Six

Anna

“Oh, you poor thing,” said Kendall when Anna stepped out of her bedroom wearing the detestable bridesmaid dress.

“It really is awful, isn’t it?” Anna held out her arms and turned around to show off the horrible bow in back.

“It belongs in the hall of fame for ugly bridesmaid dresses.”

“I just don’t get why brides insist upon torturing their bridesmaids like this.” Anna grimaced to think how far back this stupid outfit had set her pocketbook. “Really, what’s the point?”

Kendall laughed. “Isn’t it obvious? The bride wants to make sure she’s the prettiest one at the wedding. Naturally, she has to make her bridesmaids look like a bunch of dogs to accomplish this.”

“Seriously? That seems absurd. Would you do that to your bridesmaids?”

Kendall gave her a sly grin. “Now what do you think, Anna?”

Of course, Anna suspected Kendall would probably pull a stunt like that. Hopefully Anna wouldn’t be around to participate by then. “Well, I wouldn’t do it,” declared Anna. “I’d want everything about my wedding to be pretty—even the bridesmaids. And I wouldn’t have more than three at the most.”

“So are you planning a wedding?”

“Me?” Anna firmly shook her head. “No, of course not.”

“You and your little publishing friend aren’t serious then?”

“Not that serious, that’s for sure. By the way, his name is Edmond.”

“Yes, Edmond. Well, you could do worse than marry the son of the publisher.”

“He’s not the son. He’s a great-grandson.”

“Whatever. Is he picking you up?”

“No. I’m going by myself.” Anna was still surprised that Edmond hadn’t returned her call last night. Okay, even though she hadn’t left a message, he should’ve checked his caller ID. And he should’ve called by now anyway. Perhaps it was just as well.

“You’re joking.” Kendall stared at Anna with horror.

“My parents haven’t met him yet.” Anna reached for her coat.

“So?”

“So … you don’t know my parents.” Anna slipped her cream-colored trench coat over the poofy dress and attempted to button it over the layers.

“You look like the Michelin Man,” observed Kendall.

“Thanks a lot. I needed to hear that.” Anna tried to fasten the belt around her midsection, but thanks to the bunches of fabric beneath, it was impossible.

“Well, you’re obviously not concerned about looks if you’re willing to go to a wedding looking like that and without an escort.”

“Obviously.” Anna made a face at Kendall before she headed down the stairs. “And if I fall down, I expect I’ll just roll along like the Michelin Man.”

Kendall chuckled. “Now, that’d be something to see.”

Anna just hoped Kendall wouldn’t push her.

“Are you sure you don’t want to ride with Gil and me?” offered Lelani.

“Thanks anyway,” Anna told her. “But bridesmaids are expected to be there early. Don’t ask me why—all we ever do is stand around.”

“I’m surprised you don’t take the dress and change there,” said Lelani.

“Yeah,” added Megan. “Aren’t you worried about wrinkling?”

Anna rolled her eyes. “I’m actually hoping that this will flatten it out.”

“See you there,” called Lelani.

Anna waved, then went outside. At least it had quit raining now. Maybe her hair wouldn’t frizz after all. Not that anyone would be looking at her hair in this dress.

The only comforting thing about wearing a horrid bridesmaid dress is that you’re not alone. And once Anna was with the others, lost in a sea of hot-pink satin, she didn’t feel quite so conspicuous.

“I’ve decided to boycott all weddings when I turn thirty next year,” said Caroline. “I’m done.”

“Even mine?” asked Anna. Of all the cousins, Caroline was one of the only ones that Anna would’ve actually wanted in her wedding.

“Okay, maybe yours. But only if you promise to have moderately dignified dresses.”

“Definitely dignified.”

“So, do you have a groom in mind?” asked Caroline.

“Not really.” Although she went on to talk a bit about Edmond. “But it’s not really serious,” she said finally.

“Sounds interesting.” Caroline winked. “Will he be here?”

Anna explained that he hadn’t met her parents yet and, unlike everyone else, Caroline got it. “It’s not easy be part of a humongous Latino family.”

“Yes, when I tried to explain it to Edmond, I asked him if he’d seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding.”

Caroline laughed. “Yes. That’s just about perfect.”

“Except he hadn’t seen it.”

Finally it was time to line up. The music was beginning to play, and following the four flower girls, Anna was the first bridesmaid to be escorted down the aisle. She tried not to notice the looks she got, reminding herself that other ugly dresses would be right behind her. Her escort was a kid with a bad complexion who appeared to be about fifteen. Probably related to the groom. As usual, the procession and ceremony seemed to take forever. And by the time Anna was finally escorted back up the aisle—the first to enter and last to exit, since she was obviously Maria’s least favorite cousin—her feet were killing her and she wished she’d thought to bring a spare pair of shoes for the reception.

