It didn’t help that Lauren had pestered her every single day about what took place at the party. Macie kept her mouth shut. It wasn’t anyone’s business. Besides, if Zac had told Ford, then Ford would’ve told Lauren. He clearly didn’t want anyone to know. She had to respect that and respect his silence.
The only way to avoid thinking about him was to either live in a drunken stupor or work as much as she could. The drunken stupor was appealing, but that would only send her down a bad road. She needed to make up for missing two weekends in a row, anyway, and the overtime would help her check. Fortunately, Nancy approved the overtime and the days off, but after the wedding it would be back to a straight forty. When she wasn’t at the station, she was working on her freelance business. Over the past week, she’d gotten three more orders for custom wedding invitations.
The work helped with her new-found insomnia, but it didn’t stop her from thinking. All she’d done was replay the last several months in her head. She focused on where she went wrong and how she might’ve done it differently. In the end, it didn’t matter. That only added to her misery. There was nothing she could do to fix what happened. It was over. The wedding, the reception, after it was done, she’d make sure Lauren knew everything so Macie would never have to see Zac again.
Her apartment was eerily quiet, more so than usual. Or she was just that tired. Macie settled into her chair and stared out the window at the crescent moon. She didn’t know how long she sat there, only that she fell into some sort of trance. It wasn’t sleep, by any means. Unless she dreamed of sleeping in the exact same position she was in and dreamed about the exact same moon. Macie jolted back to reality when the sun started to crest the horizon. She showered and lay down on her futon, setting her alarm for seven forty-five. Maybe she could salvage a few hours of real sleep before the wedding. Before she had her heart broken all over again.
GETTING DRUNK ALONE at his apartment the night before his best friend’s wedding wasn’t the best thing. Zac had never sunk so low. At least he’d laid off the tequila and vodka, sticking instead to the case of caffeinated brew in his fridge. It was enough to get him drunk and keep him awake. Again, not his best decision.
Not that sleep had been much of an option lately, anyway.
The sculpture sat on his coffee table. He didn’t know where else to put it. There wasn’t any other place to keep it other than the dining room table, and he didn’t want it right in front of him while he worked and ate. It was too distracting no matter where it would sit. Even if he threw it in a closet, he’d think about it.
That was probably Macie’s goal. He wouldn’t know. He didn’t bother to call or text her. He didn’t know what to say.
In a few hours he would see her, walk down the aisle with her, smile as if there was nothing wrong. Everything was wrong. He wanted to fix this.
And he didn’t.
He wanted to at least have peace for the wedding and reception. Macie wouldn’t ruin Lauren’s wedding. She would keep the peace, too. Then maybe he could figure out what to do. Figure out if there was anything to do.
LAUREN LOOKED LIKE a model, and Macie’s heart swelled with happiness for her friend. For the first time in almost a week, Macie smiled a real smile. Not the fake ones she gave her coworkers. Lauren’s cousins kept the conversation going, but Macie knew Lauren was dying to interrogate her about Zac. It didn’t help that in less than ten minutes he would be standing at the altar beside Ford. Macie promised herself not to look at him, not to see him in his tux until she had no choice. Because she didn’t want to cry. She didn’t want to ruin her makeup before the photos.
“Are you ready?” Lauren’s father asked through the door. He beamed with pride at his daughter. “You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Dad,” Lauren said. She glanced at her small bridal party. “Ready?”
“This is it,” squealed Keisha. At sixteen, Lauren’s youngest cousin still believed in fairy tales, in happily ever afters.
Macie smiled, faking the brightness as she tugged the too loose dress. She changed the streak into her hair to match the plum color. The flower girl, Ford’s niece, raced out the door followed by the other two bridesmaids, and Macie moved to follow but Lauren’s father closed the door and Lauren put a hand on Macie’s arm.
“You need to let me in, Mace,” Lauren said. Fine lines cracked her face in concern. “What’s going on?”
Macie swallowed hard and reached for Lauren’s hand, squeezing it in promise. “Not now. Please. I just need to get through today. Then I’ll tell you everything. I promise. I .... I can’t ruin your wedding with my emotional bullshit.”
“I love your emotional bullshit.” Lauren squeezed Macie’s hand back. “I’m worried about you. You’re paler than normal and your dress is too big. Talk to me, please?”
Macie closed her eyes, forcing back the tears. “Give me a few days. It’s too... raw.”
“When you’re ready?”
“I promise.”
Lauren nodded and let go of Macie’s hand. “Can you believe this is happening?”
“Yes,” Macie said point blank. “You guys were meant for each other.”
“He wants to wait....to start a family,” Lauren said, the joy
