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  “Um, guilty,” I winced.

  Elena pulled me up and stood me in front of her. She wrapped her arms around me and I appreciated the comfort. My nerves were like live wires and my emotions were a mess. I was doing this. I was getting married, conforming to a normal life.

  “You look beautiful babe. He’s going to be speechless when he sees you.”

  “Thanks,” I mumbled.

  My dress was a simple white strapless dress tied up in places at the bottom with ribbons. It was elegant and I loved it. It was the kind of dress I had always dreamed of wearing on my wedding day.

  Elena was my maid of honor and I thought the dresses I picked out were quite nice. They were halter dresses that had an open back and flowed to the floor. The black silk was very sexy and my wedding colors were a very classic choice.

  “Don’t thank me yet, we still have a wedding to attend. I have just one question for you,” she winced as she said it.

  No, please not today. I couldn’t handle this right now. This was the right thing to do. I wanted this life. The white picket fence and two children were what I had dreamed of since I was a child. She couldn’t talk me out of this.

  I skirted her question and speak before she could spit it out. “I’m taking control of my life. There’s no more what ifs allowed. This is my wedding and it should be the best day of my life.”

  “Oh Lexi May, I know. Just watching you space out like that made me hesitant. I know what you were thinking and it’s clear you haven’t resolved your issues. I just don’t want to see you do something you’ll regret later. I’m just looking out for you.”

  “Ugh, I know Elena. There’s just nothing to resolve. The wedding is just making me sentimental and I’m making peace with my past.”

  “If you’re sure, then let’s go. There’s a church full of people and they’re waiting to see the most beautiful bride ever.”

  I smiled and linked my arm in hers as she guided me out of the room and towards the sanctuary. This was the right thing to do. I loved him. He would make me happy. That’s all I’ve ever wanted.

  Too lost in thought, I wasn’t watching my steps. My right heel caught the netting under my dress. Before I even knew what was happening, Elena and I were thrust backwards. Completely off balance, our arms still linked, we grabbed at the air, trying to grab anything around to halt our fall.

  In the blink of an eye, we were in a jumble on the floor, covered in white fluff. Elena started laughing and I couldn’t help but join in. This was the kind of absurdness that only happened to someone like me.

  The sound of a flash and a bright light told me the photographer had found us. What would my wedding be if there wasn’t something embarrassing to remind me?

  Luckily, the flowers remained intact somehow. We got up and Elena straightened up my dress until I was presentable again.

  “There, no harm done. You’re beautiful as ever, Lexi May.”

  Elena pulled me in for a hug and I heard the photographer catching the moment in the background. That would be one picture I could frame of my best friend and I.

  Now that we were composed, Elena guided me in the direction we were originally headed. A few laughs were exactly what I needed to take the edge off my nerves.

  She slowed when we reached the hallway just outside of the doors. Everyone was mulling about, waiting for me to arrive. As I stepped forward, all talking ceased and everyone stared at me.

  “Apparently my dress is pretty,” I joked.

  “There are no words to describe how beautiful you are at this moment,” my best guy friend, James said to me.

  James was going to walk me down the aisle today. I was honored that he agreed. He was a great friend to me and for that I loved him. We had gotten really close since we met freshman year.

  “Why thank you kind sir. Let’s get this show on the road.”

  All the bridesmaids and grooms lined up, preparing to enter through the doors in front of us. Elena took one look back at me and I forced a reassuring smile on my face. Good enough for her, she turned around and the procession started.

  Everything was starting to sink in now. This was real. This was the rest of my life. I would never be on my own again. I was entering into a partnership for better or worse, in sickness and in health.

  I was happy, but my butterflies were dormant. This should be so exciting, yet I was indifferent about it. Reassuring myself, my arm linked with James’s and we followed a few minutes after the last bridesmaid and groomsmen entered and the music changed.

  The aisle seemed so long as we began down it. It felt like the further we walked the farther away it was becoming. I tried to keep my smile pasted in place even as my heart began to beat rapidly.

  1. Hangover — Hey Monday

  2. Bitchin’ Summer — Avril Lavigne

  3. Let’s Get it Started — Pitbull & Shakira

  4. Timber — Pitbull & Kesha

  5. Body Electric — Lana Del Rey

  6. Counting Stars — One Republic

  7. Soak up the Sun — Sheryl Crow

  8. Almost Lovers — A Fine Frenzy

  9. Come on Get Higher — Matt Nathanson

  10. Jealousy — Jennifer Nettles

  11. Truth or Dare - Shakira

  12. Summertime Sadness — Lana Del Rey

  13. Crying All These Tears — Cassaddee Pope

  14. Wide Open Spaces — Dixie Chicks

  15. Free — Faith Hill

  16. Now is the Start — A Fine Frenzy

  THANK YOU TO everyone who picked up this book and took a chance on reading its words. I hope you enjoyed Lexi’s story and I look forward to writing the sequel with more of her escapades.

  I wanted to shout out a huge thank you to my husband, who put up with me while writing this book. He’s been nothing but supportive. You rock!

  To author Jordan Deen, you are an amazing friend!! Thank you for taking the time to read Distance multiple times and giving me honest feedback and suggestions.

  I can’t forget everyone who worked to make this book awesome! Regina Wamba, Kristina Circelli, Mercedes Roth and Stephanie Nelson, I love you all!!!

  If I forgot anyone, just know that I appreciate you too. Thanks again for making Distance a success!

  ANDREA HELTSLEY IS a new adult and young adult author. She started writing in 2012 and hasn’t stopped since. She lives in Tennessee with her husband and two Italian Greyhounds. She has a weakness for ice cream, coffee, and candy. When writing, Andrea loves to listen to all kinds of music and always has a candle burning. When she’s not writing, you can find her nose in a book. Her favorite forms of entertainment are reading, listening to Shakira, and watching The Vampire Diaries.