RINGOFTRUTHEBOOK (1) Read online

  “We just have to make sure we’re done in time for Emily’s wedding. Your Aunt Diane would never forgive me if we missed it.”

  “Wait, wedding?” Kate looked between Jake and Erin. “I thought you were going with us to Andrew’s.”

  Jake chuckled. “About that. We’re all going to the same one. We’re going for Andrew, and Emily is Erin’s cousin.”

  The parents sat quietly for a second before they all started talking at once about coincidences. Jake couldn’t help enjoying the fact that the focus was no longer on his imaginary engagement.

  ***

  After dinner that night, Erin went with her parents and Jake with his. With all the craziness the next day, he figured he needed to spend more time with them while he had the chance.

  Jake squeezed into the backseat. His parents talked about news back home. He half listened as they told stories about their ranch and the neighbors.

  When they finally got back to his apartment, he climbed out and stretched.

  “Thanks again for the ride,” Jake said.

  “It’s no problem. I don’t blame you for not wanting a car here.” Sam clapped Jake on the back as they walked up to Jake’s apartment.

  Jake laughed. “It’s not that I don’t want one. It’s that I can’t afford one right now. I’ll come and get my truck later.”

  “Yes, you two will need it when you get married. Have you decided which apartment you’ll keep?” his mom asked as they climbed the stairs to his apartment.

  “We haven’t really talked about it. Her apartment is much nicer, but I’d really miss the people here.” It was a toss-up. Wait, it wasn’t even a question. Jake pushed away his thoughts and went to the kitchen to get drinks for his parents.

  His mom stood up to study the painting on the wall. “This is a nice piece. Where did you pick it up?”

  “At a shop here in the city. It reminds me of home.” Jake thought about the ranch and his horse that waited back in Georgia. He’d have to go visit soon. Maybe for Christmas.

  “Well, we better get going. Tomorrow’s a long day, and your dad wants to head back to the hotel for whatever ball game he can find.” She kissed his cheek. “See you in the morning.”

  “See you tomorrow. Thanks again for dinner.” He kissed his mom and then hugged his dad.

  “She’s beautiful, son. I’m happy for the two of you. I just wish you would have told us about her sooner.” Sam pulled out his wallet. “Here’s some cash to get the wedding going.”

  Jake’s eyes widened at the hundred dollar bills his dad handed him. “No, I don’t need this much. I got a couple of contracts, so I’ll be fine.”

  “Nonsense. Weddings are expensive. We had this saved up for you. I’m just glad it’s finally happening.”

  “You guys make it sound like I’m old.” Jake laughed. “Thank you.”

  “We just want you to be happy. And I’ve seen how you look at each other. I couldn’t be more thrilled.” His mom walked to the door.

  His dad put his arm around his mom. “We’ll see you tomorrow at the dress shop. You still have the address?”

  “Yes, Dad.” Jake pulled the card out of his pocket. “I’ll see you there.”

  His parents gave him a hug before leaving the apartment. Jake collapsed onto the couch and rubbed his face. He texted Erin to see if her parents had left and told her to call when she had the chance.

  Erin called a few minutes later. “Hey.”

  “Hey.” Jake turned the lights off in his living room. “So you survived tonight? Sorry it was so crazy.”

  “It really was. But I think we did pretty well.” There was a pause. “So, what do we do about the wedding dresses and everything else?”

  Jake dropped onto his bed. “Well, your friend is coming too, right? Maybe you can just try to keep the focus on her. That way they’ll forget they’re there for you.”

  “Good idea. My parents are pretty stuck on this whole thing. They raved about you the whole ride back to my apartment.”

  “That’s good to hear. Although, maybe I should be hard to deal with. Then they wouldn’t want us getting married.”

  Erin laughed. “Not a chance. I think they’d still love you. Anyway, I better get to bed. Long day tomorrow.”

  “See you in the morning. Thanks again for all your help today. My apartment looks great, and I had a great time.”

