four of my best friends are marrying each other this summer so this chapter has a special place in my heart.

i watch with a proud smile as sam finishes lillian's makeup.

"you look...stunning." i tell her as we all stare at her dark brown hair curled into perfect waves with a few pieces pinned up with delicate pearl pins. she wanted a more natural makeup look because of her small brown eyes and it definitely suits her. her skin looks flawless with a very soft copper/rose gold look on the eyes making the brown pop.

i barely hear the clicks of stacy's camera. i've gotten used to it over the last few hours of laughing and reminiscing as we got ready. it only took me about an hour to do my makeup and hair so i've just been waiting in my robe, watching lillian get pampered.

ever since she saw dakota, she's been on cloud nine. she's positively glowing with hope and happiness. she smiles at all of us before looking in the mirror, eyes widening.

"wow." she states, "i love it, thank you so much." she grins, turning to sam and giving her a hug.

"of course." sam responds, "now it's time for you to film some stuff with stacy while i get ready."

"alright." she replies, turning to stacy, "let's do this."

once they're gone, i pull my dress from the closet and unzip the bag, laying it on the bed. the dark copper color looks absolutely stunning next to lillian's. it's a long sleeved silk gown that runs down long enough to touch the floor even when i'm wearing heels. my shoulders will be bare, the sleeves only coming up to the bottom of my shoulders and the neckline plunging ever so slightly.

"it's gorgeous." sam comments as i stare at it.

"i didn't know how i felt about it when i picked it up but...it's perfect." i reply, "yours is amazing too. and i heard you got it tailored too."

"i did." she laughs, "nothing ever seems to fit me right. winter insisted that i do it because he got his suit tailored and didn't want to feel bad for spending the money."

i chuckle, "you guys are hilarious."

"i mean i guess so but compared to lillian and dakota, no one comes close." she mumbles, blending her foundation.

"hey, i mean, i heard you and winter have a pretty crazy love story yourselves." i tell her, pulling out my heels and setting them next to my dress.

she shrugs, "it's actually pretty similar. we got snowed in and they got trapped in an elevator. kind of the same concept which is crazy. but i always say that since dakota is my twin, he was copying me."

i laugh at this, nodding. "it wouldn't surprise me."

"what about you?" she asks me, "do you have a crazy love story to tell us yet?"

i pause, a small half hearted smile appearing on my lips. "no, not yet."

"there's still time. just promise that you'll give me all of the details when it does happen."

"i promise." i tell her just as the door opens and winter steps inside, looking sharp in his suit.

"hey babe and symphony." he greets us before closing the door and leaning down and giving his girlfriend a quick kiss on the cheek.

"hey." we stay together.

"it was getting too intense down there for me. dakota was singing that 'going to the chapel' song at the top of his lungs and phoenix is just laughing and recording it. i had to get away." he sighs before sitting at the end of the bed.

"are you sure you shouldn't just stay for moral support?" sam asks him, starting on her bronzer and contour.

he shrugs, "if there's any more morale in that room, i'm pretty sure my eardrums will burst."

"fair enough." she responds, "but you can't hide out here for long. lillian will be back soon and this is her day."

"okay." he chirps, watching her get ready with a happy smile.

lillian arrives twenty minutes later and, keeping to his word, he greets her and swiftly exits the room but not before sending sam a flirty wink.

wow, i just love being the only single person in the group.

"ready to put on your dress?" i ask her, earning an excited nod.

"i haven't put it on since i got it fitted." she tells me nervously, biting her lower lip.

"it'll be perfect." i tell her, grabbing the hanger and holding it up, "we just need to avoid getting makeup on it." i laugh.

once it's on, i am fully convinced that dakota may faint at the sight of her. i have never in my life seen a more beautiful bride. "you look...wow." i tell her.

"i agree." sam says with wide eyes, "i am shook."

lillians cheeks redden and she chuckles, reaching for our hands, "stop, you'll make me cry."

"it's okay, you're wearing waterproof mascara." sam chuckles, "by the way, when will your dad get here?"

lillian's brows furrow, "he should already be here. he texted me half an hour ago saying he was almost here."

we all pause and i can practically see the panic on her face. "i will take care of it." i tell her, "i'm putting my dress on and then i'll go call him and make sure he's okay. just focus on not freaking out." i tell her, grabbing my dress and shoes.

after pulling on my dress and nodding in appreciation at the mirror, happy that it fits so well, i tug my shoes on and grab my phone, dialing mr. perkin's number.

he doesn't answer and it goes straight to voicemail which means his phone is most likely dead. i think about telling lillian but i don't want to freak her out plus we still have an hour. so i grab my keys and my coat and head out the door.

