A crowd had gathered on the grassy areas on both sides of the semicircle drive up to the main doors, spilling into the street and filling the little park across the way, as if gathered for a concert.

“Oh, my God,” I muttered, and Drea came up by my side to look out too. “Is that… Are they…”

“Trying to get a glimpse of the country power couple, Everly Ash and Trey Gilbert? You bet your ass. Y’all are a hot ticket.” Her voice went from false cheer to concern. “You should probably back away from the window before someone spots the bride up here and all hell breaks loose.”

With a gasp—because I knew all too well she was right—I stepped away from the glass and fell into the chair she’d originally offered, this room now starting to close in on me too, making me feel like I was stuck in an underground tunnel that was low on oxygen. A bone-deep chill went up my bare arms, and I covered them with my hands, running my palms up and down, as if I only needed a little circulation.

Drea pulled an ottoman over and sat in front of me, holding out a hotel glass with an inch or so of amber liquid. After getting a whiff of it, I raised my plucked-to-perfection brows at her. “Whiskey?”

With a nod, she said, “It’s big-guns time. You need Jack.”

Not a single argument came to my mind, so I tipped my head back and shot the liquor. The burn in my throat was startling at first, but I closed my eyes, focused on the sensation for a few seconds, and it became pleasant. Reassuring somehow.

When I opened my eyes, Drea peered into them, hers full of empathy and concern. “What’s going on, Ev? Are you getting cold feet?”

I was cold everywhere except my throat, as a matter of fact, but I shook my head, knowing that wasn’t what my friend meant. “Just… it’s a lot. Wedding-day nerves are a real thing, turns out.” I tried to laugh it off, but the laugh was more of a croak.

I could feel Drea staring at me as I silently coached myself through inhales and exhales, needing something to level out the shakiness I felt down to my bones.

“You know, I’ve been paying attention since I got in Wednesday night. You and Trey…”

Alarmed, I darted my glance to her face. Our eyes met, and hers said so much more than her words. My breath hitched. I pressed my lips together, not knowing what to say. Forcing her to finish her thought.

“Do you love him?” she asked, cutting to the chase as Drea always did. Most times, I admired her directness, but today it only made my skin feel a little too tight.