“Next time someone tells me they want to get married at a quaint little lake cottage, I’m going to strongly advise against it,” I say, hitching my dress up my legs so I can maneuver myself around the giant bags that are blocking the walkway to the bathroom. The place looks like a luggage store opened the front door and threw up inside.

“It’s not that bad,” Hayley replies dryly as she puts on her right earring.

I playfully roll my eyes. “Not that bad…” I mumble. “I’ll ask one of the guys to clear a place so you don’t have to do suitcase hurdles on your way to walk down the aisle. Hunter having to carry you would be romantic and all, but not if your leg is broken.”

Hayley smiles at the mention of her soon-to-be-husband’s name as she fusses with her hair. It’s casually beautiful in that messy-on-purpose way that fits with the whole laid back feel of this wedding.

Laid back is the perfect way to describe the bride, too. For all the years I’ve known her, I thought Hayley would be a little scatterbrained and excitable this afternoon. It’s the biggest day of her life, and she looks completely serene.

“Do you want me to go get your mom?” I ask. It’s just the two of us in here, and even though Hayley and her mom aren’t very close, her parents did fly down from Chicago to be here.

“No,” she says with a smile. “We spent the afternoon together, and she’s not the mother-of-the-bride type. She’s probably happier out there being social, and I’m definitely calmer with her not around.”

I walk up behind her and catch our reflections in the mirror. “You look beautiful,” I tell her, gently tugging on a ringlet. “I didn’t expect you to be so calm.”

She shrugs. “When it’s right, it’s right. I don’t feel nervous or scared, I just want to take his hand and…jump in.”

“Be careful who you say that to. There are some pranksters here who don’t know how to not take things literally, and you’re getting married in front of a giant lake.”

Hayley laughs and walks over to the window. The sky is starting to turn sunset orange, pretty pinks and blues streaking behind the clouds.

“You did such a great job,” she says, plucking back the curtains enough so she can see, but not enough to be noticed. “It’s everything I’ve ever wanted.”

Jesse and I strung the lights over the dining tables, along the railings of the dock. We arranged the chairs for the ceremony and hung sweet little bouquets along the makeshift aisle. We really did great work.

The bright look in Hayley’s eyes, and the tears shining there, make it difficult to swallow past the lump in my throat. I walk over and give her a hug.

I’m really proud of what I pulled off here, but what I think doesn’t matter. That Hayley likes it makes me happier than I can express. “I’m so glad you like it.”

She squeezes me tight. “I love it. And I love you.”

I pull a tissue out of my dress pocket and dab her cheek with it. “I love you too. But you’re going to ruin your mascara.”

“Thanks,” Hayley says with a sniffle. “Did you get all the pictures you need for your portfolio?”

I nod. “Jesse helped me.”

She gives me a sly grin. “I noticed. He’s been helping you a lot lately.”

“Marin had an obligation with her grandmother in New York last night, so she couldn’t get down here in time to help set up. Jesse offered to do it. He’s trying to be a good friend,” I reply, even though I’m starting to let myself believe that friendship isn’t all Jesse wants from me.

Hayley gives me the side-eye. “Alexa, c’mon.”

I sigh. “I’m just a little gun-shy after what happened last year. It took me longer than I’d like to admit to get over that. I don’t want to set myself up for something worse.”

“He got scared, and he made a mistake. You’d be making a mistake if you didn’t give him a second chance.”

She’s right, I know she is. But… “Tonight isn’t about me, it’s about you. And Hunter.” I turn my wrist and look at my watch. “Who is going to be your husband in about half an hour.”

Hayley looks absolutely giddy at the thought of it. She reaches out and takes my hand. “I’m so happy.”

“I’m so happy you’re so happy,” I reply with a grin. “Did you imagine we’d be here when we first met?”

“No,” Hayley replies with a laugh. “I thought you were just some annoying jerk who whispered too loudly in the library. And here we are…you’re getting married and I just don’t know what I’d do without you. I wouldn’t be getting married right now if you hadn’t pushed me to go out that night. Maybe I’d have…”

The night she met Hunter was one of the best and the worst in both our lives. I’ve often wondered what would’ve happened to both of us if I hadn’t dragged Hayley out to that club that night, if everything had happened in her apartment instead of at that club.

But now isn’t the time for what-ifs. “You’d have found Hunter sooner or later,” I assure her. “With how sickeningly sweet you two are together, no way the universe could’ve kept you apart for much longer.”

“That’s a nice thought,” she says, taking a deep breath as she reaches over and picks up her bouquet.

“You ready?” I ask.

She nods. “So ready.”

“Okay,” I tell her. “Let’s go and get you married.”