“She said yes to you. She loves you. Go make her happy.”
He exhaled deeply. “She makes me so happy.”
We left the suite and headed to the small ballroom where a justice of the peace waited.
I entered with him, the knot twisting and turning in me like a tornado.
Best man, best man.
I needed to behave like the best man.
And the best man should not be madly in love with the bride.
When Pachelbel’s Canon in D played, the attendees rose, all eyes on the woman in white as she walked down the aisle to marry my best friend.
I knew it would hurt.
I wasn’t prepared, though, for how sharply it would sting when I finally raised my gaze. It was like my insides were being excavated as I watched Lulu, radiant in a strapless dress that showed off delicate shoulders I wanted to kiss in another lifetime. She walked down the aisle beaming, her mother’s arm in hers, the way she had wanted.
Her eyes stayed on the groom. Never wavering.
He never wavered either.
Thank God all eyes were on them. No one was looking at the best man. In case anyone did, I schooled my expression so the emotions would read like pride and joy, rather than one last fleeting wish that she was walking to me.
When she joined him, he smiled and whispered, “You look so pretty.”
He was wrong though. She was breathtakingly beautiful.
And never more so than when she pledged to love him till death do us part.
I took my own vow that day. No matter what, I had to get over her. There were no runners-up in love.
12LULU
Present Day
The next evening I’m practically bouncing off the walls, prepping for the scavenger hunt. The level of fired up I feel might be off the charts. I text Leo.
Lulu: I’m stretching.
Leo: I’m listening to an audiobook on the wonders of Brazil. But I’ll bite. Why are you stretching?
Lulu: It’s prep work for the hunt. Did you know I’m completely determined to take home the prize?
Leo: I had a feeling you were. And so you anticipate needing to stay flexible while engaged in a team-building Easter-egg-of-sorts hunt?
Lulu: You never know what hoops we might need to jump through! My friend Mariana told me her law firm tried team building once, and the big boss threw all sorts of unexpected stuff their way.
Leo: Such as?
Lulu: He made them do things together. Like have meals. And discuss their feelings. Gag.
Leo: Sounds horrendous.
Lulu: They’re lawyers, so you can imagine how well that went.
Leo: As well as finding a parking place in the theater district on a Saturday night?
Lulu: Who would even attempt such an impossibility?
Leo: No one, Lulu. Absolutely no one. What other prep work are you doing?
Lulu: Why? Angling to join me?
Leo: I don’t think you want to see me in leg warmers doing calisthenics.
Lulu: Was that even an option? Either the calisthenics or the leg warmers?
Leo: Shockingly, no.
Lulu: Fine. We shall work on our brain stretching. I’m seeing my mom later tonight. Want to meet me at An Open Book in fifteen minutes?
Leo: I’ll bring my brain along.
Lulu: It’s good that you keep it handy like that. PS What are the wonders of Brazil? Besides chocolate.
Leo: I’ll tell you when I see you shortly.
