I AM NOT GOING TO cry. I am not going to cry. Damn it, I am not going to cry!
I’m so full of shit. I’m going to bawl.
Not only because Amelia’s ceremony room is as beautiful as she and I hoped it would be. But because directly across from where I stand, Jaxson faces forward to the happy couple.
All day, he’s refused to acknowledge my existence. My leaving before breakfast and a shower pissed him off.
Jaxson’s mom and grandma arrived this afternoon. Amelia mentioned he took them around the resort and had a late lunch. I was hoping they’d keep him as distracted as I’ve tried to keep Amelia. But from the looks of him, angry and tense, my hope was for naught.
“Love is patient. Love is kind,” the pastor presses forward.
My sister’s hands are shaking in Brayden’s. I can’t see her beautiful face, but when Brayden reaches up to swipe her cheek, I surmise tears are starting to fall.
I’m not going to fucking cry.
I have no idea if Jaxson did today what I asked him to do last night. I have no clue if this will pull off as needed, so I can get my revenge for the universe trying to ruin my sister from her dream day for its own selfish reason.
Even if he found who I needed him to find, and he did as I asked, the plan could still take a terrible turn.
Turning to look out into the audience, I force a steady breath.
Mason has his arm wrapped around the back of Mom’s chair, where she sits smiling.
Kaiden is seated in Mason’s lap, holding an action figure while donning his little suit.
Dad sits next to his wife, holding her hand on his knee. He’d already given the bride away, which caused my first bout of tears to fall.
Jaxson’s mom and grandmother are seated directly behind them. Jaxson’s mom is wearing a black dress, that on anyone else would seem tasteless, but she’s made it work. His grandma is wearing blue.
Connie Murdock, Mom’s crazy best friend, and her husband, Charles, are in the third row. Connie smiles and winks. I smile back, regretting not choosing her as my partner in crime.
The sight of our families together should ease my tension. But Mason’s familiar scowl removes my confidence this will go as planned. He knows something’s up. Of course he does.
Shit.
Casting another glance to Jaxson, holding his hands clasped in front of him like the others, I wince. His hair is neatly combed, the tuxedo hiding all of what I felt last night. He’s feigning focus but with his jaw ticking and his lower eyelid twitching, it’s apparent he’s biding his time to get away.
“Now, if you’ll repeat after me,” Pastor Collins recites.
Then the lights go out and the room falls to near darkness.
Finally, I relax, knowing my plan is in action and I smile. Visions of Barbies, scattering about in their luxurious unbearably dark wedding suite, dance in my head. Here’s to hoping they weren’t as good with candle choosing as we were.
The crowd around us gasps, turning to each other in worry. Amelia and Brayden drop hands and turn toward the chaos.
“What in the hell?” Max, Brayden’s best man and best friend, curses.
Jaxson pierces me with a scathing glare, reminding me my part in this.
Damage control.
“Amelia,” I call and she turns.
Fear, mortification, and disappointment cross her features first. Panic not far on their heel.
Handing my arrangement of flowers off to Holly, I lift my dress enough so I don’t fall and make my way to Amelia, as the pastor stands speechless.
“I can’t…” she starts, her eyes filling with tears. “I can’t do this! I can’t take any more!”
Grabbing both her hands, I gather them between us and squeeze. Over her shoulder, I catch Jaxson still smoldering with anger.
This has to work!
“You can do this, Amelia,” I tell her, smiling small. Shaking our hands, I assure, “You can do anything.”
“I need you to go talk to whoever—“
Cutting her off, I shake our hands together, turn into the room, and insist, “Amelia, look around you.”
The lights from the candles are dancing, shadowing themselves against the reflection from the glass of the chandeliers above. The organist continues to softly play a random song selection. Just as she was paid to do.
The mirror from across the room creates the perfect picture of the wedding party. A picture only the camera of our family could capture.
Those in attendance immediately quiet, twisting their necks and seeing what Amelia and I now do.
Elegance. Beauty. Timeless perfection. A moment to remember.
When I turn back to Amelia, she’s studying me intently.
“Everything is shining,” she breathes.
“For your special day?” I question, hoping she agrees.
“This is perfect,” she whispers.
“Fuck the Callum suite. Welcome to the Traymon,” I tell her and she smiles.
Thank you, God above.
Stepping in, Brayden places his hand on Amelia’s back. Her eyes shine as she turns her head to see him patiently waiting.
“Ready to finish this?” he asks.
Amelia nods, releases my hands, and smoothes her dress. She turns to the pastor, who thankfully kept his shit together. Just as he was paid to do. Brayden takes her hand, the wedding party resumes their place, and the ceremony continues.
It’s not until I take a very deep, relieving breath that I look up to find Jaxson smiling at me so wide I wish I had life’s camera in my hands right now. Because no matter what happens when this is over, I want to remember that once upon a time, Jaxson Cole loved me for me.