Substitute Bride Page 5

  Greg finished his cheeseburger and wiped his hands on a napkin. “This is the perfect opportunity. Go make your move.”

  She whirled around to face him. “How?”

  He rolled his eyes. “Do I have to do all the thinking for you?”

  The dark haired guy from the other table stood up and handed her a football. “Here. Throw this in their direction and run after it. You can give it back when you’re done.”

  She glanced at him, surprised.

  He shrugged. “You remind me of my sister, so I thought I’d help you out.”

  “Oh.” She slowly took the ball. “Um…thanks.”

  Nita gave her a gentle push. “Go before they get out of throwing range.”

  “Seriously,” Greg agreed before he popped a couple of french fries into his mouth.

  With one last look at everyone, Alex nodded and stood up. She judged the distance and decided to throw it right past Tammy. “Okay. Here goes nothing.”

  Gripping the ball firmly in her hand, she counted to three and threw it. As it sailed through the air, Tammy turned around, found something in the sand, bent down, picked it up and stood up in time for the ball to hit her face.

  “My eye!” Tammy shrieked.

  Alex covered her mouth in shock while Greg, Nita and the guy broke out into a round of laughter. Greg even went so far as to bang the table and clap.

  “That was great,” Greg said between fits of laughter.

  “I wasn’t aiming for her face,” Alex hissed, turning to him.

  “Go,” Nita said. “Get the ball.”

  Not knowing what else to do, Alex ran down the boardwalk and along the sand until she reached them.

  “I’m so sorry,” she apologized, wincing when she saw that a bruise was forming around Tammy’s eye. “I was throwing the ball around and didn’t know you and Kevin were over here.” She looked tentatively at Kevin, wondering if he’d believe her or not.

  “It’s okay, Alex,” Kevin replied, hugging Tammy who buried her face into his shoulder and started crying. “It was an accident.”

  Alex glanced over her shoulder at her friends who motioned to her to get closer to Kevin. She rolled her eyes and decided to ignore them. There was no way she could snuggle up to him with Tammy clinging to him. Why did Tammy have to move into the path of a flying football? The girl was just asking to get hurt!

  “Hey, is everyone alright?” someone called out.

  Alex blinked and saw that the dark haired guy was running up to them.

  He stopped when he reached them and shook Kevin’s hand. “Hi. Name is Trent.”

  “Uh…Kevin,” he replied, looking surprised.

  “Oh, so this is Kevin!” Trent turned to Alex and winked before he told Kevin, “I heard all about you.”

  Alex’s eyes grew wide. He wouldn’t tell Kevin what she and her friends were discussing at the restaurant, would he? She glanced over her shoulder and motioned to Greg and Nita to help her, but they just waved and gave her a thumbs up sign. Sighing, she directed her attention back to the conversation.

  “Yep,” Trent continued and put his arm around Alex’s shoulder. Giving her a light squeeze, he added, “You’re a great friend.”

  Her relief was so overwhelming, she didn’t protest when Trent kissed her cheek.

  “Alex is amazing,” Trent went on. “I mean, did you see how well she threw that football? I was like ‘Wow. That girl’s got a great arm.’” He looked at her. “It’s too bad the NFL doesn’t allow women to play football. You’d wipe the floor with those men.”

  Okay. Now he was taking this whole thing too far. She wasn’t that good, and Kevin knew it. She patted Trent on the chest and offered the happiest smile she could muster. “You’re so sweet.” Glancing at Kevin and Tammy who had her hand over her eye, she asked, “Isn’t he sweet?” Then, deciding she might as well make the most of it, she kissed him. “You are the best, sweetie.”

  “No, you’re the best,” Trent replied.

  She giggled and playfully swatted his chest. “No. You are.”

  He slipped his arm from her shoulders to her waist and drew her in for a hug. “No, I’m not. You are.”

  “Alright,” Kevin intervened before she could reply. “We get it. You two are the best.”

  Tammy sniffed and lowered her hand.

  Alex cringed. “Oh my gosh, Tammy. I’m so sorry.” She stepped forward and inspected the rest of Tammy’s face where her nose was swelling up and a bruise was forming on her cheek. “Does it hurt?”

