9. Hallie

I’m getting married today, and instead of waking up well-rested after having plenty of beauty sleep for my big fake day, I am sitting in my car wearing my pajamas and freezing my ass off. Why, you might ask? Well because I’m getting married today and I haven’t even told my parents yet. My kind and loving, accepting parents who have supported me through everything for my entire life, and me, their only daughter, didn’t tell them I was getting married. What kind of terrible person am I?

Everything just happened so fast that I forgot all about them, but last night just as I was drifting off, I realized that as soon as Mayor Peters finds out I tied the knot with his son, and not on his terms, he will do whatever he can to spin it to his advantage. Which will include spreading the news like wildfire. Now it’s not like people don’t already know that I am engaged to Josh, the Mayor practically told the whole of Fairfield between his party and the announcement in the local paper, but my parents no longer live in Fairfield and they tend to keep to themselves.

So here I am, sitting in the driveway of their house, contemplating between going inside, or turning back and driving off the bridge that leads into their town. Both are just as terrifying to me. The skin around my fingers is almost bleeding because I have picked it that hard, and I couldn’t listen to any kind of music on the drive over because I was rehearsing the conversation I am about to have in my head over and over. They’re not awake yet, I know because none of the lights are on in the house, which isn’t surprising considering it’s only 6am, but still I nervously gnaw at my lip as I wait.

I skipped all of my classes yesterday and went full wedding mode. I know Josh said he would sort everything out himself, but as a girl I still felt there was plenty of stuff I needed to do. So I went to the salon and had my hair freshly cut and blown, then I had a manicure and pedicure, before I moved on to being waxed within an inch of my life. It wasn’t until I was as slippery as a damn eel that I left and finally went shopping.

I bought makeup, shoes, and accessories, until I finally stumbled into a wedding boutique to look for something to wear. Around thirty dresses later, I finally settled on one I didn’t totally hate, which even left me time to run to a jewelry store and pick up a wedding band for Josh. I’m not sure he will even want one, as he didn’t mention wearing any kind of ring, but I thought it was best to have one just in case. I still can’t quite believe that I am getting married, and not just getting married, but to him in particular. Him, Josh, my best friend and the boy I have tried not to be in love with since I was nine, who will now become my husband by the end of the day.

Before that thought can take full flight and force me into panic, a light illuminates my parents’ house, and I know my father is now up to make my mom her morning coffee before she does her yoga. Something he has done every single day of their entire marriage, and the kind of thing I’d hoped my own husband would do for me one day, but I guess I’ll have to pray for a second marriage for that.

I’ve always aspired to have a relationship like my parents. They call themselves star-crossed lovers, which is actually total bullshit, but they have been together twenty-five years and still look at each other as if they are the only people on the planet. They have been through everything together, and not once has their love ever waivered. If I were to believe in soulmates, I would believe in them, because Jeremy and Beth Sanders are one for the ages.

It”s with their love in mind, and the love they have for me, that I finally find the courage to climb out of the car and trudge up to the front door. I don’t bother ringing the bell, using my key to let myself in, and when I round the corner into the kitchen my dad turns and smiles. A smile that turns into surprise when he realizes the sound of my footsteps doesn”t belong to my mother.

“Hallie Bear, what are you doing here?” he asks, using the nickname that Josh stole from him when we were still kids, while moving towards me with worry staining his face.

“I really need to talk to you and mom,” I say softly, my voice not holding any confidence in what I have to tell them, and it only deepens the frown on his face as he looks over my shoulder.

“Hals?” My mom’s voice hits me from behind before my dad can even respond, and I turn to offer her a smile.

“Hey mom,” I croak, the nerves frying me from the inside out, and without hesitation she pulls me into an embrace, not lingering for longer than she knows I can stand, before pulling back and tucking an escaped curl behind my ear.

