He never got to say a word.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
The wedding party filed in, crowding the room. Macie moved to a corner to get out of the way of the chaos. Why Lauren decided to have the photos done between the ceremony and reception was beyond Macie. Logistically it didn’t make sense. Had they done this earlier, it would’ve been out of the way. They would’ve had time to relax before the reception. But Ford was a traditionalist and Lauren liked a little chaos. It actually fit them.
Macie planned her avoidance techniques while she watched the aunts clean up and the rest of the women retouch their makeup. It was simple really, just stay away from Zac. There were moments where she wouldn’t be able to. The first was when they walked back down the aisle together. She’d barely kept it together. Zac was as hard as granite. He couldn’t stand to be in the same room with her, let alone touch her. The next problem would be the photos. They’d do all the traditional ones, but she knew Lauren had some whimsical ideas for the fun photos. Macie had no doubt that they’d push her and Zac together multiple times. Then the limo to the reception. She’d just have to sit as far from him as possible. The biggest challenge would be the wedding party dance. She couldn’t even think about that. Considering what happened the last time they danced together.
A cold hand landed on her bare arm. Macie glanced up to the face of Lauren’s mother.
“Macie, I just wanted to thank you for helping Lauren plan today,” Sylvia said. Her smile saddened. “I wish I could’ve been here more to help.”
Macie snorted. “You could’ve, Sylvia. You chose not to.”
“Excuse me?” Sylvia put her hand to her chest as if she was truly offended.
And Macie gave zero shits if she was. “You heard me. You put your career first. You always have. So, do me a favor. When your first grandchild comes, make time for them.” Macie pushed off the wall, leaving a slack jawed Sylvia behind. “That felt good,” she muttered under her breath.
The photographer herded everyone into the chapel for the first round of photos. Macie sat in a pew, staring off into space and keeping a good distance between herself and pretty much everyone else. She couldn’t stand talking to anyone. When she had to smile, she smiled. Once those photos were done, the photographer moved the wedding party outside. They trudged up a small incline and stopped at the top of the hill. Behind them, a small meadow rolled along the earth. It was beautiful.
“Okay, everyone,” Lauren announced. “We’re going to have some fun.”
Fuck, here we go. Macie plastered on another fake smile.
The first photo was the bridesmaids and groomsmen pretending to keep a desperate Lauren and Ford apart. Macie doubted that would look good in the long run, but she wasn’t paying for the photos so it was none of her business. The next one was similar. The bridesmaids gathered around Lauren and pretended to gossip while Lauren looked toward Ford. The groomsmen slapped each other on the back in fake conversation while Ford looked around them toward Lauren. Macie tried to hide her disdain for the stereotypes. At least, she hoped she did.
The next photo was the one she’d been dreading. The bridesmaids sitting on the bended knees of the groomsmen, pretending to be happy. She waited until she had no choice to sit on Zac’s lap. His arm wrapped around her waist, squeezing her against his chest. She savored the feel of his touch, the smell of his skin, the heat of his body.
“Excuse me, Maid of Honor,” the photographer said. Macie’s eyes snapped open. “Could you smile?”
Macie tried. She really did. But she couldn’t.
“I’m sorry,” the photographer said as he stopped beside them. “But you’re going to ruin the picture if you don’t smile more.”
Tears filled her eyes. Ruin. That’s all she every did. She ruined everything.
Macie pushed herself free of Zac’s grip. “I can’t do this anymore.”
Then she ran as fast as her heels and dress would take her. She didn’t get very far before a hand clamped around her arm, spinning her around to face her assaulter.
“What’re you doing?” Zac dropped her arm as if it burned him. “You’re screwing up—”
Macie felt everything inside her break, including her careful control. “That’s what I do, Zac,” she said. “I ruin everything.”
“That’s not what I meant and you know it.” He shoved his hands into his pockets. “I meant the pictures.”
“Right. Sure. That’s exactly what you meant.” Macie turned away from him so he wouldn’t see her cry. But, damn it, why shouldn’t he see her cry? She’d poured her heart out to him and he still rejected her based on some dumbass idea she wanted revenge on him. She spun back around and jabbed her finger into his chest. “Just say it. Come right out and say what you want to say, Zac. We might as well do this now.”
“This isn’t the time or the place to have this discussion.” Zac took a hand out of his pocket and ran it through his hair.
“Yes, it is,” Lauren shouted from where the wedding party stood watching the showdown.
“Shhh,” Ford ordered.
“What? It’s true,” Lauren said.
“Just say it, Zac. Put a damn fork it me, I’m done.” Macie shook her head at his continued silence. “You say I ruin everything? Well you ruined me.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” he snapped.
“I love you, you jackass. That’s what that’s supposed to mean,” Macie shouted. Macie’s tears flowed freely, and she gave exactly zero shits about ruining her makeup. This ended here and now. “So just say it. Say you hate me. Say what a horrible bitch I am. Say you don’t