  “Of course, it hurts!” Tammy snapped. “You threw that ball right at me!”

  “No, I didn’t. I mean, I didn’t throw it directly at you,” Alex quickly replied.

  “You did it on purpose.” Tammy turned to Kevin. “She did this so I’d look like a clown on my wedding day!”

  Kevin shook his head. “I know Alex, and she wouldn’t do something like that.”

  “I can’t believe you’d defend her,” Tammy yelled, stepping away from him. “You’re going to marry me, but you’re defending her.”

  “Hey, look guys, we don’t want any trouble,” Trent intervened.

  “Good. Then you can butt out,” Kevin told him.

  Alex gasped. “That’s really rude, Kevin.”

  “Yeah? Well, he’s hanging all over you like he’s your boyfriend or something,” Kevin shot back.

  Tammy huffed. “This is not about Alex and Trent. This is about Alex and me. Whose side are you on, Kevin?”

  “There’s no one’s side to choose,” Kevin said. “It was an accident!”

  “So you believe her?” Tammy’s lower lip quivered and tears filled her eyes.

  Alex couldn’t believe it. Tammy could really pull out all the stops. Well, so could she. She snuggled up to Trent. “You were there. You saw that I wasn’t aiming for her.”

  “Yes, I did,” Trent said. “It’s just as she said, Tammy. It was an accident.”

  Tammy stomped her foot, sending particles of sand flying into the air. “She’s not going to be the best woman at the wedding.” Then she crossed her arms and glared at Alex.

  Alex broke free from Trent and approached Tammy, scowling. “That’s exactly what you’ve wanted all along, and once you marry Kevin, you won’t let him be friends with me anymore.”

  “No, she’s not, Alex,” Kevin inserted.

  “I’m sure we can work something out,” Trent said.

  Kevin glared at him. “Will you mind your own business?”

  “Alex is my business,” Trent replied.

  Alex turned to Kevin. “Look, Greg and Camden said she won’t let you be friends with them either because we’re all not her kind of people.” She scanned Tammy up and down. “Whatever that’s supposed to mean.”

  Tammy gasped and placed her hand on her chest. “She’s insulting me! Kevin, are you going to stand for this?”

  “Yes, Kevin. Are you going to stand for this?” Alex repeated.

  He glanced from Alex to Tammy and to Alex again. Finally, he said, “I don’t need to deal with this.”

  As he walked off in a huff, the three stood there for a moment, staring after him.

  Finally, it was Tammy who broke the silence. “Your days are numbered, Alex. You might be the best woman at the wedding, but I’ll make sure you and those dorky friends of yours won’t be in his life ever again.”

  “For your information, the wedding isn’t going to happen because he’s not marrying you,” Alex shot back.

  “He needs to marry someone to get that money.”

  “Yeah, and that someone’s going to be me.”

  Tammy laughed. “You? Oh, that’s precious. If he wanted to marry you instead of me, then why didn’t he ask you?” Before Alex could respond, Tammy continued, “I’ll tell you why. Because you are just a friend. He doesn’t love you, and he never will.” She retrieved the football and shoved it in Trent’s stomach. “I don’t buy for one minute that you are her boyfriend, so let the act go, huh?”


  When she was out of hearing distance, Trent whistled. “She’s a real piece of work, isn’t she?”

  Alex’s eyes filled with tears and the lump in her throat prevented her from answering. Things had just gone from bad to worse, and she didn’t know how to rectify the situation.

  “Hey, it’s not over,” Trent softly told her.

  She sniffed and wiped her tears on the sleeve of her sweatshirt. “Yes, it is. The wedding’s a week away, and he’s determined to marry her.”

  Trent tossed the football in the air and caught it. “I wouldn’t be so sure.”

  “What makes you say that?”

  “He was jealous of you and me.”

  Alex shook her head.

  “Maybe you have to be a guy to see it.” He put his arm around her shoulders and led her back to the restaurant. “You obviously have no clue when it comes to guys.”

