“Come here!” A skinny Black woman holds out a flower crown for me. It’s not nearly as elaborate as Bailey’s. Her’s has crystals, large blooms, and bright colors, the one I am handed is made of simple fake daisies.
“I don’t think anyone is going to mistake us for each other.” I laugh, slipping the white robe over my dress, like the other women are wearing theirs, and placing the crown on my head. I don’t compare to Bailey’s gorgeous dress or her bright pink hair shining under her fancy flower crown.
“It’s just for fun! You all look perfect! Thank you for being here for me!” Bailey tosses back her own glass of champagne and slips her feet into a pair of running shoes. “Come on! Come on! Let’s get back to the party!”
She exits the tent, headed back toward the bonfire. The other women follow, so I bring up the rear. The music is still raging, when the other women start dancing I’m happy to join in.??1 Somewhere in the distance, someone blows a loud horn. The drums quiet. My ears are left ringing in the near silence.
“It’s time! It’s time!” Bailey squeals, grabbing my hands.
“BAILEY!” Sacha’s voice comes from far away, near the edge of the forest. “WHERE IS SHE?”
Bailey squeals again and ducks down low in the crowd.
“Is… everything alright?” I ask her.
“Cover me!” she mouths.
She pushes her way through the crowd that parts easily for her. When we get to the edge of the dance party she grabs my hand again.
“Run!” she yells between her giggles and takes off toward the surrounding woods, dragging me behind her until I stumble in my shoes and slip out of her grasp.
I glance behind us. The other women are running too, but in all different directions. Their white robes stand out in the darkness, like fleeting ghosts of distraction.
“WIFE!” Sacha’s roar is audible, even from across the field. His gaze focuses on the direction Bailey ran—the path that leads directly past me and only me. He charges in my direction. I duck down the path in the woods that Bailey took. I can’t run in these shoes or in the near darkness. Somewhere in the distance, I hear Bailey laughing. She has the right footwear. She knows where she is going. She presumably does regular cardio. I’m a panting sweaty mess, and I’m barely inside the tree line, already feeling hopelessly lost.
A roar echoes through the forest.
I freeze in the middle of the path and turn to find a Bigfoot in a tuxedo charging toward me, his pupils blown wide. I’m prettysure I scream. I don’t think Sacha would hurt me, but he’s still absolutely terrifying.
A shadow scoops one strong arm around my middle and pulls me sideways off the trail.
Sacha doesn’t even pause as he runs past us. Charging forward, very nearly on all fours, toward the white blur that is Bailey’s wedding dress in the woods.
My heart is pounding. I grip the arm around my middle and lean back against a familiar chest. I would know this vanilla scent anywhere. Ant presses his face into the top of my head.
I can still see the pale shadow of Bailey’s dress when Sacha catches up with her. She laughs as he scoops her up and throws her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. She doesn’t struggle, just kicks her feet in the air and squeals as he carries her into the darkness.
The arm around my middle tightens.
“Are you alright?” The husky voice in my ear heats my body, his chest warm against my back.
“Yeah. I’m great,” I mutter, adrenaline and arousal mixing in my stomach. I’m still breathing hard, but I’m not sure it’s from the running anymore. I choke out a nervous laugh. “I gotta start working out.”
“What are you wearing?” Ant chuckles. His hand strokes along the wispy white lace of the robe the women gave me.
“It was for the Running of the Brides.”
“What is that?”
“What just happened, I think.” I laugh.
“Does it—happen at all human weddings?”
I don’t have to see his face to know it’s an earnest question. “None I’ve been to before. Apparently it’s a Bigfoot tradition.”
His chest presses into my back as he releases a long sigh. “So, you won’t want me to chase you through the woods on our wedding day?”
My heart skips several beats. “Ant! You are not asking me to marry you right now!”
