"Open wide."

Jessica rolled to her side, burying her face in his neck. "Oh my G.o.d ... I can't breathe." Her body shook with laughter.

"Go." He gave her a playful shove. "Go shower. Some Vanessa person is waiting in the living room."

Jessica bolted up. "Vanessa is here? Why didn't you tell me? s.h.i.t! She's doing my hair and makeup." She ran into the bathroom. "I can't believe we were talking about your little wiener while Vanessa was waiting on me."

"I can a.s.sure you Vanessa doesn't think it's little."

Jessica gasped, peeking around the corner. "You did not f.u.c.k my stylist. Did you?"

"Shut up and shower."

She threw off her robe and stopped at the shower door. Another pink sticky note.

I've got you. I'll always have you.

Jessica mouthed the words I'm getting married today and did a silent, naked dance before hopping in the shower.

"Cold feet?" Jude asked as they pulled into the church parking lot.

"Hot v.a.g.i.n.a. Let me out. Park the car and keep your d.i.c.k in your pants the rest of the day."

"Whoa, whoa, whoa ... just until after the ceremony. It's tradition for the single groomsmen to have s.e.x with the single bridesmaids in a dark corner at the reception."

He stopped the car along the sidewalk near the backdoor of the church.

Jessica pointed a stiff finger at him. "My bridesmaids are Kelly and Luke's sisters. d.i.c.k. In. Pants."

Their mom opened Jessica's door. "There's my baby girl. Your dress is inside and Luke is locked in a room on the opposite side of the church until he has permission to come out. The coast is clear."

"Hey ..." Jude grabbed Jessica's hand before she got out. "I love you ... but more than that ... I'm happy for you."

Tears stung her eyes. "f.u.c.k you." She tried to laugh to keep from crying. "I just had my makeup done."

Jude's smile was soft and heartbreakingly sincere. Jessica got out but ducked her head back into the car before closing the door.

"I love you too."

"b.u.mmer, sweetie, it looks like rain," Sunny said as she ushered Jessica into the back of the church.

"I don't care. I'm marrying Luke today."

"Well, we have thirty minutes to get you dressed and ready to walk down the aisle. I expected you two to be here earlier."

"If you wanted me to the church on time then you shouldn't have put Jude in charge of getting me here."

"Your dad's idea, not mine."

Her mom opened the door to a large room with a few folding chairs and a full-length mirror that someone must have brought in there for the day.

"Hi!" Jessica squealed as Kelly, Lara, and Felicity saw her.

"Get in here, take off your clothes. You're late." Kelly shook her head as she unzipped Jessica's dress bag.

"Where's Lake?"

"Not here yet." Felicity rolled her eyes. "She wanted to ride with Ben instead of coming with us. Those two are inseparable. I tried calling her cell phone, but she didn't answer. It's probably shoved into her purse, which is probably shoved into the backseat or trunk of Ben's car."

"Oh my gosh!" Lara laughed, staring at the back of Jessica's panties as she stepped into her wedding gown.

Jessica looked over her shoulder and winked. "You like?"

"Luke's going to die."

Her light pink and white argyle panties read: Property of Dr. Jones.

Sunny zipped and b.u.t.toned the back of Jessica's dress. "I love that you wore your hair down."

"I always have it in a ponytail. Luke likes it down."

"Step." Kelly set Jessica's heels on the floor and held up the front of her dress so she could step into them.

"How do I look?"

n.o.body answered. They just stared with loving smiles as Sunny pinned Jessica's hair-clip veil onto her. The soft tulle flowed down her back.

Jessica nodded slowly while looking in the mirror. "I'm getting married today."

The door behind them opened.

"Felicity ..."

Everyone turned.

Tom stood in the doorway. He didn't make eye contact with anyone but Felicity. The grave look on his face sent haunting chills down Jessica's spine. Tom didn't have to say anything, she just knew that with his next breath he would forever change the memories of that day.

"Lake and Ben were in a car accident. She's been airlifted to the hospital." His voice broke with the final word and tears filled his eyes. The strong man she'd come to love like her own father cracked.

"No ..." Felicity's hand covered her mouth as Lara and Tom hugged her.

"Luke ..." Jessica whispered as she looked at her mom.

Tom looked up as he held Felicity, collapsed and sobbing in his arms. "He doesn't know."