  “I’ve been friends with them ever since I was little.”

  “Yeah, but being friends and being more are two different things. I’m telling you, Kevin doesn’t like the idea of you dating other guys.”

  “Even if that’s true, there’s no way to stop the wedding.”

  “Oh, I wouldn’t be so sure. A lot can happen in a week. Now, let’s get back to your friends and start planning, okay?”

  With a resigned sigh, she nodded and decided she’d give it one more try.

  Chapter Seven

  As Kevin ran for the charity he had signed up for, he kept thinking over everything that had happened ever since the lawyer read his aunt’s will. He was beginning to wonder if the blessing of a million dollars was turning into a curse. His life was much simpler before that will came along to mess it up.

  He rounded the final lap of the run, along with the others who participated in it. When he signed up for it, he had wished that Alex didn’t have to work so she could be running with him. Now, he was glad he didn’t know anyone else in the event because it gave him time to think. And that’s what he needed most.

  It was becoming apparent that Tammy wasn’t the right one for him. Not only did they disagree about the proper use of his money, but it was starting to look like Alex was right, that she was trying to come between them. He couldn’t imagine his life without Alex. Alex had been his best friend since kindergarten. She’d been there for him through everything. How could he sacrifice the best thing in his life for anyone else?

  And that came down the crux of the matter. No matter who he chose, he would have to give up part of the closeness he shared with Alex, and that would create a void in his life he didn’t want to deal with. He hadn’t seen her for over a week and he missed her.

  Alex understood him better than anyone, and she was the only one he could tell everything to without worrying about being condemned for it. It was a bonus she happened to be a woman. A major bonus, if he gave it careful consideration. He could marry her, still be as close to her as he was now, and, even better, he could make love to her. The more he thought about it, the more excited he became.

  Up to now, he hadn’t been too thrilled about getting married. Tammy was the best he could come up with on short notice, but she still wasn’t exactly what he needed. However, if he married Alex, the prospect had surprising appeal. Whatever thing she had going with that guy at the beach couldn’t be serious. After all, he hadn’t seen the guy before, and Alex never mentioned dating anyone. She probably had the same amount of interest in him that Kevin had in Tammy.

  He finished his run and clocked in his time with the volunteer from the charity. Then he drove home. Once he parked his car, he went into his apartment and took a shower. He worked through the scenario of being married to Alex in his mind and realized it felt right. He would have to break off his engagement with Tammy. There was no way it was going to work out with her.

  After he was done with his shower, he dried his eyes off with a towel and picked up his watch to check the time. The hour was too late to call Tammy to end the engagement. He’d have to do that tomorrow, and then he could talk to Alex.

  ***

  The next day, Alex and Nita entered the bridal shop, and Alex groaned when she saw Tammy surrounded by her trio of bridesmaids. Tammy’s back was turned to her, so Alex figured she just might make it safely out of there before the witch saw her. Alex turned to leave, but Nita grabbed her arm.

  “You can’t go until you try on your dress,” Nita said.

  “This is so unfair. I should be the one wearing white, not Tammy.”

  “You will.”

  “Great,” Alex said with false enthusiasm. “Then I’ll come back when Kevin comes to his senses and drops her.”

  “He will once he sees you and Trent tonight at the engagement party.” Nita wrapped her arm around Alex’s and dragged her to the woman who was at the cash register. “Hi.”

  The woman looked up from the veils she was sorting and smiled. “Are you the one who’s wearing the best woman dress?”

  Nita nodded. “The best woman is right here.” She patted Alex on the back.

  “Come this way then,” the woman said as she walked around the counter.

  As they went to the section of dresses, they passed the dressing rooms and the large area for women to check themselves in the mirrors lining the walls. Out of morbid curiosity, Alex glanced in Tammy’s direction and saw her bruised nose and eye. Tammy was wailing and touching her face while her three friends tried to console her.

  “We’ll get make-up,” one of them said, sounding as if she wasn’t convinced it would hide everything.

  Alex winced as another stab of guilt pierced her. Even if she didn’t like her, she wouldn’t have wished those nasty bruises on her.

