The pressure to keep up a certain appearance and simultaneously ignore her mother’s questioning stare only added to her fractured emotional state. But she would not allow any of it to spill over to any aspect of Ava’s wedding.

As they ran through the steps again, Keiran’s body next to hers was too distracting. She didn’t know if she could keep it together much longer, certain every emotion was plain for all to see, but that could just be her paranoia. She was holding on by a thread here, a slowly fraying thread because she didn’t know what to do.

Ava swooped in as soon as that walkthrough was over, dragging her off to the side. “Everything good?”

“Yes, great, fine. Let’s do this so we can get to dinner then rest. We all need some sleep. Big day tomorrow,” she said as cheerfully as she could muster. Not well enough, it seemed. While Ava let her be, Reba and Remi shot worried glances her way. Did she look as pathetic as she felt?

She spied Scott talking with Keiran, but his sidelong glances irritated her. She was obviously the topic of discussion. When she excused herself to use the bathroom and found Maxine at the sinks after she exited the stall, she lost it, figuring she was here on behalf of her twin.

“Don’t,” she warned.

“I’m just here to use the bathroom. Same as you. Promise.” Maxine held up her hands.

“Sorry,” she rasped out, throat tight, tears threatening to burn their way out. She yanked the paper towels out until an entire set rolled down. “Fuck!” She ripped off what she wanted and wiped furiously at her hands.

Maxine’s eyes widened. “Wait, hey, just let me help you.”

“Forget it.” She didn’t want sympathy from Maxine or anyone. She just wanted her brain to sort everything out. She swept out of the bathroom and ran into Remi, who she waved off with a slash of her hand.

She called it a night by nine, coaxed Ava and the rest of the bridesmaids to do the same. She didn’t look at Keiran when they left. Not once. Go her.

#

WEDDING DAY BROUGHT perfect weather. Cherisse gave a silent salute to the weather gods and begged them to keep the sky blue and the day cool. No oppressing heat or rain, please and thank you. Ava and the other bridesmaids were busy getting their hair and makeup done.

Cherisse expected to be called in for her session soon, but she needed a last-minute meeting with Reba. Reba was good about the actual setup. Cherisse had no worries about it. She’d gone through the process while Reba had assisted her with the baking of all the goodies for today except the main cake. But she wanted to make sure her frazzled brain hadn’t forgotten anything, and that’s where Reba came in.

“Cherisse!” Her mother was swiftly heading her way, face made up and hair done, wearing a silky blue robe that was securely cinched at the waist. “You have to get ready.”