the snicker with the question.
“Fuck you, Lori,” he grumbles and I laugh harder.
15
Big reveal
Saturday, July 29
Jenny
Natalie in her dress is a vision.
It’s a creamy white A-line gown with a spaghetti-strap lacy bodice and plunging neckline that reaches all the way to the massive tulle skirt. A princess dress.
Her light skin is slightly tanned and her pale hair is loosely braided in a sweeping updo that doesn’t seem like it will hold. Her makeup is flawless.
I’ve never seen such a beautiful bride.
Sami in her wedding dress can’t hold a candle to her.
I shift on the bed uncomfortably as I watch them get ready. Her wedding party is Brady’s sister-in-law Lacey, Sami, their quiet friend Liz, and Bev who are all wearing aqua blue jewel-tone dresses that match Nat’s in style with plunging necklines and spaghetti straps. The four of them are stunning.
They invited Sukii and me into the fold this time, to see them get everything on. But the show is Nat’s mom. I had no idea she was anywhere near this bad. Not even with Lori’s warning.
“You really want to wear your hair this way?” her mother picks. Again.
“It’s what I want, Mom. I showed you the pictures.”
“I know, Natalie, darling, but you have to remember this is it. This is your day. You don’t want to choose a fad over elegance.”
Nat flinches and Sami cuts in, “You haven’t seen the jewel pieces we’re using yet. If you want to grab them, they’re in Nat’s purse. They match our dresses.”
Mrs. Banks presses her lips together and nods once. “Yes, jewels might help.” She’s frosty and I want to tell her to stop being such a bitch.
Nat’s eyes meet mine in the mirror and I wink. She smiles but the expression freezes as she realizes something. She turns and gasps, “No, Mom! They’re not in there!”
But it’s too late.
Her mom’s standing at her purse, holding the pregnancy test.
“What is this? Surely, you’re joking. Is this a shotgun wedding, Natalie?”
Before I think, I stand and shout, “It’s mine!”
Her mother’s eyes narrow as she turns to me.
“Nat was holding it for me. So Lori wouldn’t find it. I wasn’t feeling well, and I got her to grab me a test. It’s positive and I didn’t want to tell him before the wedding. I’m three weeks pregnant.” And rambling.
“What?” Sami snaps. “Is that a pregnancy test? But you found out at—”
“Right,” I whisper and walk to the test, taking it from her. “I peed on a new one and asked Nat to hold it. I didn’t want Lori doing this exact thing.” My lies aren’t making sense and I’m contradicting myself. “When I tell him tomorrow I wanted to have the test—” I’m so close to throwing up I can’t breathe. “I’m so sorry. I’ll get rid of it.” I run from the room and down the hall for the bedroom Lori and I are sharing.
But the wings are so far apart that I don’t hear them before I round the corner to the grand staircase where the guys are all standing.
Everything moves in slow motion.
They’re all wearing the same clothes and sexy smiles seeing me.
Brady adds a cheesy frat boy nod.
Everyone’s eyes lower to the stick in my hand.
Matt winces, recognizing it immediately.
Brady scowls, confused.
Carson and Rich don’t seem concerned at all. They likely think it’s a vape or something equally stupid.
Andy cringes.
Mike’s jaw drops and his eyes land on Lori.
Lori’s face is the only one I don’t look at. I say nothing, scared of what’s happening.
Andy’s lifting his hand to pat Lori on the arm when I run by, sprinting in my dress and heels.
“Jenny?” Lori calls after me but someone else says, “Congratulations, dude!”
“Congratulations for what?” Carson asks.
My heart’s racing.
There’s a cramp in my chest I can’t explain.
Is it a heart attack?
I close the bedroom door and lock it, sliding down to the floor and hyperventilating.
My mind whispers things, traitorous lies like always.
Maybe Matt will lie and cover for me.
But the truth of the matter is confirmed a moment later when a quiet knock at the door interrupts my sweaty panic attack.
“Can you let me in?” Lori speaks through the frame.
I want to say no but it’s his room in his house. My fingers are shaking, my mouth is dry, and the room is spinning, but eventually I reach the lock and click it. He opens the free door that I’m not leaning on and closes it.
The guilt and anxiety settles in my stomach, reminding me of the dread I felt