  “I did too. Bye, Jake.” The phone disconnected, and Jake suddenly felt lonely. He’d spent months here already, and had been fine being by himself. Until now.

  Chapter 9

  Erin yawned as she pulled her coat on. She’d talked to Carissa until late the night before. Carissa wanted every single detail, and squealed when she got to the ring part. Erin glanced down at the ring on her finger and smiled. It wasn’t the huge diamond from before, but she liked this one more anyway.

  After checking to make sure she had the address in her purse, she ran down to catch a cab. Her parents had offered a ride, but it would’ve been out of the way for them. She took the time in the cab to reply to some business emails and accept another account. The jeweler contract would be done by the end of the week and she needed to start another one.

  Erin climbed out of the cab and walked into the dress store. The carpets were white, and there were several benches throughout the store. A few were already occupied as other customers shopped.

  Kate spotted Erin and waved her over. Jake was nowhere in sight, which made sense. There’s no way her mom would have let the groom near her. It was bad luck, even if the wedding wasn’t actually going to happen.

  “Erin, this is my dear friend, Karlene. She owns this shop and will personally help you find the perfect dress.”

  “It’s nice to meet you.” Erin looked around. “Is Carissa here yet?”

  Kate pointed behind Erin. “She got here a while ago, so we’ve been helping her out. It’s a shame her mom can’t be here.”

  “Thanks for taking care of her.”

  Carissa squealed when she saw Erin. She lifted the long white dress she’d been trying on and hurried over to hug Erin, then pulled her toward the dressing room. “I still can’t believe his mom got you in here. I might actually have a dress by my wedding.”

  “It’s all about who you know, I guess.” Erin stepped back. “That dress is gorgeous.”

  “You think so? I haven’t decided if I like it. I was thinking of something with a little more flare.” Carissa inspected herself in the mirror. The A-style skirt was made of a chiffon material, and it flowed around her.

  Erin walked around her. “You’re right. You need a fuller skirt, and maybe a little color. Not too much. Maybe just a necklace or something. Oh, I know. Maybe a ball gown style?”

  “That’s what I think, too. Come on. You can help me look.” Carissa pulled her arm and walked back to the racks of dresses.

  Erin looked through the dresses, telling herself she was looking for a dress for Carissa, but she couldn’t help but look for one for herself. She pulled one out that had a full skirt and a light scooped neck.

  Karlene came up behind her. “That’s beautiful, but I think you need something more like this.”

  Erin turned and her jaw dropped. The skirt was full like she wanted, but the bodice had intricate beadwork, and it had a high collar. She needed that dress.

  “Since you’re having the wedding at Christmas, your mother figured you’d want something a little warmer. If it’s not what you want, we can look at other styles.”

  “It’s gorgeous.” Erin didn’t care to correct her about the wedding date. This was perfect. She checked the size before going in the back to change. One of the other employees helped her slip the dress on, insisting that’s how it’s done. The dress fit like it was made for her. The zipper was difficult, but her mom could help her with that. She shook her head. Not that it mattered. This was all pretend. And that made her more depressed than she wanted to admit.

  “You ready in there?” Carissa called out.
/>   Erin lifted the dress off the floor and opened the stall. “What do you think?”

  Carissa gasped. “That is perfect for you.”

  “I could say the same thing about yours.” Erin knew that Carissa had found the perfect dress. It almost added height to her small frame, and black lace along the bodice and the hem at the bottom was just enough of a flare to make it work. “That ball gown cut is exactly what you needed. And that black lace? It’s perfect.”

  They walked out of the dressing room and took turns showing off their gowns to the small group that had gathered around. There were gasps and exclamations before they were shooed back into the dressing room to try on the next dress. Karlene handed them both a new dress and the attendants helped them into each one.

  Erin’s was a mermaid style with a cinched up side, and while it was beautiful, it wasn’t quite the same one as the first dress. Carissa’s was also mermaid style, and hers had pink ribbons laced along the bodice. They walked out into the main room. Erin twisted and posed along with Carissa. It was agreed that these weren’t quite right and they walked back in to wait for the next dress.

