The Wedding Contract

Chapter 26





When I get out of the shower, I expect Nick to be gone, but he’s still there sitting on the bed like a saint. I hate him, but I hide it well enough. I have to crack the door to let the steam out or my hair won’t dry right. I’ll look like I licked an electrical outlet. As it is, the humidity has it misbehaving. I’m surprised no one’s mentioned the massive frizz bomb I inherited from my father. Since his hair is always cut short, no one notices. My hair usually hangs long down my back, but on days like this—when it feels like a cloud is sitting on the ground—my hair transforms into Medusa locks.

Amy. I smile to myself. She’s running the studio for me while I’m out here. I’d originally planned on staying the entire week. After the wedding tonight, Sophie and Steven will take off for the airport. They encouraged the guests to stay a few extra days and hired entertainment and wonderful meals, but I’m darting home as soon as Sophie’s foot lands on the limo floor.

That will take place after she chooses the winning picture. Nick and I will have an hour to process our favorite shots and then someone will mix them into a slideshow. That’s when I’ll see which picture my best friend and her husband choose, and who is better at shooting weddings—me or Nick the rat bastard.

When I crack the bathroom door, Nick says, “Sophie said she wanted to talk to us and not to leave until she comes by.”

I stick my head out the door. It’s still wrapped in a towel. “Yeah, right.”

“Do you really think I would have waited for you? You’ve been in there forever.” Nick looks at his watch. Brat.

“I’m leaving when I’m dressed.”

Nick shakes his head. “Guess again.” He tosses me my cell phone, which was next to my blankets on the floor. There’s a text message flashing.

It’s from Sophie: I NEED TO TALK TO YOU AND NICK; STAY IN YOUR ROOM UNTIL I GET THERE.

I glance up at Nick, wondering if he can send a fake text.

“What?” he asks, like he’s done nothing wrong.

My plan to screw him over is already in action. When Sophie comes by, I’ll get something from her but I wish she’d let him leave the room. That wasn’t part of the plan. I’d talked to her earlier and asked her for a few things that I know she has in her emergency bride kit. Sophie over-prepares; she packs everything and anything. This time, all that extra crap will come in handy. I mean, what kind of bride needs superglue? I smirk, thinking about drizzling it all over Nick’s lens, so it can’t focus. He won’t realize it until it’s too late and the man didn’t bring any back up equipment. If he’s cheating, I have to ditch the rules, too. I can’t lose this bet with Sophie’s hideous cousin or Nick.

“Nothing,” I say like he doesn’t have any effect on me at all. “When did she say she’d come by?”

He shrugs. “She didn’t.”

I nod and head back into the bathroom and blow out my hair, put on make-up, and then dig through my suitcase and pluck a pair of panties that are too pretty to wear when no one else is going to see them. I should wear them, because they’ll make me feel confident and sexy. The front is black lace with some hot pink peeking through. The sides are double straps that connect at a bow in back and attach to a G-string. Like I said, not the kind of thing I’d normally wear to work, but I grab them anyway. I take the matching bra that gives me insta-boobs and amazing cleavage, before pulling on a non-descript black blouse and pants.

The photographer shouldn’t be seen—at least that’s my method. I wear leather-soled shoes so I don’t make a sound when I shoot a wedding. Everyone should be looking at the bride and not paying any attention to me. It’s amazing how some photographers don’t respect that tradition. They’re up in front, blocking everyone’s view, and being as outlandish as an elegant elephant in a tiny pantry. That’s not me.

Just as I pull my hair back and pin it up, there’s a knock at the door. I come out of the bathroom just as Nick stands. He pads toward the door and pulls it open. Sophie and the crazy redhead are standing outside. Sophie is half dressed. Her hair is done and her makeup has been applied. She had someone from the city come out to do it. I rush toward her and give her a hug. Nick steps back into the room, giving us space.

Sophie laughs and hugs me back. “I’m so excited, Sky! I can’t wait.”

“I’m so happy for you. I really am.”

She breaks from the hug and steps forward into the room. There’s a different expression on her face, one I’ve never seen on Sophie before today. I don’t know what to make of it. Nick’s gaze flicks to the side to see if I’m getting a read on my best friend, before returning his focus to Sophie.

“I thought you’d want some getting ready shots,” Nick offers. “What’s going on?”

Sophie puts her hands behind her back and rocks on her heels. The Red Devil remains behind her staring at me like she wants to rip my head off and turn it into a salad bowl. “Well, I wanted to make sure that you both had what you needed.”

What is she doing? “Yeah, Soph. We’re fine.” Better than fine. “Did you bring what I asked for?”

“Actually, I wanted to talk to you about that. If you don’t mind, I need a moment alone with Sky. Can you guys hang out in the hallway for a second? I promise it’ll only be a second. Thank you so much for leaving the desk to help me.” She says the last part to Red.

Red smiles like a saint. “Of course. It’s your wedding day. I’ll be right outside.” The woman wanders down the hall. Nick walks past me, as if he doesn’t like this, but does as Sophie asks and leaves us alone.

That’s when I get the truth. Sophie’s expression shifts from happy to displeased in a snap. She places her hands on her hips, which pulls at her silk robe, opening the front so I can see the top of her corset. “Skylar Thompson, I will not let you do this.” She gets into my face and scolds me, throwing me way off. Sophie doesn’t have a mean bone in her body. She’s never raised her voice to me, ever, but now she lets me have it.

“I have to.”

“No, you don’t. Just because he’s a cheating piece of slime, doesn’t mean you have to become the same. You worked your ass off, honestly, to get to where you are. If you cheat and do this to him, you’ll regret it. And I’ll lose every ounce of respect I have for you. This isn’t you, Sky. Don’t sabotage him, break his gear, or glue his seat. I know you have something planned for this, and I’m giving it to you because I’m not your mother, but if you go through with this,” she sucks in a huge breath and spits out the words, “I’m not sure I want to be your friend anymore.”

Sophie’s words hit me like knives and suddenly I can’t breathe. There are no words. I just stand there with my mouth hanging open. Sophie grabs my arm, opens my hand, and shoves the tube of super glue into my palm. I glance down at my hand and then back up at her. “Sophie, I—”


She shakes her head and lifts her hand to silence me. “There are actions that change people, Sky. There’s no going backwards after this. Make your decision carefully or you might not like who you become.” Her dark lashes drop to the floor as she turns to the door. Sophie twists the knob and beckons Red and Nick back into the room. “Please take their gear to the chapel. Put Nick’s on one side and Sky’s on the other.”

Nick offers that Ferro charm, “Sophie, I hardly think that’s necessary.”

His charm slips off of Sophie like a drop of water. “No, I really think it is.” She glances at him for a moment and then looks back at me. “You two are cut from the same cloth. You’re just too stubborn to see it. If you did…” Her voice trails off and she laughs, practically blushing. Her innuendo makes me step away from Nick. I can’t believe she did that. “Well, it’d be a sight to see.”

Red requests our gear. If I’m going to superglue his camera, I’ll have to get to the chapel first. Sophie watches me for a moment before turning on her heel and closing the door behind her. Nick and I stare at each other.

After a moment, he asks, “What was that about?”