“At least I have a good excuse not to dance,” she said to Caroline as they sat in their assigned seats at the “reject table,” as Caroline had dubbed it. Maria and Daniel’s least favorite members of the wedding party sat here. “I have blisters the size of quarters on both heels.”

“These pumps are the worst,” complained Caroline. “But at least they were fairly cheap.”

“I wonder where old bridesmaid shoes go to die.”

“How about old bridesmaids?” said Caroline. “Seriously, if one more well-meaning aunt inquires as to my marital status, I think I’ll scream.”

“I think I may throw—” Anna saw something—rather, someone—that made her want to duck under the table.

“What’s wrong?” demanded Caroline. “You look like you just saw a ghost.”

Anna swallowed hard. “I did.”

“What?”

“The ghost of boyfriend past.”

“Jake?”

“Yes.” Anna glanced over her shoulder, trying to spot the nearest exit. “I’m going to make a fast break, okay?”

“Sure.” Caroline nodded. “I totally understand.”

So, with her loathsome hot-pink shoes in hand, Anna stood, and without looking back, headed straight for an exit sign, only to discover that it was an emergency exit. As tempting as it was, she knew an alarm would sound if she pushed it open. And even if Maria wasn’t her favorite cousin, Anna didn’t want to spoil her reception.

So, staying on the perimeter of the room, she made her way to the front exit. When she got there, Jake seemed to be waiting for her. Short of running straight past him, which would probably appear melodramatic, it seemed her only recourse was to simply force a smile and say, “Hey, Jake.”

“Anna, I’ve been looking all over for you.” Then he actually reached out and took her hand, the one not holding the shoes. “It’s so great to see you.”

“Really?” Anna frowned.

“Yeah. I’ve been thinking about you lately.”

“Oh?”

“Yes. And then I come to Daniel’s wedding and the first girl I see walking down the aisle is you! I couldn’t believe my eyes.” He squeezed her hand.

“Really?” Anna felt slightly dizzy. She vaguely wondered if she’d actually blasted through that emergency exit, tumbled over the rail of a second-story fire escape, landed smack on her head, and was now semiconscious and delusional. She blinked and stared at her old boyfriend.

“I know it sounds crazy, Anna. But it seems like fate.”

“Fate?” She pulled her hand away from his and stepped back.

“Were you leaving?”

“Well, I …”

“Don’t go yet, Anna. We need to talk.”

She narrowed her eyes. The last time he’d told her they needed to talk, he confessed to falling in love with someone else.

“Kayla …” Without meaning to, she said the name. But at least it was out there in the open now. “What about Kayla?”

“We broke up, Anna. She wasn’t really who I thought she was.”

“Oh.”

“Are you okay?” He bent down to peer at her face. “Do you need to sit down or anything?”

She nodded, and he led her through the hotel lobby, past an enormous Christmas tree and over to a quiet couch in a corner. But even after she sat down, it seemed her head was spinning. And she’d had only one glass of champagne. “This is very weird, Jake.”

“I know. But really, Anna, it seems like fate to me. I mean I was thinking of you and wondering how to get ahold of you, and then you walk down the aisle in that hideous dress.”

She laughed. “It is hideous, isn’t it?”

“It’s pretty bad.”

She held up the shoes. “And these shoes are going straight into the trash when I get home.”

“Do you still live at home?”

So she explained her new housing arrangements and, to distract herself from how bizarre this felt, she told him a little about her housemates and their various quirks. “But, all in all, we’re starting to feel more like a family. In fact, we’re even going to have a Christmas party, which should be interesting.”

“Good for you, Anna. I mean for moving out. I never wanted to say anything, but your parents made it easy for me to break up with you.”

“Oh, and so Kayla didn’t really have much to do with it, then?”

“Yeah, yeah. Kayla turned my head. I can admit it now.” He gave her a charming smile, the same one she used to love. “I’m sorry, Anna. I know I was a jerk. Can you forgive me?”

She frowned. “I don’t know.”

“Seriously, Anna. I really was just thinking about you. It’s so cool to see you here tonight. Just like old times.”

“How long ago did you break up with Kayla?”

He considered this. “I guess a couple weeks, but it seems like longer. It was right after Halloween.”

“Oh.” She wondered why he thought it seemed like longer. Was it because he was missing Kayla? Or just because he’d moved on? Still, she didn’t want to ask. She didn’t want to appear overly interested.

