Charming: A Modern Day Sexy Cinderella Story Read Online Free Page B

doors. I concentrate on my breaths while I wait. Inhale. Exhale. Inhale. Exhale.
    The fact that I’ve got no one to walk me down the aisle today is blaringly obvious. I’d give anything for my daddy right now. A pain in my heart at the thought takes my breath away and makes the back of my eyes sting. He would be livid right now. He’d walk down the aisle and rip Jeremy apart with his bare hands. He’d whisk me away, do anything to try to make me feel better, but all I’d want is one of his bear hugs that I miss so much it hurts. I wish I could cry on his shoulder, and hear him tell me that everything will be okay. But he’s not here, so all I can do is think of him and hold him in my heart knowing that doing so will give me the strength to get through the next few minutes.
    “Ready?” Brenda asks with a smile. I clear my throat, throw my shoulders back, and give her a nod that she returns before opening the doors. Immediately the string quartet we hired to play the wedding march sounds in my ears. Taking another deep breath, I do my best to put a small smile on my lips, lift my head, and confidently walk down the aisle toward Jeremy. My eyes immediately find him standing at the end of the aisle sporting the stupid grin I used to think was cute upon his face. My steps falter, and I consider turning around and bolting right there, but then I catch sight of Jackie in the crowd. The look she’s wearing of surprise that I’m walking down the aisle, keeps me moving forward. Looking back to Jeremy, I see a frown upon his brow as he looks to where my gaze had gone and looks back and forth between Jackie and me a few times. I quickly think that he looks like one of those dog bobble heads one might see in the back of an automobile and I momentarily feel the corners of my lips turn up in a grin. Simultaneously, I catch a last look from Jackie and can feel her anger as I pass, her gaze burning into me.
    When I arrive at the large arch we are to be married under, Jeremy reaches for my hand and I give it to him, trying to push back the nausea that twists at my tummy and moves up my throat at his touch. When the music stops, the officiate begins to speak and my mind spins making me feel momentarily that I’m outside of my body watching this train wreck. I force myself to calm, and wait for the right moment.
    I can feel more than hear Katie shifting behind me no doubt wondering what the hell I’m doing, the tension between us palpable. I mentally implore her to hold tight. When the time finally comes for our vows, we had planned on reciting traditional phrases of love, honor, and obeying. When Pastor Ben asks me to repeat after him, I look at him briefly, “Actually, I have my own vows I’d like to speak if that’s okay?” Jeremy looks surprised and squeezes my hands while raising a brow. I force a smile, “I know I’m throwing you for a loop here, but I find that I have more to say and would like everyone to hear how I really feel.”
    He smiles a little and nods encouragingly. I can almost see cockiness in his expression, anxious for me to praise him to the crowd. It makes me angrier and something must flash in my eyes because suddenly, his eyes show apprehension and I can’t help it – I smile wickedly.
    Laughing without humor I begin, “Oh, Jeremy, I know I’ve taken you by surprise with my change in plans and believe me, I don’t expect you to come up with your own vows too at the spur of the moment, don’t worry. Besides, I’m sure I’ll leave you speechless.” The crowd gives a chuckle and Jeremy fakes wiping sweat from his brow playing up to the guests. Asshole.
    “As I stand here today, looking into your eyes, seeing the smile upon your face, flashes of the last three years pour through my mind.” I pause, “I’ve learned that love is so many things. It’s putting your partner before yourself. It’s giving your words meaning by making sure your actions back them up. It’s showing the person you love