i shiver, praying the heat kicks in faster as i drive to her house. she lives a good fifteen minutes from me but i know i'll make it back in time if i speed a little.

parking in the driveway, i run to the front door and knock as loud as i can. when no one answers, i walk in and yell his name. i figured he wouldn't be here since he said he was almost to my house but i thought that maybe he came back for something... but he clearly did not.

hopping back in my car with a groan, i pull my dress into the car to make sure it doesn't get caught in the door and back out of the driveway, making my way back to my house.

i'm almost there when i see a sleek black audi straight ahead and do a double take. it couldn't be him...could it? but why would he be coming to my friends' wedding when he barely knows them?

i start to feel nauseas with every turn i make with this familiar car still ahead of me. when it pulls into my driveway, i breathe out a low and slow breath, trying to calm my heartbeat. my boss being here would make this whole thing ten times more stressful so please tell me it's not -

"jared!" dakota steps out of the house in his suit with a wide smile, "glad you could make it."

what?

my eyes widen further when i see lillian's dad step out from the passenger side door. stepping out of my car, i lock it and approach him. people make their way to the backyard, passing us without a second glance. they didn't invite many people, only enough to fill the chairs in the backyard, so it's not long before the front driveway is void of people once again.

"mr. perkins." i grab his arm, "we've been looking for you. you're supposed to walk lillian down the isle so i called you a - and you didn't answer. i went to your house! what happened?" i ramble, barely noticing mr. ward's eyes on me.

he gives me an apologetic smile, "i'm so sorry. my car broke down on the way here and jared here offered me a ride on his way here. he really saved the day." he chuckles, giving mr. ward a pat on the back, "thanks again, man."

"my pleasure, sir." he nods in return with a small smile.

i follow mr. perkins into the house, leaving dakota to chat it up with my boss. i don't even want to know how they got him here or why. all i know is i'm glad lillian's dad is here. she'll be so relieved to see him.

"dad!" lillian exclaims as she walks down the stairs, sam walking behind to make sure nothing catches the dress and stacy walking backwards ahead of her, filming the whole thing.

i watch as they embrace each other, the two of them tearing up as he looks at her.

"you look...beautiful." he tells her through foggy eyes.

she laughs, wiping away her tears carefully, "thanks, dad."

stacy has switched to taking photos, practically dancing around them as she gets the perfect shots. i never knew how difficult a photographer's job was until i saw how committed stacy becomes to get the desired shot.

ten minutes later it's time for the groom to stand outside at the end of the isle. people take their seats as i line up, my arm linked with winter's and sam's linked with pheonix's. music begins playing and winter and i exchange a smile before stepping out into the cold. i expected to feel colder but in the serenity of the moment, all i feel is the warm smile on my face. i spot mr. ward next to amelia, lillian's former boss, which i find extremely odd but i shake this off. i even see her laugh at something he says and i have to force my eyes away before i get too annoyed.

i focus on my footing and standing up straight as we near the end of our short walk, sam and phoenix close behind us along with amelia's granddaughter acting as the flower girl. wesley smiles at me as i pass by and i grin, noticing anna, his sister, sitting beside him.

i stand on the right side next to sam with a bundle of white flowers in my hands, looking out at the small and thoughtful group before me who have come to witness the marriage of my two friends.

when everyone stands, i know she must be coming. i glance over at dakota who stands with a smile until he sees her standing there in her dress, her brown hair tumbling down her back and her brown eyes focused on him in a tear filled smile. his smile immediately drops from his face, a look of pure awe replacing it. i watch with a small smirk as his eyes fill with tears, locked on her all the way down the isle. her father fights back tears himself as he releases her hand and watches her stand across from dakota. the couple takes each other's hands tightly.

"who gives away this woman?" the pastor of dakota's childhood church speaks.

"i do." her father smiles, placing a kiss on lillian's free hand.

the ceremony passes in a whirlwind of crying, speaking, and agreeing. as soon as the two of them say 'i do' just about everyone out here is in a puddle of tears. as soon as they seal the deal with a kiss, celebratory music begins and everyone stands, ready to get out of the cold.

i release a shocked laugh as snowflakes begin to fall, my breath becoming visible in front of me. i hold my hands out, watching the snow fall onto my palms before looking up with blinking eyes. i hear the snap of stacy's camera and i'm glad for it because if i have ever been in the middle of a magical moment, it's right now.

"come on, you'll catch a cold." sam laughs, tugging on my arm as everyone walks into my house, rubbing their arms.

as i walk into the kitchen to help with the food, my cheeks feel warm and my heart feels full. lillian and dakota are still outside taking photos but soon they'll be inside and she'll be changing into her reception outfit. i hear the loud hum of voices and laughter coming from the large sitting room and quickly ask darius to put on some music.

i had wished my parents were here but they had a last minute business trip and so now i'm thinking it may be best that they're not since there's snow being tracked onto the real hard wood floors.

we prepared a few snacks and finger foods along with some drinks just to keep people from going hungry but lillian and dakota weren't too concerned with feeding everyone a full meal since they all live in the area and it's such a small affair.

i pour myself a glass of pink moscato, jumping slightly when i hear a voice behind me.

