Page 64 of My Heart Still Beats
I force a smile and continue. “I’m thrilled to be Skye’s maid of honor. When we met our first year at BU, we had absolutely nothing in common. I was a math major, and Skye was an art major. Totally different. But somehow we seemed to click, and within months we were besties. Skye’s an only child, so she asked me to be her maid of honor long ago—way before she met Braden—and now I guess she’s stuck with me.”
I get a few laughs at that, though it’s not really what I was going for.
Stop being self-deprecating, I tell myself.Speak from your damned heart.
I draw in a breath. “When Braden first approached Skye, she wasn’t sure whether she should respond to his advances. He pursued her hard. We even joked that he was a stalker. I remember telling her to ease up. He’s a damned billionaire, so until he boils a rabbit in your kitchen, you should go for it.”
More giggles. At least I wasgoingfor laughter that time.
“Skye has always been a little bit of a control freak.”
This time I get guffaws.
“You’re kidding, right?” From Betsy, rolling her eyes.
But they laugh again, and I join in, forcing out some chuckles.
“But of course Braden Black was the catch of the century, as we all know. The blue-collar billionaire himself, and he was interested in my Skye. So I told her to go for it. To let her hair down and take a chance.”
My words are true. That’s exactly what I told her. And now? I can’t even let my own hair down.
“And maybe,” I continue, without realizing what I’m saying, “maybe it’s time I take my own advice.” I pick up my flute of champagne. “So Skye decided to let her hair down, and she found something way better than a quick fuck with a hot billionaire.”
More snickers and giggles.
“She found the love of her life, and when you’re in the presence of Skye and Braden together, you can’t help but feel that love. It emanates from them. It’s thick and almost visible in its intensity.” I meet Skye’s gaze, tears forming in my eyes. “Skye, I love you. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for, and I’m so, so happy for you. So here’s to you, to your husband-to-be, and to the rest of you ladies as well. Let’s celebrate the beauty and wonder that is Skye Manning!”
I raise my glass, clink it to each of the others around me, and then take a sip.
I used to love champagne. Not so much because of its flavor or the bubbles or anything, but because of what it represents. Class and decadence.
That was the Tessa of old. She appreciated all of those things. She let her hair down and was always ready for a party.
I take another sip of the champagne and let the bubbles dance over my tongue. And the tears… They’re there, ready to spill. Emotion. I’m feeling something.
It’s been so long that it nearly guts me.
“Speech, speech, speech,” the girls chant.
They drag Skye to her feet, and she stands next to me.
“Tess, I love you more than anything.”
“Not more than Braden,” Kathy shouts.
“In an entirely different way,” Skye laughs. But then she gets serious. “Tessa, you’ve always been there for me, even when I wasn’t there for you. Thank you for forgiving me when I didn’t deserve it. Thank you for this amazing weekend.” She looks around at the tropical decor, none of which I had anything to do with. “I’m in awe of what you put together. You’ve always been great with parties, Tess, but this is amazing even for you.”
Again the guilt gnaws at me. “I’m really glad you like it,” I say sincerely.
“Are you kidding me? I love it. So what else is going on tonight?”
I wish I knew. Ben said something about putting together a DJ and some dancing in one of the ballrooms. But now I’m wishing we had just done it all outside. It’s a beautiful night, and I don’t want to leave it just yet.
“First we have gifts for you,” I say, “and after that you’ll just have to wait and see.”
But then—
The beat of a drum, steel drums, actually—and some reggae music.
