Brooke

"The bride is NOT supposed to get a giant zit on her nose the night before her wedding." Marcia Heubert, our beautiful bride, all dressed up for her bachelorette party wails at Ms. Marks as she points to a miniscule imperfection on her gorgeous face.

I pull out my acne spot treatment travel kit and hand it to Ms. Marks' outstretched hand, as if she's the doc asking for a scalpel.

"Night before the wedding is perfect. I can still help you. Day of...then we'd have to Photoshop it out." She winks, dabbing the teensy spot on our bride's nose. "Good thing we have the best photographer in the biz."

A smile creeps on my lips as Ms. Marks talks about Nate. I wonder if he even knows how much she appreciates his work. If he's ever heard the pride dripping in her voice when she compliments his photos. Or even the small things. Like the way his tie looked on him the other day. I'd give anything to hear something like that from my mom.

The bride laughs, wiping a stray tear under her eye. "I know I'm being silly, but..."

"It has to be perfect," I finish for her.

She nods and all three of us sigh. Ms. Marks hands the kit back to me and pats Marcia's leg. "That's why we're here. So you don't worry...stress brings out baggy eyes."

My phone buzzes. 7:30. Time to call Nate.

"Ms. Marks, if I'm done here, I need to buzz Nathaniel out of the bachelor party." It's so weird calling him that.

"Good, good." She smiles at the bride, helps her stand, and squeezes her hands. "Enjoy tonight. I'll have a car ready to take you back to the hotel at midnight. Brooke will make sure you get there safely."

That was not on my schedule, but it is now. I suppose I can get a good five hours of sleep if I keep our bride prompt.

"Thank you, Ms. Marks. I don't know what I'd do without..."

She holds her perfectly manicured hand up. "It is my job, but it is also a privilege to be here for such a wonderful bride."

They hug, and it's so sweet I want to bow to this woman, because I know she's going to get killer recommendations with how she handles her clients.

I walk Ms. Marks out to a cab, and she rattles off how she wants the night to run. The bride is allowed to drink, but I'm to limit her. Pay off the barman to slip her virgins when I see things going downhill. Nate is to take at least fifty shots per hour, and I put it down, but I'm smiling as I picture the roll of his eyes when I tell him that one. None of the wedding party is to leave the premises until the bride leaves. Keep tabs on the VIPs...AKA, Maid of Honor, the two bridesmaids, and mother of the bride. Slip virgin drinks if needed.

"That should be everything," she says, stepping up to her cab. "Oh, except...tell Nathaniel he's going to have to prepare for a spot treatment for our photos tomorrow. That poor thing will have a pimple to cover."

I nod, admiring the fact she put on the act to calm down our bride, even though we both knew it wouldn't do much to help.

"Have a lovely night, Brooke."

"You too."

***

"Take a picture of me and you!" Marcia squeals to Nate as she pounds into his side and squishes against his cheek. "It'll be a selfie with another person in the shot! What do they call those? A groupie? Oh! Groupie... See what I did there? I'm soooo punny."

I stifle my laughter as Nate sticks his arm out and takes the shot. I have to say, his forced smile is pretty damn adorable.

It's also time to pay off the bartender. Virgin drinks all around!

My phone buzzes, and I know it's another thing on my list to check off, but I check the screen and it's my mom. Personal calls are usually big no-no's in my mind-and in everyone else who's professional-but I'm not really doing much but supervising and making sure Nate gets exactly what his mom ordered. He did roll his eyes when I told him, which made me laugh so hard I think he wondered if I had tossed a few back.

I duck into the quietest corner of the club, which isn't very quiet, but it'll do, and answer. "Hey, Mom."

"Brooke, it's the twentieth. You haven't called yet."

That's because I was waiting for the perfect moment. I wanted to have a full list of things to tell them so they know how good I'm doing. I wanted an exclusive relationship to add to the bowl of things they can be proud of. But, that's not scheduled until the twenty-ninth. "Sorry. I've been swamped."

