Page 141 of Wedlocked

“Looks really great with that ring on your finger,” I told Landry.

Landry beamed, ducking her blond head to look at the giant diamond on her finger. “I still can’t believe he proposed.”

“The way he looks at you?” Rory said. “I’m not surprised.”

She’d told us all about the proposal while Madison was curling my hair and doing my makeup, and it was so swoony. A snowy-mountain gondola ride? How perfect.

“I think our next wedding will be in Malibu,” Madison mused.

Landry smiled. “Probably. But we haven’t talked about it yet.”

“You have plenty of time.” Gram assured her.

“Oh,” I said, fingering the small diamond. “Look what Gram let me borrow. Isn’t it beautiful?” I said, showing them the necklace.

“It’s totally a valid reason for your makeup needing touched up.” Madison agreed.

I laughed and then moved in, the tulle on my dress swishing as I tried to hug all three of my friends at once. “I feel so lucky today. Thank you for being here. You will never know how much this means to me. I hope we stay in each other’s lives forever.”

“Of course we will,” Madison promised.

“Family.” Rory agreed.

I pulled away and hugged Gram. “Thank you, Gram. Thank you for being the mother I never had.”

“Well, now I need to touch up my makeup as well,” Gram said against my ear. “Congratulations, honey. I will always be here for you.” She pulled back and plucked a tissue from a nearby box. “Now, if you will excuse me, I need to fix my face. I will see you all downstairs. At the wedding.”

My stomach flipped.

Gram left, and Madison ushered me into the small seat at the vanity in the bathroom. We fussed and touched up my makeup, and then Landry used the small wand of glitter mascara to paint some sparkles into my hair. I’d chosen to wear it down today and curled in big, loose waves. The veil I’d chosen was white tulle with lace trim and would attach to my head with a headband with snowflakes on it.

“Ugh, this is gorgeous with your dark hair.” Landry admired me.

I turned my head, noting how the glitter caught in the light as my curls moved. She only painted it in a few strands, and it was only visible when the light caught my dark strands.

“It’s perfect.” Rory agreed.

“Here.” Madison passed the veil over.

I took it but paused for a few moments, the butterflies in my stomach making me feel trembly. With a big breath, I lifted it as the shutter of Rory’s camera went off.

With the headband on my head, Landry and Madison moved in to adjust the veil so it fell down my back and around the sides of my head. A few long curls fell over my shoulders, framing the dress, and the diamond Gram lent me sparkled just like the glitter and snowflakes in my hair.

“This is more than I ever imagined,” I whispered, staring in the mirror at my reflection.

“Kruger is going to cause a scene when he sees you,” Rory said, lowering the camera. “You make a stunning bride, Jess.”

I swallowed past the lump in my throat.

Out in the bedroom, there was a knock on the door. We all looked at each other, expecting Ben to burst in.

“Jess?” a tentative voice called out.

“Matty,” I said, feeling emotional all over again as I rushed into the bedroom.

He froze the minute he saw me, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Whoa,” he whispered. His arms went to his sides, and he stared for another moment.

“She looks beautiful, right?” Landry asked.