LINDSAY OPENED UP a bottle of water and poured it into the back of the small coffeepot the hotel had provided in her room. She removed the cup from the plastic, added her artificial sweetener and a powdered creamer, and stirred. It wasn’t ideal, but the coffee shop in the lobby didn’t open until six, and she couldn’t wait another two hours for a cup of coffee, no matter how crappy this one was.
Unable to stay in the confines of her hotel room any longer, Lindsay zipped herself up in a hoodie, grabbed her coffee, and took off. Just where she was going, she wasn’t sure.
She stepped into the elevator and pointed her finger at the lobby button, all set to push… and stopped. Instead, she pushed 2, and sipped her coffee nervously as the elevator descended. When the doors opened she followed the long hallway down to the glass bridge that led across to Chateau’s main ballroom. Checking to make sure no one was watching, she sped over the bridge and opened one of the large double doors, sneaking in to catch a glimpse of the grandness she was in for today.
Gold chairs with black sashes stood in neat rows, separated down the middle with a white runner at the front of the aisle waiting to be unfurled at the start of the wedding. The flowers wouldn’t be arriving for hours, but Lindsay could envision where they would be placed and how the room would come together in a beautiful display. It would probably be similar to the way their venue had been set up. Maybe this would look even better. The comparisons had begun. Would the flowers be nicer? The food? The band? One thing was for certain, this marriage would most likely last longer.
Day three of their dream honeymoon had ended with an emergency flight home. Justin couldn’t breathe, his heart was racing, and big red blotches had started to form on his pale skin. After an agonizing flight where EMTs were waiting at the gate, Justin was rushed to the hospital. The official diagnosis was panic. Panic over marrying me.
Lindsay couldn’t look up when her mother-in-law walked into the hospital room. She couldn’t make eye contact with the woman who had warned her only a few days before that something like this was bound to happen.
Their marriage had been annulled by the end of the month. It had been easier than they thought to have their marriage decreed invalid, especially since consummation hadn’t taken place. Truth be told, they hadn’t consummated their engagement either. Lindsay hung her head at all the red flags she had been so blind to. Sometimes when you want something so bad, you tend to overlook what’s right in front of you.
The door creaked open, and Lindsay held her breath. The workers were probably coming in to finish the setup for the wedding, and would surely frown upon a guest sneaking in. She mentally prepared an apology and an excuse as the person drew near.
“Oh, I’m sorry.” Lindsay heard a man’s voice, and turned. “I didn’t know anyone was in here. The door wasn’t locked.”
“It’s okay.” Lindsay smiled up at the handsome man in front of her. “I don’t work here. I snuck in, too.”
“Phew.” The man relaxed. He motioned toward the seat next to her and she nodded before he sat down. “Can’t sleep either?” he asked, glancing down at his watch.
“Not a wink all night.” Lindsay breathed in his clean, soapy scent and discreetly gave a side glance to take in the details of this mystery man. Dark hair, thick beard, striking blue eyes.
“Are you here for the wedding?”
“I am.” Lindsay exhaled and leaned back in her chair. “I think.”
“You think?” The man chuckled. “That’s an interesting answer. Are you a friend of Justin’s?”
“Yes. No. I don’t know. Maybe.” What was the answer to that question? “I was his friend at one time. I’m not so sure now. We haven’t really spoken much these last couple of years. I’m not even sure why I was invited.”
The man lifted a brow and tugged on his beard. “I’m sorry. I didn’t get your name.”
“I’m Lindsay.” She extended her hand.
“Oh.” The look on his face said it all. He knew who she was, just like everyone attending this wedding would. His expression was one she was going to need to get used to today.
“Yes, I’m that Lindsay, the ex.” She clasped her hands together and took a deep breath. “Surprised to see me here?”
“It’s just....”
“Don’t worry, I think most people assumed I wouldn’t come today, that I wouldn’t be able to show my face.” She had mailed her response card late; it was possible it hadn’t been received in time. Lord knew it wasn’t a decision she had come to lightly.
“I don’t think Justin was sure you were going to come.”
“I almost didn’t, but I think I need to. I need to see the person who is able to make Justin happy in the way I never could. I need to see with my own eyes that this is really who he is and what he truly wants.” Lindsay covered her face with her hands. “Maybe if I see him marry someone else, it will give me closure. Or maybe at the very least, it will give me hope.”
“Hope?”
“Yes. Hope. Hope that I can meet someone and fall in love again. I was with Justin for nine years, and I never saw that we weren’t meant for each other. That the man I was hopelessly in love with saw me as just a friend.”
“You were more than a friend to Justin.”
“That’s what everybody always says. But only because what else are they going to say to the brokenhearted, rejected girl? They don’t know how he really felt.”
“Maybe they don’t, but I do.”
“Oh please, you don’t know, just like the rest of them.” Lindsay eyed the man up and down. “I know all Justin’s friends, and I don’t know you. I’m guessing you’re one of the new friends.”
“I don’t know if I’m new. Granted, I haven’t known him as long as you, but I can tell you he talks about you all the time. You guys have a history and a friendship that he treasures. He misses you very much. I know he’s sorry about the way things happened. I know he wishes he could change it.”
“He can’t.”
“No, he can’t. But it’s possible to start over, start down a new path, rebuild your friendship and continue on together, just in a new way.”
“Oh, please.” Lindsay laughed out loud. “Just what a new marriage needs—a third wheel. The ex reappearing to ‘rebuild the friendship.’” She continued to laugh. “Can you imagine how that would go over with the new wife?”
“Why do you say it like that?” The bearded guy looked almost as if he was offended. Perhaps he was a relative, or perhaps it was because she had said it like a total bitch.
“Honestly? Because I’m jealous. And hurt,” Lindsay admitted. “It’s been almost four years and in that time he’s been able to pick up the pieces, meet someone, find true love, and is now getting married. All I’ve managed to do is gain twenty pounds and go on a few really shitty dates. My life is garbage.” A few tears rose to the surface, and Lindsay quickly reached up to wipe one away.
“Don’t say that. Your life is not garbage. As I understand it, you can play the piano like no one else, you can cook a light and fluffy cheesecake from scratch, you love dogs and volunteer at the shelter, you know all the state capitals and can recite them in alphabetical order, you were a life guard in high school and saved a kid from drowning at the town pool. And, well, look at you, you are very easy on the eyes. Quite beautiful. If anything, maybe I’d say the new wife could be a little jealous of you.”
Lindsay felt herself blush. “Are you hitting on me?”
The man flashed her a big smile. “I’m afraid I’m taken.”
“All the good ones are.” Lindsay sighed before her own face stretched into a smile.
They were both quiet for a few minutes, each lost in a thought of their own.
“Maybe it is possible that I can be his friend again,” Lindsay said, breaking the silence, her gaze drifting as she wondered about the possibility of rekindling the friendship with the man she missed so much. “Provided the new wife isn’t a total monster, of course.”
“Of course. I think we’ve all got our fingers crossed for that one.” Two fingers went up and twisted tightly in the air, making Lindsay once again smile.
“Thank you. You’ve made me feel so much better about today. I’m extremely thankful to have met you here like this. Justin is very lucky to have you as his friend.”
“Right back at you. And hopefully soon, I’ll be seeing more of you, and maybe I can be lucky enough to call you my friend, too.”
“I would like that….” Lindsay froze, realizing her rudeness at never even asking for this sweet man’s name.
“I’m Jeremy.” He winked, and another fabulous smile peeked through his dark beard. “The new wife.”