Jordan threw up her hands. “I don’t have time to fall for someone. Especially when that someone is the one I’m meant to be getting down the aisle. She’s saying ‘I do’ tomorrow, and I’m sitting in my car, wondering if she might change her mind. Honestly, who am I kidding? I’m the wedding expert, aren’t I? I’ve done nearly 30 weddings. How many of them have resulted in a bride or groom not going through with it?”

Karen twisted her mouth one way, then the other. “None?”

“Precisely. Not one. These brides never run, even when they don’t love the groom. Even when they’ve slept with someone else. Even when she’s told me she’s fallen for me.”

A few moments passed when nobody spoke. Outside, a couple walked by on the pavement, laughing as they walked.

What Jordan would give to be that carefree. Right now, her life was balanced on a knife edge, and either way she jumped, she was going to get hurt.

“Do you have to go to the wedding tomorrow? If she’s not going to follow through with you, it seems unnecessarily cruel for you to have to watch her get married.”

“It’s my job. The one she employed me to do.”

“But the circumstances have changed. Surely there’s some leeway if you end up falling in love with the bride, and her with you?”

Jordan quaked at Karen’s words. “Nobody said anything about love.”

“What do you think this is, then? Infatuation? Because it doesn’t look like it from where I’m sitting. You’ve been a basket case since you got back on Monday. From what you’ve said, so has she.”

“It doesn’t matter, does it? Nothing’s going to change before tomorrow.”

“Unless something or somebody makes it change.”

Jordan turned to Karen. “What are you suggesting?”

“That you don’t fall for people willy-nilly. Abby’s got under your skin, and you can’t ignore how you feel. If she feels the same way, maybe you should ask her before she walks down the aisle. Straight up, ask her.”

“Are you crazy? I know my feelings are real. I think hers are, too. But what if I’m wrong? Or worse still, I’m right, but she’s not prepared to blow up her wedding day?” Because that was what had happened up until now.

“Then at least you’ll know, and you won’t spend the next year wondering what if.”

“No, but I will spend the next year looking for another profession, seeing as nobody will employ me as a professional bridesmaid anymore.”

Karen waved a hand. “You said yourself you can’t stay in this game forever. Besides, you could work again, just maybe not in these precise social circles.”

“I think word of a bridesmaid shagging a bride might get around.”