"Get me a fireman stripper! I need a lap dance from a guy with a long hose!"

"Uh, Brooke? Where are you?"

I laugh, sticking a finger in my ear and turning to face the wall. Hopefully future Mrs. Farone's voice won't carry as much this way.

"Bachelorette party in Tahoe. It's freaking crazy here."

There's a pause. "Are you drunk?"

"No. I'm here to make sure the bride survives tonight and makes it tomorrow." And to keep an eye on our photographer. I crank my head over my neck and watch Nate take a shot of the bridesmaids posing as Charlie's Angels and smile. I sort of love the angle of his backside from here. His jeans are holey-no surprise-but they make his ass look awesome. Maybe those are his second date jeans.

"Oh. Well, your father and I have been worried."

Mom's voice tears my attention away from Nate's sexy ass, and I turn back to the wall. "Mom, really, I'm fine. I've just been busy."

"With bachelorette parties...?" Her voice lowers in disappointment.

"Yes." My heart starts picking up speed. "And other things. I'm an assistant wedding planner. It sometimes comes with the deal."

She pauses again, and prickling shoots up to my eyes. "I really meant to call. I'm sorry. It's been crazy. I've had three pre-planned weddings so far... this is number four, and do you know they call wedding planners for elopements? So, I've had a few of those. And I booked this huge acco-"

"Have you been seeing anyone?" her voice clips.

I knew I should have led in with the Greenwood wedding. I cough and inch closer to the wall, wishing that eye prickling nonsense would stop. "Not really. I had a few dates with someone a couple weeks ago, but it just didn't click."

She sighs, and I rush into my date with Joshua.

"I had one yesterday. He's a law student. Very handsome and driven. We're going out again when I get back."

"And this law student...he likes your job?"

My eyes are beyond prickling. Now they are full on watered. "Um, yeah. He's okay with it."

"Well, he sounds very promising. I hope you'll focus on that."

I nod, stifling the urge to sniffle and give myself away. "I will." And because I'm desperate, I add, "This job pays well, Mom. That's why I haven't called. I don't need any rent money from you or Dad." I wait for something...anything that has the word "proud" in it, but she stays quiet. I babble on, hoping to convince her how kickbutt this business really is. "It helps with my people skills, and I get to work in a very professional environment-"

"Time for body shots!"

Mom clears her throat, and I smack my forehead on the wall. So much for that.

"It sounds like you're doing good, but please don't hesitate to call if you end up short on cash again."

"O-okay."

"Love you, baby."

"Love you, too."

I tap the end button and stare at my phone. I have notifications, alarms, notes, task lists...and yet I just stare at it, wondering what the hell I'm doing, and if it's worth doing it.

I'm being silly, really. I paid rent myself. I'm on time for everything. I'm here in Tahoe organizing a wedding that's going pretty damn good. I should not need anyone's approval but my own.

Setting my jaw and straightening my back, I turn back to the party, catching Nate's eyes across the room. His forehead is crinkled, like he's been watching me the whole time. I give him a smile so he knows it's nothing to worry about. No last minute changes or stresses. We don't need to be anywhere. We're good.

But he doesn't buy it. He weaves his way through the crowd, and I quickly make sure my mascara doesn't give away my tears.

"Hey, everything okay?" he asks when he gets to me. His brow is still creased in this really cute way, and I want to run my finger over it to smooth it out.

"Yep. Just..." Just what? I have no idea. My phone buzzes in my hand, jolting me. I watch him watch me, and then our eyes float to my cell. Before I can see what alarm went off, he takes it.

Hell no. Where is his drink so I can toss it in his face for that move?

"You know what I think you need?" he says, putting my phone and his camera behind the bar, signaling to the bartender to watch them. I almost bolt around him to get it back, but he's one step ahead, blocking me.

"No." I cross my arms and try to grimace up at him, but my mouth seems to want to smile. "What do you think I need?"

He reaches for my hand, uncrossing my arms.

"I think you need to dance with me."