  After trying on another ten or so dresses, Carissa went back to the dress with the black trim, and Erin had decided on the first dress she tried on. They set it aside, and Erin promised to come back and get it later. She couldn’t help wishing that she was actually going to be using it. She let the attendant pull it off and then sat down in the dressing room for a moment, allowing herself a little time to lament the fact that this wasn’t real. She was so excited for Carissa, but she couldn’t help the small twinge of jealousy that crept in.

  Jake, Sam, and Bill showed up soon after to take them to eat. They went to a small deli Karlene had recommended, and spent the time deciding on food for the wedding. Somewhere along the way, Kate and her mom decided the wedding would begin in the early afternoon so they wanted to try a few different dishes for the dinner.

  Once the sandwiches were decided on—chicken salad sandwiches and shrimp rolls—they headed off to check out napkins and the dishes they wanted to use. The tablecloths were next, and Erin agreed to let her mom pick out the silver and navy blue table settings.

  Jake didn’t say much, but his hand on Erin’s back, or his arm around her, kept her going through all the decisions that were being made for the wedding that wouldn’t happen. She could have argued, but she knew she would burst into tears. When their moms began discussing what lights they wanted to use, Jake finally put his hand up to stop them.

  “That’s enough. You two have planned more than what we need right now. We should probably head back to our apartments to get ready for tonight.” Jake squeezed Erin’s hand and winked at her.

  “Oh, dear. You’re right. I almost forgot the time.” Her mom picked up her purse. “We’ll meet you there. Please don’t be late.”

  Erin nodded, rubbing her forehead to fight the headache coming on. “I’ll be there in plenty of time.”

  Her mom kissed her on the cheek and followed Bill outside.. Kate and Sam left soon after, leaving Jake and Erin to get a cab back to their apartments.

  “You okay?” Jake asked.

  Erin sighed. “Yeah. I just feel like I’m using my parents. I don’t like it.”

  “I don’t either.” Jake took her hand, but dropped it suddenly. “Sorry. It’s a hard habit to break.”

  “It’s fine. I don’t mind. And maybe that’s why I’m having an issue. I want … Never mind.” Erin stared out the window, wishing she hadn’t said anything.

  Jake stayed quiet for the rest of the trip, and Erin worried she’d just messed things up. The tiniest part of her wished he felt the same way about her. That he wished this whole wedding thing was actually happening. But that didn’t happen in real life.

  The cab pulled up in front of Erin’s apartment, and she turned to him. “See you in an hour?”

  “I’ll pick you up. See you then.”

  After paying for her part of the fare, Erin climbed out and hurried up to her apartment. She dropped her purse and jacket on the couch next to the bag of pillows from Jake. The purse thumped against something, which made her pause. Pillows weren’t supposed to make a noise.

  She opened the bag of pillows and pulled out a controller followed by another one. At the bottom of the bag was an old Super Nintendo. Jake had apparently managed to find one at the thrift store, but how had he been able to slip it into the bag without her knowing? She laughed to herself as she set it next to her TV. Hopefully the thing still worked, but she’d have to try it later. For now, she had to get ready for the wedding.

  Erin stared at her closet trying to figure out what in the world she should wear. They’d spent so much time faking a wedding, she’d forgotten to buy a new dress.

  The red strapless dress had been perfect for a cocktail party she’d attended for an ad campaign earlier in the summer, but would red be too flashy for a wedding? Of course, she’d like to see Jake’s reaction to it, but that could wait.

  Coco leaped onto the bed and watched Erin pull dress after dress out of the closet. Erin flopped on the bed next to her.

  “What do you think? Am I crazy?” Erin stroked Coco’s fur as she stared at the closet. All she got back was a simple meow . “Well, you’re no help.”