Her stare is unwavering as she studies me closely, before she glances at my father. “Jer, it’s a hot chocolate kind of morning,” she tells him, giving him the order of my favorite drink they always used to make whenever I was feeling sad, before she focuses back on me. “Come and sit in the den with me.”

I don’t bother with a response, not when she tucks her arm into mine and leads me through the kitchen into the room they had converted into a space where they can relax. It’s stacked with bookshelves and a big chair where my mom likes to read, and a large oak desk with a computer where my dad likes to work. There is also a corner sofa by the window surrounded by plants where we usually sit and have our game nights. It’s probably my favorite room in their house and somehow feels like it’s been around forever, despite the fact they have only lived here for a few years.

It isn’t long before we are joined by my dad, who comes with a tray of hot chocolates that are overflowing with whipped cream, tiny marshmallows, and chocolate sprinkles. Clearly he thinks this is a major emergency, yet I can’t help but smile as he bows while he serves us, before taking a seat beside my mother and focusing entirely on me.

“Did you kill someone?” he asks without pause, totally serious, and I stare at him wordlessly, praying that he’s joking, as my mom laughs. “What? You know if she killed someone, I would totally go to jail for her, but I just need to get some things in order first.”

Knowing that he is dead serious, I force myself to reply, “No, Dad, I didn’t kill anyone.”

His relief is clear as his shoulders completely untense. “Oh, great, you had me worried for a second there kid.” He takes a deep slug of his hot chocolate, not caring for the cream mustache that it leaves across his lip, as he leans back on the sofa and relaxes.

“But there is something really important I have to tell you, and I’m just going to say it all to get it out there, and you can ask questions at the end, okay?” I flick my stare between the two of them, and my dad looks relaxed now knowing I didn’t kill anyone, but my mom still looks a little on edge.

“Okay,” they both nod in unison.

“Mayor Peters tried to force a business marriage on Maddie but she fell in love with someone else, so Josh stepped in to take her place under the conditions that he leave her alone. So now Josh has to have an arranged marriage, and I agreed to be his wife so I could help him dig up some dirt on the Mayor and give Josh the upper hand, and we are getting married today.” I rush through every word barely stopping for a breath, and then holding it slightly as I wait for their refusals and judgment, but it doesn’t come.

In fact, my mother bursts out laughing, and I mean full on tears in her eyes laughing, making my father join her, as I sit there dumbfounded while they both lose their minds.

“Oh, Hallie,” she chokes out in between laughs. “I thought it was drugs, or you really did kill someone,” she gasps, giggling all over again. She holds her chest as she tries to calm herself down, my dad wiping tears of joy from his eyes, as they both compose themselves.

“But didn’t you hear what I said, the part about where I am getting married today?” I repeat, looking between them in total confusion.

My dad laughs again, but my mother looks at me in sympathy as she replies, “We know you’re getting married, honey, Josh told us.”

My jaw hangs open in shock. “What? What do you mean Josh told you? No. I’m telling you, I’m getting married today.”

They both share another look, doing that silent communicating thing they always do whenever they think I am being ridiculous, and it stresses me out. I have to reach for my hot chocolate and take a sip, just to ensure I can actually taste it and that I am really here right now having this conversation.

As always, it’s as if my dad can read my mind, and he puts his own drink down and leans forward, gently pulling my hand into his. It’s something he would do as a kid when I couldn’t stand to be hugged, he would come and sit by my side and hold my hand and tell me about his day. It feels just as comforting now as it did when I was younger, and I can’t stop myself from squeezing his fingers.

“Hallie Bear, Josh came to see us the morning after Thanksgiving. He told us everything about what has been going on with Hugo, and apologized for allowing you to be involved in such an elaborate plan.” His voice is loud and clear but it’s as if I’m not hearing him right, because what? Josh came to see him on Thanksgiving, how the hell is that possible? “The three of us talked everything out, and then he asked for my permission to marry you, and I said yes.”

