think the guys are drinking?” Ellie asks.
“The groomsmen definitely are. I saw Chris sneaking a whole bottle of whiskey into their suite earlier,” Sam confirms with a nod and then another short swig.
“I swear, Michael had better not be falling down drunk,” Ali frets, smoothing her hands over her dress.
“Charlie won’t let him drink too much,” I console her without thinking. As if I know whether or not Charlie would stop his soon to be brother-in-law from drinking on his wedding. I’ve never even met Michael.
I’m mostly assuaging Ali’s fears; I have no idea what Charlie will or won’t do.
“Ladies?” the wedding planner asks, poking his head in. “The guests are all seated out on the terrace. They’re ready for you all to line up now.”
“Oh God,” Ali says, gripping Lindsay’s hand. “Oh God.”
Lindsay passes the flask to Sam, then gives Ali a mini pep talk, getting down on her knees in front of Ali.
“You are ready,” she says in a hushed voice. “All you have to do is walk down that aisle, and Michael will be there waiting. You love each other and that’s all that matters. That’s it.”
Ali nods at Lindsay, and I can feel the emotion rolling off of her. Her anxiety and nerves are contagious as I look into her eyes. “I’m really getting married,” she whispers and the girls nod. I don’t know why I’m all teary eyed. After a moment she whispers, “All right. Let’s go.”
Charlie
It’s too warm to be wearing this suit. Evening summer weddings are a thing down here. But it’s still too hot for suits. Looking forward to the moment the ceremony is over, I pull at my collar a bit, loosening my tie just enough so I can breathe. This jacket is getting ditched the second I can take it off. Michael’s to my left, and he looks even worse off than I feel. He clenches and unclenches his hands, shaking them out and shifting his feet.
Ma’s in the front row, and she’s already crying. She glances at each of us and then back down the aisle like she’s done for the last three minutes. It’s a few minutes past six thirty. It’s time for this thing to get started.
Nearly everyone has eyes on the groom or the card in their hand that they’re using to fan themselves. But Michael doesn’t even seem to notice. His eyes are focused only on the double doors to the venue, waiting for my sister to walk out in her dress.
I lean in and speak to him out of the side of my mouth, hands still clasped in front of me while we wait. “She’s always late; it’s not you.”
He finally tears his eyes from the doors as Chris, one of his good friends and another groomsman, laughs behind me.
“No, it’s definitely you,” Chris says, not even trying to stay quiet. A smile kicks my lips up as Michael wipes his hands off on his pants.
He’s already back to looking at the doors, not a word in response. The poor guy. My sister’s really got him worked up.
“She loves you.” I don’t know why the words slip out. He knows it. Everyone does. He and Ali were meant to be together.
With a slight asymmetric smile, he relaxes a touch and looks back at me, the worry and nerves still there as he nods his head. “I love her too.” The crowd stirs at the sound of an acoustic guitar playing a soft song as the doors finally open.
Here we go; I straighten my back and watch as the first bridesmaid walks out.
My sweetheart. She’s breathtaking. The thin dress swishes as she walks down the aisle of pale blue and white petals. My heart thumps and then seems to stop before madly racing, refusing to stay where it’s supposed to be.
Her steps are measured and her hands are wrapped around the bouquet of white roses, blue hydrangea and baby’s breath. I stare at her, my heart beating slower as she comes closer and everything else blurs around her. She’s not walking to me, and she’s not the bride, but just the sight of her makes my heart misbehave.
She tucks a bit of hair behind her ear as she takes a quick peek at the guests. Her nerves can’t hide with her head slightly ducked, and it looks so damn good on her.
She’s sweet like that. Real sweet.
I can’t stop staring at her, willing her to look back at me.
“You’re drooling,” Chris says, nudging me in