I look back to my parents, who are already in their seats up front, and smile. The wedding planner glares at me from across the pavilion and I quickly move over and take my spot on the bride’s side.
Robbie and Diana, the bridesmaid he’s paired up with, walk down and my two brothers have a long hug. I look over at the wedding planner expecting her to glare, but she’s all smiles.
Rude.
Jordan catches my eye and smiles, subtly running a finger over his throat. It takes all I have not to burst into laughter as he brings up the inside joke from the rehearsal, that the wedding planner is going to murder me for being ditsy.
I don’t have the chance to respond to his antics, because the song changes and Tangela and her dad start walking down the aisle.
She looks incredible in her lace dress with long sleeves and pearl buttons. Her black hair is in an updo, with a few strands falling forward, and her smile brightens up the whole pavilion.She waves at me with the hand that’s holding the bouquet and I smile, happy that she gets her perfect day.
I expect my idiot brother to make some kind of joke or bad-mannered comment, but when I look over I see tears in Michael’s eyes, then Robbie’s. And the next thing I know, my vision is blurry too.
No one tells you how emotional weddings are, especially when you’re part of the family. I blow out a breath and fan my face, refusing to let the tears fall, and I manage for half the ceremony. But when they get to the vows and I realize how much they love each other and how incredible their life will be together, I lose it.
And I’m not the only one. There’s not a single dry cheek in the whole wedding party.
“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a round of applause to Mr. and Mrs. Elliot as they take the dance floor.”
“That was one hell of a ceremony,” I say to Jordan, keeping my eyes on the couple as they slow dance.
“Could do with fewer tears,” he says, and I can hear the smile in his voice.
I scoff, “I think most of those tears were yours.”
Jordan laughs brightly and I twist my head to look at him. His tie is looser and he looks more relaxed than he did earlier. “Just don’t tell anyone.”
“Oh buddy, I got bad news for you,” I say, and point across the room at the photographer. “That guy captured it all, it’s forever immortalized.”
“Hm, any chance we can ask him to Photoshop us out of the pictures?” he says, jokingly.
“It’ll be one of those memes, where you ask them to fix the photo and they focus on the completely wrong thing to fix. We’ll go viral.”
“Good point. Maybe we just keep these in the family then.”
“Family,” I say, and take a deep breath. “Is that kind of what we are now?”
Jordan shrugs and chews his lip in thought. I’m dying to know what he thinks, and I do my best to keep still but my knee starts bouncing.
Does he see me as a little sister?
That really wouldn't work with the massive crush I have on him.
“In a way,” he says, but doesn’t elaborate further. I deflate a bit and think of something else to say, but before I can, the emcee asks the wedding party to join the couple.
I stand up quicker than I intend and step on my dress. Before my face can meet the floor, Jordan’s hands are there, steadying me against his broad chest.
“Careful,” he says.
“Sorry,” I mumble.
“Do I need to carry you to the dance floor?” Jordan asks, a little smirk playing at his pink lips.
“I’d like to see you try.” It comes out breathier and flirtier than I intended, but Jordan’s pupils go wide. I’m worried he might actually do it, or worse, that he’ll let go.
Instead, he gently places me back on my feet and takes my hand, leading the way to the dance floor.
His hands find my waist and I step into him, looping my hands around his neck. He’s so tall, almost a foot taller than me, and if I didn’t have heels on I’d have to stand on my tiptoes to even reach him.