So many words to process but all I do is focus on the last three. “You said yes?” I repeat. “He asked for your permission to marry me, and to be clear you know this is a fake marriage, and you said yes?”

I look between the two of them again, and once again they nod.

“We know you guys have history, and Josh ensured us that he wouldn’t let anything or anyone hurt you, and we trust him,” my mom finally says, smiling at just the mention of him. She always did have a soft spot for him. Like mother, like daughter, I guess.

Still failing to comprehend this whole situation, and the fact that Josh not only came here and spoke to them, but he told them the truth, and asked for permission to marry me. Even more unbelievable is that they said yes.

“So what you’re saying is, the existential dread I had all night about this, that caused me to get out of bed at 5am and drive over here, was pointless then?” I say slowly, curling my hands around my hot mug just so I don’t pick at them.

“Yeah,” my dad nods, as my mom adds, “Pretty much.”

Perfect, just perfect. I’ve been in a manic hellhole all night, and all along they knew everything anyway and were completely fine with it. Why the hell didn’t Josh tell me?

We talk some more and they insist I stay for an unofficial wedding breakfast, before politely declining my invite to attend the actual wedding. Apparently watching me fake getting married doesn’t count. So with that all squared away, I tell them it’s time for me to leave, much to my father’s dismay.

“Oh, let her go, Jer, you know she needs to go make herself look good, she’s always had a crush on the Peters boy and now is her chance,” my mom cuts in with a laugh, as she follows me to the door.

“His name is Josh,” I scoff, as if they didn’t live next to him for almost a decade and treat him like their own son. “And I do not have a crush on him.” I don’t add on the fact that ‘crush’ is now a tame word in comparison to what I feel for him, but hey, everyone lies to their parents right?

Unfortunately for me, growing up in such a loving and accepting household means my parents can see through my bullshit, and are never afraid to call me on it. “Yeah alright,” my dad roars with laughter. “You just loved freezing your ass off and letting him beat you at hockey because he’s your friend.” He says the word friend with an exaggerated tone as he rolls his eyes at me. “A friend you’ve now agreed to marry,” he adds with another laugh.

“I hate you both,” I grumble, throwing open the door and accepting another hug from my mom. “And I never let him beat me at hockey.”

“It’s okay, Sweetie, we hate you too, now hurry up and go, so me and your dad can do hot yoga together,” she replies with a playful wink, and I groan.

“Gross, now I really do hate you,” I say in disgust, darting between them before they start making out like teenagers under the bleachers. “I’ll call you tomorrow,” I add with a vague wave, as I rush out of the door and head for my car.

“Give Josh our love,” my dad calls out after me with a gleeful tone.

“That is if you”re not too busy giving him all your love,” my mom adds, with a giggle that turns into a squeal as my dad pulls her against him.

I give them both the middle finger like the mature adult child of theirs I am, and then dive into my car before I am forced to assault my ears with the sounds of their moans. I already have enough childhood trauma of that, I certainly don’t need anymore. Yet still I can’t help but smile as I leave their driveway and start on the road back to Fairfield.

What must it be like to be married to the love of your life?

I guess today I will find out, even if he doesn’t love me back.

When I get home, I head straight for a shower to freshen up, and then even though the wedding is still hours away, I slowly start to get ready to try and calm my nerves. I do my makeup, tidy up my hair, and then slip on the dress that made the final cut. When I look in the mirror I expect to feel something. That thing that people talk about when they see themselves ready to get married for the first time, but I don’t feel anything. All I see is a girl in a pretty dress, wondering if she is about to make the biggest mistake of her life.

Which is how my best friend finds me.

Maddie knocks and then pushes open the door, but then halts on the threshold as she stares at me. “Oh my god, Hallie, you look amazing.” She rushes towards me and joins my stare in the mirror as we both take in my reflection. “I mean you look beautiful every single day, but wow, you’re an angel.”

