Rude Jerk.

As the much-anticipated day arrived, a palpable nervousness filled the air, tinged with excitement and uncertainty."It's my wedding day," I whispered to myself, standing in the serene confines of the bride's changing room. The weight of the moment settled heavily on my shoulders, manifesting in a rush of nerves I had never experienced before.(My Mind: It's happening. Today, I marry Lance. The thought of him, the anticipation, and the fear of missteps during the ceremony, it's overwhelming. Will he be pleased, or will my anxieties only fuel his temper?)"Why the anxious look, darling?" Kristy, my trusted friend and confidante, sensed my unease as she watched me fidget."I can't help it. The nerves are getting the best of me," I confessed, my hands betraying my inner turmoil with their restless movements."Where's the groom-to-be?" I inquired, hoping for a distraction from my racing thoughts."Lance is preparing in his chambers. Anxious to see him before the vows?" Kristy teased, a playful glint in her eyes."Oh, don't be ridiculous. The nerve-racking part hasn't even begun, and you're already teasing about husbands," I retorted, dismissing the notion with a nervous laugh.Before Kristy could interject, my careless words were met with an unexpected interruption."Who's the 'rude jerk' now?" A deep, rough voice pierced the air, and I turned to find Lance standing behind me, his presence commanding attention and sending a jolt of panic through me.(My Mind: I've done it now. What was I thinking?)Sensing the tension, Kristy discreetly excused herself, leaving me to face the repercussions of my unguarded chatter.I mustered a tight smile, attempting to mask my inner turmoil as Lance approached, his gaze intense yet unreadable. Without a word, he reached out, lightly tapping my head in a gesture that felt both affectionate and cautionary.Left alone with Lance, the weight of my careless words hung heavily in the air. If not for his unexpected presence, I might have lashed out at Kristy for leaving me in such a predicament."I thought you'd be nervous, but you seem quite calm," Lance remarked, his voice a blend of curiosity and reassurance.(My Mind Luckily, he's taking it lightly)."Well, maybe I'm hiding it well," I replied with a nervous laugh, unconsciously fidgeting with my hands."Don't worry. I'm here for you. We're in this together," Lance said, reaching out to hold my hands, his eyes reflecting genuine support.I felt a wave of gratitude wash over me, finding solace in Lance's unwavering presence."By the way, did you miss your 'rude jerk' of a husband?" Lance teased, a playful glint in his eyes."No!" I responded a bit too quickly, mentally rolling my eyes.(My Mind Seriously? Miss him? Never!)"But your friend mentioned you were looking for me earlier," Lance probed gently, sensing my discomfort."Oh, that? Just a misunderstanding. She has a weird sense of humor," I dismissed, trying to downplay the situation.Lance chuckled, "I think deep down, you missed me."Before I could protest, he stood up, pretending to leave. In a surprising move, my hands instinctively reached out to stop him, a silent plea not to go unnoticed. He understood, sitting back down beside me with a knowing smile.Minutes later, Kevin burst through the door, Lance's best friend and secretary, announcing the imminent start of our wedding ceremony._ROSE_...