We found an incredible old warehouse that had been converted into an event space and rented the whole thing for the ceremony and reception. Sherbrooke Station has become such a big deal that we have actual security guards overseeing things today. We’re mostly worried about people trying to get at Ace, but there are still reporters outside who’d probably scale a wall just to get a shot of my dress.
I peek down the hall to where the remaining part of the wedding party is gathered outside the doors of the warehouse’s giant main room, waiting for their turn to go in. Ace and DeeDee follow after where JP and Monroe must already be walking ahead of them. Matt and Kay file in next. Lexi is helping behind the scenes today and ushers her two daughters, our flower girls, through the doors after them.
She turns around with a nervous look on her face that floods with relief when she spots me. She waves me down to join her.
“You arestunning,” she whispers.
“Thank you,” I mouth.
I hear the officiant call for everyone to stand.
I thought for a long time about who I’d ask to walk me down the aisle, but in the end, I decided to take those steps by myself. It would have been an honor to stand beside any one of my friends today, but I thought I needed this moment. I thought I needed to do this on my own.
Now I’m cursing myself for being so stupid.
I’ve suddenly realized that having someone walk you down the aisle isn’t just a symbolic gesture about being guided from one phase of your life to the next; it’s so that when your throat seems to close up and your feet turn to lead in your heels, you have someone to tug you forwards and keep you from freezing up like an idiot in front of everyone you’ve ever known.
“Roxanne?” Lexi whispers. “You okay?”
“I...”
Someone steps up beside me and slips their arm through mine.
“Madame,you look like you may need some assistance.”
My breath whooshes out of me in a laugh. “JP! You were supposed to go in with Monroe.”
“Ben ouais,but why make your entrance with the maid of honour when you can go in with the bride?”
“You’re crazy,” I tell him, “and I’m glad you’re here.”
“It’s only right,” he assures me, as he straightens his bow tie.
I give him a questioning look.
“If I hadn’t locked you and Cole in the tour bus shower that day, none of this would have happened. I’m the whole reason everyone is here. It’s only right I walk you in.”
I roll my eyes and pat his arm. He gives my hand a squeeze.
We step through the doors.
People might be gasping. There are probably tears. I’m sure JP is getting lots of laughs as always, and Monroe is definitely trying to catch my eye, but I don’t pay attention to any of it. I don’t even hear the music. I can barely feel my feet on the floor.
I meet Cole’s gaze at the end of the aisle, and I’ve never felt more perfect before.
* * *
“Okay, okay, everyone,”our MC announces, “it’s time to get this party started. Please direct your attention to the dance floor, where Roxanne and Cole are going to share their first-ever dance as a married couple.”
I gulp down the last of my champagne, Cole’s hand gripped tightly in mine as the crowd cheers. Everyone is still in a post-dinner stupor, and I am definitely not at my most-coordinated, but I’m still smiling so wide my face hurts as the crowd clears a path for us to make our way to the middle of the floor.
My abs are killing me from dying of laughter during JP’s speech, which involved him beat-boxing, hip thrusting on a table, and kissing not only his girlfriend but every member of Sherbrooke Station and all oftheirgirlfriends full on the mouth.
Cole and I are the only Sherbrooke Station couple to have gotten engaged so far, never mind married. Matt and Kay act like they’re allergic to even the mention of matrimony, despite being two of the most disgustingly in love people I’ve ever seen. I swear Ace is about to break the hearts of fangirls all over the world any day now by sealing the deal with his blonde ballerina of a girlfriend, and JP’s own personal fangirl Molly is still the only woman around with a hope of keeping him under control—though I doubt ‘settling down’ is high on his list of priorities.
Cole’s uncle also made a speech, and if there’s anything that I think has ever brought Cole Byrne close to tears, it was that. He talked about the unexpectedness of love, how sometimes it doesn’t take the course we plan for it but still always gets us where we need to go. I know how much it meant to Cole to hear that coming from him.
Our guests flank the dance floor. I take a moment to scan the faces around me as we step past the edge of the crowd. There’s a huge turnout of people from both Sherbrooke Station’s past and present. Nadia is here with her husband, who’s standing behind her with his hands on her hugely pregnant stomach. She flashes me a smile, and I return it with a grateful one of my own; I don’t know if things will ever be ‘normal’ between us, but it means a lot that she’s here. Cole’s auntie and uncle watch us with misty eyes from beside them.