"pour me a glass of that, would you?" i turn, smiling at anna and her brother.

"yes, of course. i'm so glad you guys could make it." i tell them.

"i felt kind of weird crashing the wedding but they seem like the sweetest couple. we brought a gift from the shop to say our thanks." anna chirps happily.

"you didn't crash it, you were invited." i hear lillian's voice. i look over to see her still in her dress and with the widest grin i've ever seen her wear, "you must be the college friend and his sister." she laughs, "thank you for coming, guys."

"yep, that's us. i'm wesley and this is anna. thank you for allowing us to come, it was a beautiful ceremony."

"why thank you." she replies, giving me a small smirk, "but all the credit goes to symphony."

wesley's brows raise with honest approval, "wow so you're a gala planner and a wedding planner? i'll have to keep you in mind if i ever put on an event."

"you do that." i chuckle, taking a sip of my drink as i pour anna her own. "please, enjoy yourselves. i'm going to circulate and say hello to some people."

"alright." anna says with a nervous smile, taking the drink from me, "it was nice seeing you again."

"likewise." i give her a small hug before walking away, careful to watch my step as i walk on the wet floors in my heels. just as i make it into the sitting room, i slip slightly and a hand catches my wrist.

"thank you." i laugh, looking at an amused phoenix whose cheeks are rosy and eyes full of twinkling mischief.

"you're quite welcome." he nods, "say...who is that lovely woman you were talking to?"

"you mean anna? with the dark hair?" i ask with a small smirk, "that's my friend's sister. she works at a beautiful family antique shop in the city."

"hm." he hums, looking past me at her, "and the man with her?"

i laugh, "is her brother."

i watch as his face brightens, "well i would think myself rude if i didn't go say hello and maybe compliment her dress, don't you think?" he gives me a nervous grin.

i nod once, "you're quite right. she needs someone to have a conversation with. she can't very well chat with her brother all evening so i'd say you'd be doing the right thing."

"you're so correct. i'll go over there right now. be careful not to slip again." he jokes making me chuckle as he walks away. i don't look back to watch the exchange as much as i'd like to. instead i carefully shuffle off to find someone to talk to.

later, after i've said hello to just about everyone, i stand against the wall with an empty glass, staring down at the bottom, before i hear someone say my name.

"miss harris?" i look up, almost dropping my glass when i see him.

"mr. ward." i greet, all of a sudden feeling significantly more nervous than before he was standing before me.

he doesn't smile but his usual tight expression is gone which must be a good sign. "i suppose you're probably wondering what i'm doing here."

i pause, my lips parting as i think of a polite way to ask him why the heck he showed up at my best friend's wedding at my house. "yes, sir, you would be correct in making that assumption. though i did invite you, i must admit i wasn't expecting you to make it."

"please." he says abruptly, clearing his throat, "we're at a wedding reception, not work. you may call me jared...if you wish."

i blink, not sure how i feel about being on a first name basis with my boss. nevertheless, i nod. "very well."

"wonderful. so, my only explanation is that i received an invitation from dakota and lillian as well as you the night of the gala. i don't work on sundays and i quite like weddings so i thought 'why not?'"

i can't shake how odd it is that he speaks in such stiff english but then i think it may have something to do with his accent. which i hear he inherited from his mother.

"i guess that makes sense." i nod, pursing my lips as i think, "i think i need another drink. care to join me, sir...i mean jared?" i laugh, feeling weird as the name rolls off my tongue.

"sure." he replies, following me as i guide us to the kitchen. it's quieter in here with less voices and mixed conversations.

"what'll you have?" i ask with a small smile as he takes a seat on one of the barstools. seeing mr. ward sitting here in an expensive suit with his overpowering presence in my kitchen kind of feels like one of those weird dreams where you can't tell if it's a dream or a nightmare.

"do you have any white wine?"

"really?" i ask, my nose curling, "i mean...yeah i do." reaching down into my parents' wine cooler, i grab a bottle of their favorite white wine and grab a corkscrew, popping the cork out and pouring him about a third of a glass.

"little more." he says lowly.

i raise my brows, pouring it about halfway and giving him a questioning look. he nods to pour a little more and i do so until it reaches the top. he gives me a satisfied nod and reaches for the glass. i chuckle slightly and he gives me a quizzical brow.

