ELI FLIPS AND BOUNCES the coin between his fingers with the skill of a magician. Emma and Theo both watch him intently. Next thing you know, the coin disappears.

Theo stares with wide eyes. “Where did it go?”

“It’s in his hands,” Emma tells him knowingly.

Eli grins, and opens both his hands. “No, it’s not.”

Both Emma and Theo are completely fascinated.

“Oh, but wait,” Eli says. “I think I know where it is.” Magically, he retrieves it from behind Theo’s ear. Theo is completely amazed when Eli gives him the coin — a Danish Kroner. “How did you do that?!”

“It’s a secret,” Eli says.

Corrie swoops in. “He’s still not here.” She takes a seat on the pretty upholstered pink bench. “What are you doing here?” she asks Eli. “No boys allowed in here.”

I laugh. “We made a special exception for Eli,” I tell Corrie. I can’t quite pull my gaze from him — he looks absolutely delicious in his suit. “The kids wanted him here.”

“Yeah, it’s not fair,” Theo chimes in. “I’m a boy and I get to come in. Why can’t Eli?”

Corrie fusses with her up-do — she looks really pretty in her yellow bridesmaids’ dress. “Well, you’re the ring boy,” she says. “That’s a really important job. What’s Eli good for?”

“Magic tricks,” Theo replies with a wide grin.

I tug at the halter of my dress. I just know my boobs are going to pop out at some point tonight — I’ve come to terms with that, and am perfectly okay with it. I beam at Theo. He looks so adorable in his little suit, and so does Emma. She’s wearing a pretty yellow dress with puffy sleeves, a flowery skirt, and a big bow at the back. She’s one of the junior bridesmaids, and she glows with pride.

Theo pulls a face, the sad pout I’m so used to seeing when he doesn’t get his way. “Why couldn’t Floyd come too?”

Eli wraps a long arm around Theo’s little body. “Because dogs are not welcome at weddings… I know, it’s not fair.”

“So not fair,” Theo says.

“He’s happy at home,” Eli assures him. “My friend is looking after him.”

“Is he at the studio?” Corrie asks. “How’s that going?”

I look off into the distance — Kayla, Marilyn (Maeve’s older sister) and Mandy (Maeve’s high school bestie) are fussing with Maeve’s dress. Maeve is a complete nervous wreck. “No worries,” Kayla says. “We have plenty of time. He’s late.”

“It’s going well,” Eli is saying to Corrie. “I’ve almost got everything set up. And my manager already got me in some galleries in New York, Montreal, Chicago… loads of places.”

Corrie fiddles with her open toed heels. “That’s great.”

“I even got him in at my gallery,” I tell her. I know it’s not my gallery, and I don’t even get paid to work there, but I’m still excited about it.

“You’re still living in your studio?” she asks Eli.

He nods. “Well, you know, we’re taking it slow.”

I smile and stare down at my promise ring, the beautiful glass stone ring Eli gave me as a promise of things to come. “We’ll be moving in together soon enough, when the time is right,” I tell her.

Corrie smirks. “So what does John think about you?!” she asks, not quite waiting for an answer. “A tall gorgeous slice of a man like you,” she says turning to me with a wicked smile. “John must be insane with jealousy.”

I laugh. “Well, yeah, I don’t think he loves Eli, but he’s cool with it all. He’s busy with Amanda. It’s been going well.”

Corrie stands and takes my hand in hers. “I’m glad. I’m really happy for you, Gabs. You deserve this.” She almost brings me to tears, but then she turns on her heel, and lets go of my hand. “I need to go tinkle before show time.”

I turn to Eli, and look up into his beautiful eyes. He draws me in closer. The kids are running around us in circles.

He winks. “I told you I’d be at this wedding.”

I smile up at him. “You did.”

“This will be us, one day,” he says.

Chaos swirls around us. Sylvia, the wedding planner, is running around like a chicken with its head cut off. “One day soon, hopefully.”

He kisses the tip of my nose. “I can’t wait.”

I snuggle in closer. “And can you picture little ones running around too?”

He laughs. “We already have little ones running around.”

I pout. “But maybe one more… or two?”

A tearful smile stretches across his sweet face. “Making a human being with you is definitely on my bucket list,” he jokes. “But only if you’re up for it. I’m happy either way, Gabriella, as long as I’m with you.”

I smile playfully. “We’ll see.”

Now, both Kayla and Corrie are running around too. Maeve is sprawled on the loveseat, her face buried in her hands, the skirt of her dress a big cloud. The mother of the bride is freaking out. She dashes out of the room in a flurry.

What the hell is going on?

“I’m sorry,” I say to Eli. “I need to see what’s going on. I need to help.”

I catch up to Kayla, and ask her quietly, “What’s going on?”

She pulls me around the corner, and whispers, “Peter’s not here yet. Everyone’s here. Everything’s set. The priest is waiting impatiently… but no Peter.”

My heart sinks. “Oh no.”

I want to go to Maeve, and tell her that everything will be okay, but how can I say that? I have no clue what’s going on. The kids are still running in circles. Corrie and Sylvia are talking in hushed tones. Eli is just standing, confused, and Maeve is balling her eyes out.

Maeve’s mother, Sheila, finally comes back. I can tell from the expression on her face that it’s not good news. She trudges slowly over to the loveseat, and sits next to her daughter. She looks regal in an iridescent silver dress, her dreadlocks up in an intricate up-do, a dusting of grey lining the edges of her black hair, and sapphires hanging from her ears. She takes Maeve in her arms, and with a trembling voice, she whispers, “I’m so sorry, Maeve.”

Maeve tears herself from her hold — her face is a complete mess; puffy eyes, running mascara, and blotched skin. “What happened?”

“I… I’ve spoken to Peter’s parents, and... sweetheart, there’s been a change of plans.” Sheila’s voice cracks, and she draws a long breath before uttering her next words. “They… they say that Peter had a change of heart, and he’s not coming. They’re very, very sorry.”

Maeve’s face blanches — her pretty caramel complexion turns to ash. “He’s not coming?” she asks, not quite believing it.

The whole room is frozen, jaws on the floor, eyes unblinking. Even the kids seem confused. Total silence.

How can this be happening? To Maeve, of all people? The sweetest and kindest person you’ll ever know.

Eli takes my hand and squeezes it.

I can’t believe it. Peter Walker has just left my best friend at the altar. My beautiful, sweet best friend.

I want to find that little creep… and strangle him to death.