The Wedding Contract

Chapter 13





I already have my gear. I stashed it in the maid’s closet down the hall from our room. I head there first to make sure everything is all right. I didn’t trust leaving it in the room with Nick all day. He’s in there now, getting ready. Earlier today, he followed Sophie around without telling me. The man was up at the crack of dawn and took some sunrise shots that I don’t have. He didn’t take a shower before he left, so he came back to the room about an hour ago to get ready for tonight.

I hoist my gear bag onto my shoulder, grab the little screwdriver, and head toward our door. I work each screw on the old knob until they’re barely hanging on. When he grabs the knob, it’ll come off in his hand leaving Nick stuck in our room. This hotel is really old, so it’s the kind of thing that could happen. And no one is around at the moment to let him out. I hear him moving around in the bathroom and grin, pleased with myself.

After putting the screwdriver back in the maid’s closet, I head to the rehearsal with a huge smile on my face. Just as I walk upon the group, I hear Mandy’s voice behind me. “Trailer Trash.” I don’t turn, so she follows me. “You’re going to lose this bet. Ask me how I know?” She’s grinning like an evil fish.

“I’m not asking, Mandy. Go away,” I snap at her. Turning, I see that they’ve already started. The minister is going over things with Sophie and her parents. My mother is sitting on the first row, while my father is standing in the far back corner. The bridesmaids are scattered, but close to Sophie. Everyone is here. Holy shit. Even Nick. I didn’t see him at first. He was on his knee taking a shot. I don’t see him until he rises, turns back and smiles at me.

My heart starts to pound as an uneasy feeling settles in my chest. If Nick is already here, who was in our room? I glance around and don’t see who’s missing until Sophie voices his name. “Where is Steven?”

His parents tell everyone he’s running a little bit late. His mother adds, “There was an issue with his shower—there wasn’t enough hot water—so Mr. Ferro allowed Steven to use his.”

Half the bridesmaids swoon then and there, at the mere idea of Nick Ferro in a cold shower. We all look at him and picture his naked body, myself included. For a second, no one says anything, until Nick adds, “It was the least I could do. If it was my wedding, I hope someone would do the same.” He winks at me. The f*cker. He knew I was going to mess with him.

My lips part and people turn to see who Nick is looking at. I try to say something, but can’t. A moment later, Sophie’s cell vibrates. She pulls it out and presses it to her ear. Super suck. “What? Okay, don’t worry about it. We’ll just do it later than we thought.” Sophie throws an evil glare my way before she hangs up. A false, calm smile resumes, spreading from one cheek to the other. “Well, he was on his way when something went wrong. The doorknob came off in his hand and he’s locked in Nick and Sky’s room. Hotel Maintenance said they’d have the door open in about ten minutes or so.”

Sophie’s mom presses her fingers to her lips. “Oh, but we’ll be late for dinner.”

Mandy grins like the Jersey devil. “No prob. I’ll fix it.” She smacks her gum and calls someone. People start talking and the last thing I hear is her annoyed snapping voice, “Well, then, I’ll double it. Just fix it, or it’ll be in all the society papers and not in a good way.” Mandy sighs way too loud when she hangs up. It’s as if she were lifting weights. She smiles this huge fake smile and says, “Well, that’s taken care of, we can be as late as we want. I’ll call over when Steven arrives and they’ll just reschedule everything. I had to book the room for a few extra hours, but anything for my cousin.”

“Oh, thank you, Mandy!” Sophie’s mom hugs the girl and the two of them disappear at the front, talking.

Nick makes his way back to me, subtly, with his camera hiding half his face. He’s grinning. “So, that didn’t go as planned, did it?”