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I made a quick exit, because my support as best maid only went so far

“What’s going on?” Zeb asked as he watched Jolene try to absorb the sight of her wedding cake Mih-pitched cries to the van, where she had a similar reaction to the cake

“She may be a few minutes,” I told Zeb

Zeb watched as Jolene, Mio …”

“Jane, honey, why don’t you just stand in for her?” Maested, to Zeb’s horror

“Mama, I don’t think that’s—”

“You can’t do that!” Uncle Creed cried

“We can’t have the rehearsal without the bride,” I insisted

“No, don’t be silly,” Ma me into the spot next to Zeb “There, that looks so much better anyway! Just like I always said, you and Jane are like two peas in a pod”

Zeb’s brow furrowed He earing his “trying to re” expression, or possibly his “I s funny” expression Either way, the way he was looking atHis eyes were unfocused as he stared at me, dazed “I can’t marry Jolene”

Maave a victorious squeal as I spluttered, “S-say what now?”

Zeb clasped my hands in his, despite my repeated attempts to yank them loose “I can’t marry Jolene I can’t live a lie, Jane I can’t be with anybody but you”

A syh the bride’s fa party was silent and aghast, besides Gabriel’s shocked “Beg pardon?”

“No no no no no no You and I have never felt that way about each other,” I said in my slow and deliberate voice I turned to Gabriel as Zeb kissed the back of h or, well, laugh I asked, “Is it some sort of thrall or whammy? Please tell me it’s a whammy”

Zeb wrapped his ar into my eyes with a level of tenderness only seen when politicians are publicly apologizing to their wives “I’irl, but I wanted to get back at you for spending soether, Janie Friendship and co to keep us happy for the rest of our lives It’s always been you, Janie You were always the girl I’ve wanted to spendfor me at the end of the aisle”