“It was a little uncomfortable coming to the wedding without a date,” he said.

“I don’t see why. A lone guy at a wedding is a hot commodity. I’m surprised the single girls weren’t lined up to dance with you.”

“How about you, Anna? Do you have a date here?”

She pressed her lips together, then shook her head. Why was he so darned good-looking anyway? And why was he doing this to her?

“So, you’re not dating anyone, then?”

“Well, there’s a guy …”

He nodded with a slightly grim expression. “A guy … well, of course, why should that surprise me? Is it serious?”

“Oh, I don’t know …”

“Meaning it’s not serious?”

“Meaning I don’t know.”

“But he’s not here with you.”

“Yes, well, I didn’t want him to come.”

Jake’s dark brows arched hopefully. “So, maybe it’s not serious.”

“I just didn’t want to subject him to everything yet. I mean, other than Gil, he hasn’t even met my family.”

“Speaking of Gil,” said Jake, “who’s that girl with him?”

“Lelani. She’s one of my housemates.”

“Wow, she’s hot.” Jake got a sheepish smile. “Sorry, but I’d have to be blind not to notice.”

“I know, she’s gorgeous. She’s also really nice.”

“Well, Gil looks smitten.”

“Yes, he’s been like that since the first time he met her.”

“Are they serious?”

Anna frowned at that word again. “Serious? I’m not even sure how you define serious, Jake. They’re not engaged, if that’s what you mean. They go out sometimes. But Lelani is kind of mysterious. It’s like she has some deep, dark secret. Or maybe she’s just not sure what she wants to do with her life. She quit premed and seems a little confused. Anyway, I think she keeps Gil at arm’s length. Although I know she really likes him too.” It was a relief to talk about someone besides herself. Consequently, she probably told Jake more than he needed to know. But it did seem to move the conversation into a different direction.

As they continued to talk, Jake filled her in on his current job. He’d just been hired by a new software company and seemed to like it. Then Anna told him about her work at the publishing house and even the Ramsay Rowan project. And to her amazement, she started to relax a little. It almost felt like old times. But it also felt weird. Kind of like an unsettling déjà vu. Like history might repeat itself. And like maybe she should be careful.

“Want to dance?” he asked finally.

“Sure, why not?”

So they returned to the wedding reception and joined the others on the dance floor. And after a couple of songs, Anna realized that she was actually having fun.

“Okay, tell me about this guy,” said Lelani. The two couples were taking a break together. The girls found a table while Gil and Jake went to fetch drinks.

“Oh …” Anna shrugged. “Jake’s just an old friend.”

“What about Edmond?” Lelani’s gaze pierced Anna, like she knew what was up.

“I know this is crazy,” Anna admitted. “I mean, Jake is the same ex-boyfriend who totally broke my heart. That was almost two years ago. And I was so over him.”

“No way. This is that guy?”

Anna nodded. “He said he’d been thinking about me lately. Apparently, he broke up with the … the other girl, and he’d been wanting to call me. And then we meet at this wedding totally by accident. I had no idea he was a friend of the groom.”

“Wow.”

“Jake keeps saying that it’s fate.”

“What do you think?” Lelani peered carefully at Anna now.

“I don’t know.”

“But you’re still into him?”

“Sort of.”

“Poor Edmond.”

Anna frowned. “What am I going to do?”

Lelani just shook her head. “I have no idea.”

“Edmond is so sweet.”

“Yeah.”

“But Jake, well, he was my first love, Lelani. Isn’t that supposed to mean something?”

“I’m not sure.”

“But Edmond has been so good for me.”

Lelani tipped her head to clue Anna that the guys were returning.

“Listen to your heart, Anna,” Lelani said quietly.

That sounded good, but at the moment, Anna’s heart was saying all kinds of unrelated things. On one hand, she was remembering how deeply hurt she’d been when Jake dumped her for someone else. On the other hand, she remembered what it felt like to be in his arms. She hadn’t forgotten his kisses. And she remembered how she had pined for him, how at one point she would’ve done anything to get him back.

Then she remembered how good it felt to realize she was over him—or so she thought. And how it had been great getting to know Edmond. He made her feel special, and he respected her. Edmond had been so good to her. He knew how to make her laugh, and she felt so comfortable and happy when she was with him.

With Jake, well, she was on pins and needles. And yet that felt strangely good too. How was she supposed to listen to her heart when her heart felt so fragmented? So confused.

Instead she decided to listen to the music, to get lost in the dancing, and to be swept away by the moment. She’d figure out her heart later!