June Bride: Now and Forever Romance by Regina Duke Read Free Book Online

“is why your little bride and groom are standing on top of a John Deere tractor.”
    The other girls laughed uproariously. Meredith had told the story three times so far, and Allison’s question proved that she had drunk a wee bit too much champagne.
    Clarissa the Organizer—her official college nickname—stood up and raised a final glass. She even managed to look like a CEO in a pale green bridesmaid’s dress. “All right, ladies, we should get out of here because Meredith won’t have a wedding night until we leave.”
    More laughter.
    Clarissa continued, trying to sound somber and serious. “Twelve months ago, Annie Meredith Oakley returned to the Dorm Storm fold and into the arms of the man who has loved her since freshman year.”
    The girls cheered. A couple of the guys in the pool room leaned out the door to see what was going on.
    Clarissa raised her voice. “Go back inside and finish your game, guys. We’re leaving in ten minutes.” Then she continued for the table, “As self-appointed record keeper for the Dorm Storm, I have some official-sounding stuff to say. First, if you all show up at my wedding, and my new husband is as studly as Chris, don’t expect me to hang around until the band leaves.”
    The girls applauded, and Chris blushed.
    “Now, on to the record keeping. And stuff. Is there any more champagne?”
    Chris filled her glass, and Clarissa raised it and drank it down. “Now where was I? Oh, right. Meredith, we ladies of the Dorm Storm, the group that was too good for the Greeks”—she paused for their uproarious laughter—“hereby declare you the Winner of the ‘Who Will Marry First?’ contest. And since your prize is holding your hand, we didn’t bring you a plaque. But I hereby declare that at future weddings there will be a plaque, and as the first to marry, you will be the Keeper of the Plaque. Right, girls?”
    A chorus of “Right!” and “Totally!” and “Cray-cray!” went up around the table.
    “And now,” said Clarissa solemnly, reaching out to gently lift Allison’s nose away from her cake plate, “like all non-sororities, we have our secret ceremony. Meredith wisely allowed no candles, because at least six of us would have gone up in flames after the third bottle of champagne. So in lieu of candles, let’s all hold hands. You’re in this, too, Christopher.”
    Everyone held hands.
    Clarissa cleared her throat. “We, the Dorm Storm Girls Plus One, hereby somewhat solemnly swear that we will gather for every wedding of every girl until all of us are married to our own true love! Hip hip!”
    “Hooray!” they cheered.
    “Hip hip!”
    “Hooray!”
    “Hip hip!”
    “Hooray!” More laughter followed.
    Clarissa walked around the table to Meredith who stood up for a warm hug. Then Chris got the same treatment. One by one, the girls said their farewells. The last of the band was heading for the door. As the girls left, the ones with dates collected them from the pool room.
    Meredith and Chris stood on the marble steps in the sweet June night and waved as their friends wandered off to their cars. Then Chris took Meredith in his arms. “Are you happy?”
    “Deliriously.” Meredith’s face hurt from smiling and laughing. She’d been cautious with the champagne because Chris was not a drinker and was substituting sparkling cider for his toasts.
    “I think we should win a prize for best wedding reception ever,” said Chris.
    “I agree. Let’s make two plaques.”
    “You mean, we have plaque duty?”
    “Yes. Because we won.”
    Chris twisted his face into a mock frown. “That doesn’t seem right, somehow.” Then he pulled her close and hugged her tight, their lips only inches apart. “Thanks for the heads up about Clarissa. She really does like to take charge.”
    Meredith’s laugh tinkled in the night.
    “And you don’t mind spending our honeymoon at the bachelor pad?”
    “Are you kidding? Now that the pool is done? I insist! Besides, we need to