The dress is simple and elegant, tucking in at the waist and then flowing down to the floor. There is a slight floral detail on the bodice, but it’s mostly plain yet compliments my figure well.

“Do you think it’s okay?” I ask, knowing it doesn’t really matter because one day I will have the perfect dress that does give me the perfect feeling, it just won’t be with the perfect guy.

“Are you kidding? I think you look gorgeous, but if you want a second opinion, there is a hockey player at the door asking for you,” she states casually, and I almost vomit over the butterflies that flood my stomach.

Josh is here? What the hell is he doing here already?

I don’t bother voicing my questions out loud and instead just push past her and head downstairs, not caring if he sees me in the dress. Hell, he saw me in like twenty others in pictures yesterday, and it’s not like bad luck can affect a fake wedding right? Yet when I reach the bottom of the stairs I don’t find my husband to be like I expect. No, instead I find the last person I ever thought I’d see here.

Daemon Forbes.

He is standing in the open door frame with his eyes on the floor, shifting slowly from side to side, like just being out of his bubble unnerves him. He isn’t dressed in his usual attire of a black hoodie and dark jeans, and is instead looking both handsome and smart in a dark colored tux with his usual messy hair slicked back a little. There is a large garment bag in his hands that he holds up straight, and when he hears me approach, he lifts his chin so his stare can meet mine.

Neither of us say anything right away, and I am reminded about the couple of encounters we’ve had, and the words Josh said about him.

Daemon Forbes is one of the best people I have ever met, you just need to get to know him.

So with that in mind, and knowing that he is close to Josh and knows the truth about today, I step towards him. “Hi Daemon,” I say simply, not really sure what else to say, and a small smile pulls on the corner of his mouth.

“Hi Hallie.” His gaze sweeps up and down my entire body with a small frown, before he holds out the bag in his hand. “Josh asked if I could drop this off for you.”

I notice he is holding the hook at the top of the bag on one finger, meaning when I grab it from him, our hands don’t touch at all. “What is it?”

“Open it and find out.” His response isn’t meant to be funny, but still a small laugh falls from my lips as I hang the bag on the top of the front door beside us and gently slide down the zip.

When I look inside I gasp at the sparkly green tulle that greets me and before I can even take it all in, Daemon steps a little closer and says, “He wanted today to be perfect for you, and he said that meant having the perfect dress.”

At his words I look at him, and I know the moment he sees the unshed tears in my eyes because his own take on a whole new look. Like he’s assessing some new information he just discovered, and I can’t even find the strength in me to hide it. I let him see it, I let him see the real love I have for his friend. Not the fake kind, or the showy kind, and all I can do is pray that he won’t tell him. He steps forward, almost as if he is about to try and comfort me but then stops himself.

“You won’t tell him will you?” I ask, the tears no doubt ruining my makeup as I turn back to the dress.

“You don’t know me very well, but if there”s one thing I’m good at it’s keeping secrets, trust me.” The tone of his voice has a dark edge to it now, and for some reason I feel he’s the one who needs comfort more than I do.

I turn towards him, taking a step to bring us closer together, before I lean up and gently press my lips to his cheek. “Thank you, Daemon.”

His entire body freezes when I kiss him, like he’s not sure what to do with that level of affection, and a blush stains his cheeks, but I pretend I don’t notice as I move back to unhook the dress from the door.

Daemon clears his throat and nods his head outside, “I’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready.” I must look confused because before I can even question him, he steps aside to reveal a white wedding car idling by the curb, and he pulls the keys from his pocket indicating he is the driver.

Josh really did think of everything, and as my fingers clutch around the bag in my hand that houses what I know will be the most perfect dress, I can’t help but feel bittersweet.

I might be marrying someone who doesn’t love me back, but I’m also marrying my best friend. A best friend who asks permission for your hand in marriage, and hunts down a dress he thinks will be the one, just to make me feel comfortable, and that’s worth more than any other kind of love.