I straighten the gold tie and twist my neck, trying to get comfortable. “I feel like a fucking monkey in this thing. You think I could just leave the tie off and the top button of this shirt undone? If not, I might die from asphyxiation before I get there.”
Max’s hand lands on my shoulder. “Look at it this way: Jada could bail on you at the last minute. You gotta jump through all the hoops, including wearing a suit and tie, to make sure she doesn’t change her mind.”
“She’s not gonna change her mind, asshole.”
“Nah, she won’t. But you still gotta wear that.”
“You sound like my dad.” As soon as the words slip from my lips, a heaviness comes over me.
I don’t think about him a lot, not in depth. I allow myself to consider how he’d handle things from time-to-time, but normally I just push forward and stay focused on whatever is in front of me. But today . . . what’s in front of me is the rest of my life.
I turn and see Max watching me from the other side of the room. His eyes are narrowed, cautious, and I know he’s waiting on me to speak. He knows this is a touchy subject and he’s known me long enough to know how I work. He’s giving me space. And that space is making me suffocate.
I shrug helplessly. “What do ya think, Max?”
“I think he’d be damn proud of you.”
I snort and turn away.
“Look at what you’ve done with your life, man. You were in your early twenties and lost the only family you had. Instead of just saying, ‘fuck it,’ you picked yourself up, took over the company built by your grandfather and father, and made it into something more.”
“I just did what I had to do.”
“But so many people don’t. You could’ve let it all go or sold it all. But you didn’t. You kept the legacy of your family and built on it. That’s impressive.”
“Did you just call me impressive?” I grin, turning to look at him.
He rolls his eyes. “No. I said what you did was impressive. Slightly.”
There’s a comfortable silence between us, something I only have with Max. We may not be blood but we sure as fuck might as well.
I twist my neck again. “Am I supposed to wear a flower or some shit on my jacket?”
Max laughs, glancing down at the pink one on his. “Yeah. Kari did mine. She’ll be over in a minute and she’ll do yours, too.”
“She’ll probably jab me with the needle.”
“Probably.”
There’s so much unsaid between us and I know I don’t have to say any of it. Max knows. I don’t think I could verbalize all the things I’m feeling right now, but I need to try to say something.
“Thank you.”
“For what?” He takes a drink of water and watches me, looking thoroughly confused.
“For this. For putting all of this together. For introducing me to Jada.”
“Nah, don’t thank me for this.”
“Why’s that?”
He laughs and pulls on his suit jacket. “I only introduced you to Jada so someone else can deal with your bullshit. I’ve suffered long enough and am more than ready to pawn you off onto someone else.”
“Fuck you, Max.”
“Fuck you, too.”
JADA
I hear the zipper go up my back and I hold my breath, hoping this dress fits. I say a silent prayer that there are no hiccups.
I feel it climb from my waist, to the middle of my back. It stops right below my shoulder blades. The front cinches against my chest perfectly.
“It fits,” I breathe out, relief washing over me.
“Did you doubt me? I mean, really, Jada.”
“Well, you never know!”
Kari turns me to face her. The corners of her mouth touch her eyes as she gasps.
“What?” I look down. Everything looks right. It looks like it fits.
What if there’s a rip? What if it’s torn? What if . . .
“It’s perfect,” Kari whispers. “Absolutely perfect.”
“Are you sure?”
She points to the mirror and we turn, staring at our reflection.
My dress fits me like a glove, exactly how I envisioned it when I saw it in the magazine. I look demure and sophisticated, just like I wanted.
“Cane will love this,” I breathe, turning both ways to get the full effect.
“Yeah, on the floor!”
I laugh, knowing she’s right. Cane never cares what I wear. I can wear sweatpants or a miniskirt and he’s happy all the same.
He’s happy when I’m happy.
The thought causes warmth to slide throughout my body. I think back on our relationship and how much I’ve changed since I met him. How broken I was the night he walked into Blanca’s and how whole I feel now.
I hated what I went through with Decker. I cried more tears in those years than all of the tears I’ve shed through the rest of my life together. But if it took that experience to get me here today, I’d do it all over again in a heartbeat.
I look at my sister, fitted with a gorgeous gold bridesmaid gown. It is strapless, the color of warm honey, and cinches at her narrow waist. It flutters out a touch and stops at her knees.
“Look at us,” I smile. “We look like we should be walking a runway!”
“We are. Right into the rest of your life.”