Truth or Dare: A Sweet Romantic Comedy Collection by Laura Burton (free ebook reader for ipad txt) 📗

a glove. Our mom dabs her eyes with a sigh. “My sweet Debbie. You are like an exquisite wine. So beautiful.”

Our mom is quiet and chooses her words carefully. But when she does talk, it’s always to say something lovely or profound. She wraps her arms delicately around Debbie’s shoulders and plants a soft kiss on her cheek.

“I’m very proud of you,” she says, pulling back to look at her. Debbie beams, her face radiating happiness.

A knock on the door pulls my attention away from them, and I walk toward it. I pass the bathroom and catch a glimpse of Holly and Michelle squabbling over make-up. Then I open the door to see my dad in a black tux. His mustache is neatly trimmed and his greying dark hair is gelled to the side. He grins at me, his eyes twinkling, and I throw my arms around him to squeeze him.

“Hello, Tesoro,” he says with a soft laugh. He pats me gently then I break away. “You look handsome, papa,” I say warmly. He steps in and I move over to let him see Debbie, standing in her gown. The two of them stare at each other for a few moments before our dad kisses his fingertips and throws his hands in the air.

“Ah, Debbie... Bellissimo!” He strides across the room to embrace her. Then he turns to our mom. “Mi amore, look at our daughters. God has been good to us.”

I stand still for a moment, hardly daring to breathe as the feeling of warmth radiates through the whole room. My parents embrace each other and my eyes prickle as I watch my dad press his lips to my mother’s temple.

They are like yin and yang. He is bold and outspoken and deeply passionate. And our mother is quiet and gentle. Yet, even after thirty-two years of marriage, they have never looked more in love.

We make our way downstairs and gather outside the doors to the conference room. My father offers Debbie his arm and glances back at me. “Are we all ready?” he asks. The question hits me hard and my heart races as if I’m the one getting married.

Jonah and Cameron walk up in matching charcoal suits with white roses pinned to their jackets. I watch as Holly takes Cameron’s arm, her pastel pink gown swishing with her movements. Michelle joins Jonah.

Then the doors open and the wedding march announces Debbie’s arrival. I gulp. Following my sister, I focus on keeping enough distance between us so as not to trip up on her veil.

A collective sigh greets us as we enter the room, but I pay no attention. I can’t help the gasp escaping my lips. The room is filled with white and red balloons. Soft white material drapes across the ceiling in waves and one of the hotel staff is standing at the front of the room with a bible. I glance down at the red petals lining the aisle and scan the rows of family members filling the seats. The room is completely transformed. Only the rattling windows serve as a reminder that there's even a storm outside.

Debbie plants a kiss on our dad’s cheek and he joins our mother in the front row. Then I look up and meet Ryder’s bright eyes. He stands tall and strong in a dark suit, and his hands are clasped in front of him. Nothing could have prepared me for the bold grin he gives me. My breath hitches and I walk over, as if on autopilot, to stand opposite him at the front.

“Dearly beloved…” the staff member says solemnly. Then he leans over to Mark, “That is what you say, right?” he murmurs. Mark gives him a thumbs up and a light chuckle. “You’re doing great.”

The man clears his throat and continues his speech. But his words fade from my ears and I just stare at Ryder in wonderment.

“You did all this?” I mouth to him. Ryder nods with a smile more beautiful than the sun setting over Rome. My heart squeezes. He must have had even less sleep than me.

“...Do you take this woman to be your lawful wife?”

I zone in on the staff member again and look at my sister, beaming up at her groom. But before Mark opens his mouth, Ryder speaks.

“I do.”

Mark looks at Ryder with surprise and a wave of shocked gasps and whispers wash over the congregation.

I blink at Ryder several times, trying to process what just happened, and Debbie’s laugh breaks the silence. “Excuse me?” she says, looking at Ryder like he just sprouted two heads.

“Sorry,” he blurts, his face turning magenta. “I don’t… At least, not you. I mean, you’re great, Debbie. But I mean...” He tugs on his collar and all I can do is stare, dumbfounded.

Amazingly, my sister and new brother-in-law seem to find the funny in this situation. The two of them break into fits of giggles.

“Something on your mind, Ryder?” Mark asks, slapping his best friend on the back. Ryder shakes his head and apologizes repeatedly, but Debbie shakes her head. “Come on, you can’t leave us hanging like that. I wanna know what you’re thinking.” She winks at me like this situation is all part of a big plan or something. Ryder clears his throat and I look back at him, shocked.

“I mean… I do. At least, I want to take Katia to be my lawfully wedded wife.” Ryder clears his throat and looks at me finally. “I never stopped loving you. And we’ve already lost so much time, I can’t stand another moment without you in my life.”

“We know. Don’t worry, your turn will come,” my dad shouts from the front row. The rest of the guests chuckle. I swallow and Michelle shakes my arm excitedly. This is probably super exciting to everyone else. Even Debbie and Mark look delighted by the turn of events. I, on the other hand, can’t believe Ryder is choosing right now to bare his soul.

“Right,” Ryder says, his cheeks dimpling. Debbie and Mark look at each