmaids are all in their aqua-blue dresses, and mother is wearing the sequined dress she had special ordered for the occasion, and they all look so breathtakingly lovely that I want to cry.

This day, the day I saw them all assembled and dressed to the nines, was supposed to be so different. I wasn’t supposed to be such a mess. Inside and out.

Eva hugs me tight. “Oh, honey! Don’t worry. It’s under control. Come on.”

It’s a mad dash to the bridal suite, where everything’s been set up for me and my bridesmaids to get ready. When I’m rushing down the hall, it occurs to me that I never said anything to Aaron as he dropped me off, and the next time I see him, I’ll be walking down the aisle.

I trip over my bare feet, but Eva holds me up. My mother says that my father’s assembling everyone outside by the gazebo underneath the mountains, and that if we can get down there before eleven-thirty, everything will be fine.

My best friend rips open the double doors to the bridal suite and hands me a mimosa. I chug it. Like Eva promised, it’s extra-strong, and burns my throat going down.

And just as I suspected, I need another.

I don’t think there are enough mimosas in the state of Colorado to help me out, now.

The suite is packed with people—my hairdresser, my makeup artist, a photographer, the videographer. I’m sweating like a hog. Pictures are being snapped of me in my cavewoman state and this is the furthest thing from what I expected my wedding morning would be like.

“Speed Primping! I love it!” Eva squeals with glee, her eyes gleaming with excitement.

I rip the glass away from my mouth as the photographer keeps snapping and hold up my other hand. “Ugh! No pictures! God! And turn off the fucking video!”

Everyone stops to stare at me.

“Um, please?” I add, as nicely as I can, fanning my hot face.

I’m going to pass out.

“Now, dear,” my mother scolds. “We’re paying them an awful lot so we might as well get our money’s worth. I told them to film everything.”

Right. Like I really want a memento of my nervous breakdown. “Oh. Okay. Um. Sorry. Should he come in the bathroom with me while I shower, too?”

My mother gives me a look that says she’s not amused.

A bridesmaid takes the empty champagne glass, and I jump in the shower that’s waiting for me.

When the shower curtain is closed and I’m truly alone, I start to bawl.

Yeah, I’m glad the photographers aren’t capturing this.

I hang my head and cry so hard that I forget I need to be getting myself ready. I think of Miles. And Aaron. And how I can’t stop the tears from falling on what is supposed to be the happiest day of my life.

Before I know it, I hear Eva’s voice. “Lia? You okay, baby?”

I sniffle, wondering if she heard me crying. “Um, yeah.”

“Well, are you clean yet? We’re in a little bit of a rush, in case you didn’t know!”

I look down, and I’m surprised to see that the pads of my fingers are pruning. I turn off the water and as I step out, she greets me with a towel and a fluffy white robe. “Come on, sweetie. Let’s get you beautiful.”