"Go." Sunny's hand pressed to her heart as she fought back her own tears, the tears of one mother grieving for another.

Jessica nodded. "We'll meet you at the hospital." She kicked off her shoes and sprinted to the other side of the church.

"Luke?" She yelled through the hallway, not knowing for sure which room he was in.

"Jess?" Gabe peeked out the door of a room she'd already pa.s.sed.

"What are you doing? He can't see the bride before-"

"Luke!" She shoved open the door, knocking Gabe out of the way.

"Baby, what are you-"

Her tears spilled over, a lump swelled in her throat the size of a baseball. She wanted to acknowledge how handsome he looked. She wanted to remember the way his eyes took in her dress, seeing it for the first time, but none of that mattered. Those would never be memories of that day.

"It's Lake ... she's been in an accident. We have to go now."

Luke shook his head. "What? What are you talking about?"

"They life-flighted her to the hospital."

Luke patted his pockets with his hands. "My keys ... my keys ... where are my-"

"Here." Gabe handed Luke his keys. "You handed them to me earlier. Lane and Liam are ushering in the guests. I'll get them and make sure they get to the hospital right behind you."

Luke's hands shook as he took the keys. Jessica s.n.a.t.c.hed them from him then grabbed his hand. "Let's go."

Luke followed her to the car, his face blank like a zombie. She opened his door then hurried around to the driver's side.

"s.h.i.t!" she grumbled, realizing her veil had been shut in the door. She opened the door and tore the clip from her hair and tossed it onto the ground before shutting the door and squealing the tires out of the parking lot.

"Is she alive?" Luke asked in a voice that sounded defeated-scared.

Jessica honestly didn't know. "Of course she's alive. They don't life-flight dead people." She didn't know that. What if Lake died in transit? They didn't know anything.

"My parents?"

"They're with Lara. I'm sure they're on their way."

He nodded.

Within minutes they were there. Jessica parked the car and they hurried into the emergency room.

"Luke!" Lara called.

They rushed into the waiting room. Luke hugged his sister as she sobbed into his chest.

"Where is she?" he asked.

"They had to rush her into surgery. She was trapped in the car. That's all they've been able to tell us." Tom squeezed Felicity's hand as she pressed a tissue to her nose with her other hand. Both Lane and Liam sat in chairs, hunched over with their heads resting in their hands.

"What about Ben?" Jessica asked, looking around for his parents.

Anne stood next to Lane's chair, bouncing Gina on her hip. She frowned and shook her head slowly. "Ben ..." She pressed her lips together and swallowed. "He didn't make it."

Felicity's body folded over on to Tom's lap. Reality lacerated her heart and everyone in that room could feel it. Best case scenario, she would have to tell her baby girl that her boyfriend died. How could that be the best case scenario? How had the most perfect day turned into a harrowing nightmare?

A doctor in navy scrubs emerged through two large doors. "I'm Doctor Stein. Lake has sustained life threatening injuries to her head and her left leg. It was severely damaged in the accident." He paused for a second. "The prognosis for her leg is not good. She'll never have use of it again and the extensive trauma to it will likely lead to infection."

"What ... what are you saying?" Tom asked.

Jessica squeezed Luke's hand. He cleared his throat. "There is a good chance they'll have to amputate it to save her life."

Dr. Stein looked at Luke and nodded.

"No," Felicity cried, her legs giving out. Liam helped her sit back down.

"We don't have to do it now, but we can."

"What would you do?" Luke asked.

"No." Tom shook his head. "It's not his daughter. Why would you ask him?"

"Dad ..."

"No. You save her leg. You don't know Lake. It would kill her-"

"Dad, she won't ever use it again. We want her alive."

"I need to get back in there." The doctor gestured toward the doors. It was a statement, but also an unspoken question.

Luke looked at his dad. Tom shook his head. "No."

Luke grimaced. "Do everything you can for now."

Dr. Stein nodded.

Luke turned, focusing in on Jessica, her dress, and her bare feet. His eyes filled with tears. "I'm sorry-"

"Don't you dare apologize." She pressed her hands to his clean-shaven face. "I'm going to have Jude bring us other clothes. I don't want anyone thinking about anything or anyone but Lake."

He nodded, folding her into his arms. His mouth brushed her ear. "I hope I never forget how you looked today, but I know I'll never forget the words you just said. Jess ... just ... never enough stars ..."

Chapter Thirty.