"something funny, miss harris?"

i shrug, "not particularly. you know, if i'm going to call you jared for the evening, don't you think it would be appropriate for you to call me symphony?"

he considers this, taking a sip of his beverage before setting it down and laying his fingers at the base of the glass, "no, i think i'll call you harris outside of work and miss harris inside of work. that seems more appropriate."

i almost laugh as if it's a joke but then i see he's perfectly serious as i clear my throat, nodding. "okay. maybe one day then?"

"maybe." he shrugs.

we sit there in silence, sipping wine and listening to the laughter in the other room. what am i supposed to talk about? work? there's no way i'm asking about his personal life because that can only lead to embarrassment for me.

"tell me, harris." he says suddenly, "why didn't you put your father's name on the application? that could have helped you immensely and vivian may have even treated you with more respect."

for a moment i want to ask about vivian because i haven't heard much of her. granted, i did see her at the gala but around the office she's been like a fly on the wall. "i wanted to get the job on my own good name and merit. not by using my father's hard work to my advantage."

"there's nothing wrong with being proud of your family name but, in this instance, i can see that i may have done the same as you." he tells me, taking a gentle sip of his drink.

"really?" i ask, realizing that i was tensed and prepared to defend myself until he made that statement.

he shrugs slowly, "i grew up in my father's shadow and now i've been expected to become him. if you have a chance to make something of your own, i say go for it." he tells me.

i look down at my hands on the counter, "yeah, i know what you mean. but i also see you making your own decisions every day. surely they must see you as your own person."

he gives me a flat expression. "they see me as a young version of my father who will eventually come to see their light and think the way they do."

"well..." i sigh, "i guess all you can do is be your own man and stay consistent in that. eventually they'll learn that you're just a new and improved version and all you want is to better the company. it'll take time but...they'll see." he looks up at me with an intense gaze, nodding. i'm glad he agrees but having some sort of heart to heart with my boss isn't exactly what i thought would go down this evening.

my phone buzzes with a text from wesley saying that we're about to see the couple off and they're lighting the sparklers outside. i quickly respond that i'm on my way and look up at mr. ward with a smile.

"they're sending the newly weds off. would you like to come?"

"certainly." he tells me, standing up with his glass in hand, before we exit the kitchen and make our way to the front door. once outside, i wrap my arms around myself, shivering instantly.

my coat is thrown over my shoulders and i look up at him questioningly.

"i recognized it from the gala. i hope you don't mind that i grabbed it as i walked by the coat rack." he says nonchalantly, pulling his own coat on.

"not at all. thank you." i say, tugging it around me and accepting a sparkler from anna who stands next to us with a happy smile. everyone stands across from one another, creating a walkway to the car. once the sparklers are lit, i see lillian and dakota appear in their coats and hats, hand in hand. dakota looks beyond elated and lillian looks so perfectly content. i feel myself tear up as we cheer and wave at them while they pass. each of them stop to hug me which only makes me cry harder and soon they're gone, driving away in their car with just married painted on the back window and crushed pineapple cans tied to the bumper. i laugh, figuring that was sam's doing.

i stand there until all the guests have gone except for phoenix, anna, wesley, and mr. ward. i wave everyone off and thank them for coming on the couple's behalf. i hug an emotional mr. perkins goodbye and laugh heartily when i see sam and winter kissing in his car. i silently wonder how long it'll be before the two of them are married. hopefully soon so we can all have another magical night like this.

i stand in the driveway as mr. ward unlocks his car and, after a moments hesitation, approach him. "i never thanked you for rescuing lillian's father."

he turns around, keys in hand. "no need to thank me. i was already on the way here so it was no trouble at all."

"well, thank you anyway." i say, feeling a bit awkward.

"you're quite welcome." he opens his car door, "i will see you tomorrow morning, harris."

"see you then, jared." i smile a little as he closes the door and starts the car. i turn on my heel and walk into my house before my fingers fall off from frostbite.

looking around the house, i sigh at the mess, tugging my shoes off. about fifteen minutes into cleaning up, sam and winter walk through the door shivering along with anna and phoenix.

"you guys are still here." i state, holding a trash bag in my hand hand.

"yeah, we couldn't just let you clean up this mess on your own. you've already done so much and you have work tomorrow. go on up to bed." sam tells me, taking the trash bag from me.

i regard the four of them with a thankful expression, "you guys are literally the best. thank you so much. you don't need to do all of it, just do as much as you can and i'll do the rest tomorrow after work. my parents won't be back for a few days so it'll be fine."

"no problem, just get yourself to bed." winter gives me a comforting smile and i nod, turning and walking up the stairs.

"goodnight, guys."

"night, sym."

☆★☆

that's another chapter DONE. i kind of liked this chapter, it was really fun to write for some reason.

i hope you're enjoying the story so far!