Annie whispered back, “Emmett might consider that bad taste in a wedding date.”
Then they both looked at Riley.
She huffed in mock indignation. “I suggested dating Jace as a revenge thing once, and you all shot me down. You can’t go back on that opinion now and tell me it’s a good idea.”
Olivia glanced at Jace, who stood across the room. “It wouldn’t hurt you to use your feminine charms on him if it means I don’t get stuck with Jennifer as a sister-in-law.”
Riley didn’t respond to that because the pastor came, corralled everyone, and instructed them how to walk in for the ceremony. Lucas and Jace settled down long enough to do it right.
At the rehearsal dinner, the best man was a no-show, so the space next to Jace was empty. Elsie, who sat between Riley and Annie, mostly spoke to Annie. This left Jace and Riley by themselves at the end of the table.
They talked easily. Jace apparently didn’t hate her on Lucas’s behalf, which was nice to know since she’d supposed that was part of the twin code. At one point, Riley asked Jace about Jennifer’s absence.
Jace shrugged and lowered his voice. “I brought her to Lark Springs last Labor Day weekend, and she got off on the wrong foot with my family. She’s very cosmopolitan and sophisticated. And you know my parents; they think small-town life is the best.”
“They’re right about that,” Riley said.
Jace took a sip of his drink. “See, that’s why my parents always got on with you.”
“They got on with me because I treated Lucas well.”
Mrs. Clark had seen in Riley someone who adored Lucas the way her son ought to be adored—wholeheartedly.
Jace nodded, his eyes a little sad. “It’s too bad things didn’t work out between you.”
Riley shrugged and tried to pretend the subject wasn’t painful, that it was all a philosophical topic now. “Lucas didn’t know what he wanted at the time.”
“I think he did,” Jace said.
She let out a humorless laugh. “I suppose so. It just wasn’t me.”
“Are you sure it wasn’t you who didn’t know what you wanted?”
Why would Jace say that? “Oh, I was clear about what I wanted.” She looked upward as though recalling. “At first, I wanted happily ever after, and then I wanted to hurt Lucas in ways that aren’t legal in most states.”
Jace opened his mouth to speak, then glanced at Elsie, who sat beside them, pretending not to listen, and at Lucas, who was seated on the other side of the table but kept glancing at the two of them. Jace chewed on his words for a moment, then dropped his voice to a whisper. “We should talk more about this tomorrow. It’s important.”
Riley was pretty sure she’d said everything on the subject there was to say. Thinking about it only dredged up the past pain, the feelings of rejection. But she sensed that Jace was trying to make her feel better. “Okay,” she said, “I’ll save you a dance.”
That nightwhen Riley got home, she tried on the bridesmaid dress so that she could choose her accessories and have them ready to go in the morning. The gown was emerald green, with a poofy skirt reminiscent of something a fairy princess would wear. The underskirt was scratchy enough that the dress required a slip—the downside to royalty. The bodice had been tight to begin with, and Riley had gained a few pounds over the last couple of months. Thank you, stress eating.
Since she’d seen the architect’s designs for the inn—well, really since Lucas became her boss—she’d frequently wanted to either chew her fingernails or a Snickers bar, and lately the Snickers was winning.
The dress fit, but barely. During the dancing, she might very well rip a seam. Note to self: no jumping around or waving her arms.
Riley had never dieted before and wasn’t even sure if it was possible to lose weight in one day, but she decided to skip eating on the wedding day. People said intermittent fasting was good for you. She could eat after the reception.
The day of the wedding was bright and beautiful, with the sun turning the snow into glitter. Riley spent the morning running errands for Olivia and helping her with last-minute things.
Olivia’s wedding, although hastily planned, was absolutely elegant. Riley had never seen so many flowers adorning a church. It made the entire place seem magical and sacred, a picture out of a fairy tale book.
None of Carson’s family were joking around today, they were smiling and serious, happy for Carson and Olivia and willing to give them the spotlight.
Mr. Travers, surprisingly sober, walked Olivia down the aisle as proudly as any father. As an extra bonus, he didn’t scowl at Carson at any point in the ceremony, so they wouldn’t have to edit the wedding video. Mr. Travers seemed to have decided to be on good terms with everyone for the day for his daughter’s sake.
Olivia looked absolutely glowing in her wedding gown, her dark hair piled high and a faint blush on her cheeks. She was radiant—in love and oblivious about everything else. Just like a bride should be.
After the ceremony, most of the guests moved to the large room behind the chapel for refreshments and socializing while the photographer shot group photos with the wedding party. When the photographer finished with those pictures and was taking the ones of the bride and groom, Riley knew it was her job to keep an eye on Mr. Travers.