Truth or Date by Susan Hatler Page A

gazed out into the audience at the sea of friends and family here to celebrate this special union. My eyes swept across the room, then jerked to a stop on baby blues staring right at me. My body went on red alert. Chris? The way his lips turned up in the corners told me he knew I’d spotted him. But, what was he doing here? I’d seen the guest list and his name wasn’t on it.
    Although it was obvious he’d caught me practically gaping at him, I moved my eyes around the rest of the room as I pretended his stare hadn’t affected every part of me. Then I spotted Ethan. What the . . . ? Ethan looked hot in his suit and he watched the bride and groom with a serious expression as they exchanged their vows.
    I swallowed the bundle of nerves creeping up my throat and turned my attention to Ellen as she placed a ring on Henry’s finger. I hadn’t invited Chris or Ethan. So what in the world were they doing here? Since I was a bridesmaid, it’s not like I could slip out of here and avoid whatever confrontation they surely wanted. Maybe I could hide in a corner. Nobody would miss me in a corner and I could pop out if Ellen needed me. . . .  
    “You may now kiss your bride,” the minister said.
    Henry gazed into Ellen’s eyes with a look that seemed to come from his soul, then he leaned down and kissed her. The room erupted in clapping and everyone stood, the minister wrapped up with a few sentences, and suddenly they were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Henry Holbrook III.
    Loud organ music blasted for the recessional and Ellen retrieved her rose-filled bouquet from Rach before heading down the aisle with her husband. Rach and Mike followed, then Kristen and Adam, and Josh and I brought up the rear.
    As I passed by where Chris was sitting, it was all I could do to keep my eyes focused straight ahead. Especially when I could physically feel his gaze on me.  
    My heart raced and I had a feeling all my bad decisions were about to catch up with me.
    ****
    While we were sitting at the head table, I found out that Kristen had invited Ethan to be her date to the wedding. Anxiety built inside me every time I caught a glimpse of him. And Chris too, for that matter. One would’ve been tough enough to take, but both here together?
    I narrowed my eyes at Kristen. “How could you?”
    It didn’t appear that this catastrophic problem she’d created had fazed her in the slightest. “You had your chance with him.” She shrugged. “And I needed a date.”
    I shook my head, unable to believe her callous attitude toward the misery she’d caused.
    She lifted her wine glass. “Did Rach give you your Dare yet? Or is she still leaving you hanging?”
    Way to change the subject. “Payback, Kristen. It will come.”
    “I’m sure it’ll be worth it. Who wants to dance alone?” With a tilt of her head and a smile, she sipped her Chardonnay. “I guess Rach didn’t want to dance alone either.”
    With that, I followed to where she’d fixated her sights, then I gasped. Rach had her arm around Chris as she leaned down to tell him something at his table. “She invited Chris to be her date tonight? She said she was going stag!”
    “You’re the one who left the extra spot in the headcount that needed to be filled.” Kristen’s tone was way too amused.
    Rach got up to make her way back to the head table so I lifted my wine glass and approached her. “You’re supposed to be my friend.”
    “You’re shooting lasers with your eyes, babe.” Rach smirked, then reached around her groomsman for her own wine. “Something up?”
    “Nothing.” I stepped back a couple feet and lowered my voice so the entire wedding party wouldn’t hear us. “Just thought there wasn’t anything going on between you and Chris?”
    Rach sipped her Chardonnay. “What makes you think something is?”
    I hated that she didn’t answer my question. “He’s your date to the wedding. I thought you were going stag.”
    “It’s nice to have someone to dance