  She finally chose a form fitting navy blue dress. It hugged her curves just right. She hung it back up and hopped into the shower. The hot water helped calm her nerves, and she regretted having to get out and face reality again.

  She’d been planning to curl her hair for the wedding, but a glance at the clock showed her there was no time. Besides, a French twist would look better with this dress anyway. She pulled it up and added some jeweled bobby pins to make it pop a little more.

  The dress went on next, and she finished off the look with mascara, lipstick, and a little blush. She’d just slipped on her black stilettos when the buzzer rang, letting her know Jake was downstairs. Perfect timing.

  Erin grabbed the small blue purse that went with the dress and made sure her ID, keys, and some cash were inside before hurrying downstairs to meet Jake. She took a deep breath before opening the door. “Hey, long time, stranger.”

  The stunned look on Jake’s face was worth all the fuss she put into getting ready. She was pretty sure her expression matched his. His tailored suit showed off his physique, and his blue eyes seemed to pull her in.

  Jake swallowed before speaking. “Wow. You look amazing.”

  “Thank you. I must say you do, too. I think we’re going to show up my cousin and her husband. They might kick us out.” Erin closed the door and slipped her arm through Jake’s.

  “It’s possible. We do clean up pretty well.” Jake opened the door to the cab and waited for Erin to climb in. “I don’t know where we’re going, so you’ll have to give the directions.”

  “Oh, right.” Erin pulled her phone out and scrolled through her messages until she found the address. She gave it to the driver and settled in. It would take a bit to get there since it was on the other side of the city. She just hoped they’d make it in time.

  ***

  Erin and Jake arrived at the wedding with minutes to spare. They hurried in and grabbed a seat next to Erin’s parents. Jake’s parents sat one row behind them.

  “Cutting it close,” her mom whispered.

  “Sorry, we would have been here sooner, but traffic was worse than normal.” Erin looked around and recognized a few people here and there among the crowd. Emily’s younger sisters poked their heads through the door just as the wedding march began.

  The girls walked slowly down the aisle, throwing rose petals on the floor as they walked. They beamed at their mom as they walked past, then took their place on the left of the podium. The ring bearers came next. They must have been related to Emily’s fiancé, because Erin didn’t recognize them.

  The wedding was short and simple. The bride and groom used the simple vows instead of writing their own. Erin stole a glance over at Jake, wondering
what he was thinking. She couldn’t help wishing she was up there with him, exchanging vows. She pushed away the thoughts, and concentrated on her cousin’s happiness. When it was over, the group was moved over into the reception area. Erin stood and walked with her family and Jake’s so they could find a table.

  The reception hall was breathtaking. Crystal chandeliers hung from the ceiling, and mirrors covered the walls, making the room seem even bigger than it was. It was like stepping into a fairy tale.

  “Okay, I was wrong. You should get married here.” Her mom stared in awe.

  “I’m sure it wasn’t cheap. We need something smaller.” Erin had money saved up, but she was pretty sure she didn’t have anywhere near enough. As much as she would have loved something like this, it would just have to stay in her dreams.

  Erin’s aunt and uncle came by as they stood in the entrance. After a few introductions, her aunt Jenny turned to her.

  “I wanted to congratulate you on your engagement.” She smiled over at Jake. “You found yourself a wonderful woman. I hope you realize that.”

  “Oh, I do. She’s everything I could have asked for.” Jake put his arm around her protectively.

  Erin smiled up at him. “He’s pretty amazing himself. Believe me, I’m the lucky one.”

  After a few questions about when the wedding would be, her aunt and uncle drifted off, but were quickly replaced by other family members, also there to congratulate her. By the time they were able to find a place to sit, Erin’s face was burning. All these people thought she was engaged. She was ready to tell the next person that came by that it was all a lie, but she couldn’t bring herself to do it.

  The room began to spin and Erin had to hide her face in her hands to get it to stop. She could hear people calling her name, but she couldn’t look up or she would probably lose her lunch.

  Jake took her by the arm. “We’ll be right back. She just needs some air.”