Whiskey Wedding (Tasting Nashville series Book 3) Read Online Free

distance between reality and myself as I can.
    Instead of heading down the aisle, I’m heading down the fucking road, leaving Joselyn behind.
     

 
    CHAPTER FIVE
    Joselyn
    Rick busts through the back door. “He’s not on the property. I searched everywhere.”
    My stomach tightens and the tears spill.
    The crumbled slip of paper in my hand reads, ‘I can’t. I’m sorry.’
    “Why is he doing this?” I drop my head into my hands and bawl.
    Judy rubs my shoulders. “I don’t know, hun, but I’m sure he’s got a good reason. That boy is head over heels in love with you. Marriage is all he’s wanted for years. Y’all just had a fight. He’ll be back, you’ll see.”
    “But it’s our wedding day. People are going to start showing up and the groom is nowhere to be found. He may be blowing off steam, but he should have, at the very least, stuck around and thrown his tantrum instead of leaving me here to explain this bullshit to everyone.
    “I’m sorry, baby girl. He’ll be here. I know he will. We have plenty of time. The beauty of a night wedding.”
    I shake my head, pissed that the tears betray my inner strength. “It’s too late. He left. That’s on him. Now, I’m left figuring out the next step. How the hell am I supposed to cancel a wedding on such short notice?”
    Judy’s eyes mist over. I notice Rick shake his head as he stares at his boots. Clearly, I’m not the only one who’s pissed and confused.
    “Sweetheart, canceling the wedding at this point would be a huge undertaking. People are probably already traveling.”
    Listening to Judy only causes my heart to leap into my throat. All the people who have already bought their plane tickets, new clothes, sitters, and whatever else they do to prepare for a destination wedding makes me sick to my stomach.
    How could Dean leave me to deal with this clusterfuck? If he had just listened to what I had to say, we wouldn’t be in this mess. But no, he had to be bull headed and take off. In the last seven years, he’s never once behaved like this. Obviously there’s shit about his dad that I don’t know, and it doesn’t look like I ever will.
    Judy pulls a chair up in front of me. “I’m not saying any of this to make things more difficult on ya, hun. I’m just thinking, as awkward as it might be, it may be better to go ahead with the plans, minus the wedding of course.”
    “What do you mean, like the reception or something?” Rick questions.
    His wife nods. “Exactly like that. There’s a lot to celebrate. We can just make it a downhome, southern shindig. Good food, drinks, and dancing until the sun comes up. What do ya think?”
    I can’t even bring myself to smile. I know how hard the older woman is trying, but it’s pointless. I want to crawl into bed and die. I check my cell phone for the hundredth time. Nothing.
    “Can I think on it?”
    “Sure, hun. Although, I hate to say it, we’re on a time crunch here. The sooner the better.”
    I stand. “I’m going to try to get a nap. Will you wake me up if you hear anything?”
    “Of course. Get you some rest, and I’ll stay on track until you tell me otherwise.” Judy gave me a tight squeeze. Rick twisted his lips into a sympathetic grin, making me want to vomit.
    Dean.
    My not so shining knight in Chuck T’s.
     
    *
     
    A light tap on the door stirs me from a much needed nap. My body feels as if it’s been hit by a semi-truck.
    “Joselyn, sweetie, are you awake?”
    “I’m up, Judy. Come on in.” I pull my knees up to my chest. My puffy, swollen eyes burn from the long crying session.
    “I brought you some tea, sweetie.” She places the small serving tray on the bedside table. “How you doing, hun?”
    The simple question makes me chuckle, something I do when I’m uncomfortable. “I’m sorry, really. I’m ok. Thank you.” I sip the hot liquid, allowing peppermint to sooth my aching chest.
    She pats my knee and sits down.
    “I wish I knew what to say. I’m just at a