The World According to Vince - Jane Harvey-Berrick Page 0,61

he weaved his way to the bedroom with the garment bag draped over his arm. He’d taken the bottle with him. Good thing I’d brought two. I glanced at my watch. T-minus-30 minutes and counting.

I peeled off my shirt, dropped my keks on the floor, then used the large mirror to flex. I stood there in my navy blue briefs (the ones I’d designed with gold paw prints), plus matching socks, and grinned. Yup. Fookin’ irresistible. Gracie didn’t stand a chance.

Unzipping the bag with my bespoke Armani suit, I stared in awe. That wasn’t a suit, it was a piece of art with over 120 man hours to make it. Uncle Sal had played a blinder. I’d have to think of something very special to thank him for all his team’s hard work.

Everything was a perfect fit, and I’d expected nothing less. Fook me! I looked great!

I fastened the navy blue cummerbund but left the bow tie hanging around my collar. Plenty of time to be trussed up like a turkey. Poor turkey.

Then I peered down at the one item of clothing that I’d never worn before: a navy blue yarmulke. Rick and I were wearing them out of respect for Cady’s religion and Rabbi Lisa who was officiating the marriage service.

I plopped it on my head, then frowned as it slid off. I tried again, but after taking one quick stride, it was back on the floor. I stared at it, puzzled, wondering how other blokes kept it on. My hair was short and spiky, and the bloomin’ thing kept springing off no matter how much I tried to squash it down.

I nipped into Rick’s bathroom, making him jump while he was shaving, but luckily he didn’t cut himself. He was so cack-handed, poor sod.

Squirting a blob of his hair gel onto my hands, I tried to tame my hair, but it was like badger bristles and wouldn’t lie flat.

In desperation, I grabbed the tube of glue from my emergency kit and squirted a line around the edge of the yarmulke, then slapped it on my head.

Sorted!

Pleased with my improvisation, I checked myself in the mirror. I was ready to make Gracie beg. Then I frowned and checked the notes on my phone. Oh right, it was me who had to beg. I’d better get that the right way around or I’d be in the dog house, and it wouldn’t be as comfortable as where my mutts slept.

I glanced over to where the two Tiffany boxes with the wedding rings waited on the coffee table. I couldn’t help opening them up to have a look. Both were plain gold bands, simple but beautiful, Rick’s larger and a little heavier. My best mate, the man I respected more than any other in the world, was about to make this awesome lifelong commitment. A year ago, that would have horrified me. But seeing him with Cady, any fool could tell they were great together, that they loved each other.

I was happy for him, but maybe a little sad for me. Things were changing: time to finally grow up.

I was ready.

Grace

We’d spent the last couple of hours being painted, primped and polished by a lovely hairdresser named Nancy, makeup artist Nerissa, and nail technician Naomi from the 3 Hens Makeup Services.

We’d laughed, we’d cried, we’d shared stories, and I’d been sipping champagne throughout and was slightly tipsy. Rick’s mom, Sheila, had left ten minutes ago to change into her mother-of-the-groom outfit and collect her husband. She hadn’t seemed entirely sober either as she’d headed back to her room.

Hmm, time to slow the alcohol consumption. I didn’t want to faceplant in front of the chuppah. And I didn’t want Cady to dehydrate either, so I handed her a bottle of water with a straw; that way she wouldn’t smudge her lip gloss.

“I’ll be peeing all afternoon if I drink this,” Cady objected. “We’ll be halfway through the vows and I’ll be yelling bathroom break!”

Rachel giggled then hiccupped loudly, apologized profusely and excused herself. Side-eyeing the mother-of-the-bride, I watched her weave her way to the bathroom, then discreetly left her a bottle of water plus straw by her purse.

“I’ll make sure you go potty before the ceremony,” I assured Cady.

“Did you factor it into your schedule?” she teased.

“As a matter of fact I did, except I wrote it down as Powder Room and makeup check, because I’m classy like that.”

Cady grinned. “You are an epic wedding planner! I’m going to hire you for all