  The woman glanced at Alex. “I admit it’s unusual for me to order a black dress.”

  “Well, this is more of a funeral than a wedding,” Alex replied.

  Nita shushed her before she turned her attention to the dresses lining the wall. “Kevin and the groomsmen will be wearing black tuxes, so Alex has to wear a black gown,” she told the woman. “You know, to match and all.”

  “Oh! Now that makes sense.” The woman took the only black dress in the whole store off the hook and handed it to Alex. “The dressing rooms are back there. I’ll be up front if you need anything.”

  Alex inspected the dress as the woman left and grimaced. “It’s a sleeveless dress.”

  “So?” Nita asked.

  “I hate sleeveless dresses. I always feel like my boobs are going to pop out if I raise my arms too high.”

  “Well, that would certainly get Kevin’s attention.”

  Alex shot her friend a warning look. “There’s no way I’m flashing everyone at a wedding. We’ll be in a church, for goodness’ sakes!”

  “You’re usually more fun than this.”

  “It’s hard to be fun when your whole world is about to be ripped apart.”

  “Alex.” Nita took Alex by the shoulders. “Focus here. You’re going to condemn yourself if you’re not careful. Haven’t you ever heard of the self-fulfilling prophecy?”

  “No, I haven’t.”

  “It’s when you set yourself up for failure by believing you will fail. Look, you have until next Saturday to be the bride, but unless you start acting like you’re going to be the bride, it’s not going to happen.”

  “For awhile I was thinking it, but since then, nothing’s changed.”

  “That’s because sometimes it takes time to see progress. Your problem is that you expected everything to work out during the football game, so when Tammy showed up and Kevin ran off with her, you backed off.”

  “I couldn’t get a hold of him since that game, except for the one time at the Rathskeller, not that it did any good.” Alex glanced over her shoulder where Tammy and her three friends were huddled in a circle, staring at Alex and Nita before they giggled and looked away. “She won’t let me near him, and then she got hit with the stupid ball. You know what? I think she saw that ball coming and purposely stepped in front of it
to get Kevin’s sympathy.”

  “Doubtful,” Nita said. “No bride wants to look like a clown on her wedding day.”

  “Okay. Probably not.”

  “Alex, you have to start believing in yourself.” She tapped her forehead. “You have to believe it before you can make it happen. The rest of us can only help, but it’s up to you to make it work.”

  “Okay, Mom.”

  Nita laughed. “Let’s go get this dress on, and keep telling yourself, ‘I won’t be wearing this at the wedding because I’ll be wearing white.’”

  Alex mentally repeated the words to herself as they approached the horde of giggling girls. Her stomach tightened, but she resisted the urge to bolt.

  Tammy pushed past the group of bridesmaids and smirked at Alex. “Last night Kevin came over to my apartment to comfort me. All. Night. Long. You’re history once the wedding’s over.”

  Gasping, Alex dropped the dress before she drew back her fist and punched Tammy in her good eye.

  Tammy shrieked, stumbled back, and covered the eye with her hand. “You’re history!” Then she threw Alex’s cap off and grabbed her ponytail.

  Alex grunted and pushed Tammy away from her so that she fell into a couple of her friends who then tumbled to the floor.

  The woman who worked in the bridal shop rushed over to them. “Now hold on! I don’t know what’s going on here, but this is a respectable place, and I’ll have no fighting on my watch.” Glaring at Alex, she pointed to the floor. “Pick that dress up, put it back, and return in one hour. I will not have you assaulting the bride!”

  “Alex not only dresses like a guy, but she fights like one too,” one of the bridesmaids told another one.

  “Yeah,” the other bridesmaid agreed. “No wonder she can’t get a date.”

  “Exactly,” Tammy said, pressing her hand over her eye. “That’s why Kevin will never want to be with you. Men want to marry women who know how to act like women.”

  The woman sighed and turned to Alex. “Go. Now!”

  Gritting her teeth, Alex grabbed her cap and the dress. “I’m glad I got you with that football,” she snapped at Tammy. “And last time I checked, sluts shouldn’t be wearing white!”