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another six hours. “So, other than coffee,
obviously, what do you want to do to fill those hours?” She knew Jenn had a
plan already in place. It was almost a guarantee. Jenn planned everything.
    She squinched up her face, which in Jenn language meant
there was something Dani wasn’t going to like. “Well, would you mind if we
stopped and tried on your dress? I know you just got here, and we can come back
tomorrow or the next day, but since we’re here, I was thinking maybe…”
    Dani was smiling before she’d even finished. “Absolutely!
Let’s go.”
    They loaded the luggage into the car and hopped in. “So,
you’re really a creature of habit, aren’t you? Or was this just your way of
bringing a little bit of L.A. with you?”
    “What do you mean?”
    “A Land Rover? The same car you drive at home. I would have
rented a Mustang, or one of those new Camaros. Something different.” Jenn
shrugged, pressing buttons on the dash while she spoke.
    “And you’re still the same as you were as a kid. Pushing all
the buttons before you have any idea what they do. What if one of those was a
missile launcher or something?”
    Jenn just laughed. “That would make things more
interesting.” Dani saw Jenn glancing over at her, saw her staring at her
fingers on the steering wheel. When she realized just how tight her grip was,
she made an effort to relax her muscles. At Jenn’s next comment, she knew it
was too little, too late.
    “So, do you want to tell me what’s got you so tied in knots?
Or, we could just get to the bar early and drink it out.”
    Dani laughed, a little jittery, but at least it was a real
laugh. Jenn knew her too well for her to blatantly lie, so she decided on a
half truth. “I’m just nervous.” That was true enough. “I haven’t seen any of
these people since the graduation party. Sara and Beth are going to give me
crap, I’m sure.” These were the other two bridesmaids and friends of Jenn’s
from college. “Not to mention Brian and the guys. I guess I’m just wondering
how they’re going to react.”
    Brian’s groomsmen were all friends from college as well.
Sean and Zack, Dani had known only a little. But she and Jenn, Brian and Jason
had spent a lot of time together. In fact, they’d been their own little Mickey
Mouse Club for the last three years of college. Where you found one, you found
the other three.
    As they parked in front of the local Starbucks, she looked
over at Jenn, silently asking what she should expect.
    Jenn caught the look, seeing the question behind the nerves.
“Dani, they’ll all be thrilled to see you. No one has any hurt feelings over
you staying away. We all understand. You’ve been busy. You’ve made a life for
yourself in L.A.”
    Dani cringed inwardly, knowing that was only partially true.
    “Plus, everyone knows it was hard for you to be here after
your parents died. I know my family loves you, but it’s not the same thing, and
we all understand that. Besides, you’re here now. It’ll be fine tonight.”
    They ordered their coffees, making idle chitchat while they
waited. One of the best things about their friendship was that it was always
solid. When they saw each other, no matter how long it had been, they fell
right back into their normal patterns. There was never any awkwardness. Dani
sincerely hoped Jenn was right and tonight went even half as well.
    They grabbed their drinks, walking back outside. “So, the
shop is right around the corner. We can just walk. Let’s go try on your dress.
I can’t wait to see it on you! It’s going to look great! I didn’t even make it
horrible or anything.”
    Dani laughed as Jenn bounced down the street a couple of
steps ahead of her. Her energy and zest for life were contagious, as always.
Before they reached the dress shop, they were running down the street like
kids, racing to see who would get there first. Tears touched down in Dani’s
eyes, and for the first time in a long time she wondered if