She shakes her head pulling herself from her crazy thoughts when the music starts playing over the sound system. It filters into the room where they’re all getting ready and everyone stops what they are doing. One by one the ladies leave the room and pair up with their accompanying groomsman. As each one walks down the aisle, Tinley can’t help but contemplate how far she’s come.
They’re new life together has already started, and this is the last thing they need to do. After a very long talk together, Tinley quit working at the call center. She wasn’t a fan of her job there, but it paid the bills and that was all that mattered to her at the time. When she received her very hefty bonus from Wren Danzig’s vacation booking, she quit her job and started her own business. She’s still small scale working from home, but with word of mouth referrals, she’s getting more and more business every day. Never in a million years did Tinley think she could actually make money baking and selling cupcakes, but that’s exactly what she’s doing, and she loves it.
Her only problem now is she never wants to stop working. If she’s not baking someone’s order, she’s on Pinterest getting ideas or doing research as she likes to call it, or she’s updating her Facebook page with previous work and interacting with potential clients. Not to mention all of the marketing and advertising. Who knew how much work goes into starting your own business from scratch. It’s hard and it’s like she’s in college all over again spending every day learning something new. It’s a dream and in every facet of her life she’s getting the happily ever after she’s always dreamed of, but never truly thought she deserved.
The familiar music of the wedding march starts right up, and Tinley can’t help the smile that spreads across her face. She looks down at the beautiful gown she’s wearing and whispers in Luna’s ear to start walking. The bride can’t exactly walk down the aisle before the flower girl, after all, and the little girl takes her job very seriously. Yesterday when they were running through the rehearsal, Luna said she had to have flower petals in her basket, so she could rehearse the actual event and needed to place each one just right. It took her almost fifteen minutes to walk down the aisle and sprinkle the faux roses. It gave everyone something to laugh about and will make a good story down the line, but she’s hoping the talk she and Marek gave Luna about it being prettier if it’s a little messier got through to her. It doesn’t need to be perfect, because if there’s one thing that’s for sure, it’s that Tinley won’t be waiting to charge down the aisle. She’s ready to get married to her fiancé and never let him out of her sight again.
She crosses the threshold of the French doors that lead to their backyard and suddenly all eyes are on her. Never in her whole entire life has she been okay with any kind of attention on her. In her experience all attention was always bad attention and so she tried to hide into the background and let Dakota take center stage between the two of them. But now? There isn’t a single malicious look in her direction. Everyone here seems genuinely happy for her and that is a feeling she never wants to lose. These people here celebrating Marek’s and her new life together are their people. She could walk down the street and be fat shamed over and over again but knowing that those that truly love her for who she is makes it all better.
Besides, it’s like she told Marek the only opinions that truly matter are from the people they love and care about. Everything else is annoying chatter that falls right down her back. Doesn’t matter or mean a thing to her. Some day’s it still completely shocks her how far she’s come, but now she couldn’t even imagine being that old person anymore. She was so incredibly lost and unhappy.
She takes her final step off the back porch and zones straight down the aisle to the man she’s moments from marrying. She almost falls back with the powerful love he’s shooting her way. With a single glance, there’s no doubt in her mind that exploring things with Marek was the best decision she ever made. Who would have thought that three disastrous speed dating in the dark dates almost caused her to miss out on that fourth one? Fortunately, it was her major sweet tooth and love for dessert that made her stick around and meet her mystery date number four.
Now all that’s left is to say I do and she will truly get her happily ever after in the end. She’s almost tempted to race down the aisle, so she can skip to the good part and kiss her husband. Instead she takes her time and catalogues everything to her memory, from the people that are here to the smells in the air. They’re all things she wants to remember to commemorate this day. Including their little twirling ballerina standing next to her daddy and Tara is standing on the other side with Cedric bouncing her arms.
This is everything she’ll ever need. And with that she finishes her journey from her old self completely and stops in front of her future husband to say goodbye to the old and hello to their new beginnings and life together.
Epilogue
One year later
Taking a step back, Tinley admires her masterpiece. Up to this point she’s mostly done kids birthday parties and baby showers, but she was almost in tears when Giselle asked her to bake cupcakes for her wedding. The woman was a bridezilla, that’s for sure but except for the couple of simple details she gave to Tinley, she left the entire design up to her. The five-tier display holds well over five hundred peach Bellini cupcakes with buttercream frosting. The tower has coral roses all over the place which offsets the slices of peach laying on top of each cupcake. The entire thing is absolutely breathtaking.
Tinley snaps a bunch of pictures for her social media page and she’s very excited for the potential business prospects that will come from this. She laughs to herself with each snap of her camera remembering how Tara called her a momarazzi. She so totally is. Before Cedric was born she had the smallest sized phone there was, whatever it was, and she filled the camera roll the first week. So, Marek brought her the largest capacity he could get her and even then, they still pay for unlimited cloud space. She has documented pretty much every single moment possible.
After taking her last picture she’s tempted to steal a bit of frosting. It’s almost time to eat and it’s looking pretty delicious, she knows from experience after all. She may have taste tested quite a few while getting the recipe perfect, but she didn’t mind that one bit. Instead of a wedding shower, they actually had a giant cake tasting. Giselle, Tinley, Dakota, and Tara all gathered to taste twenty different cakes and frostings while drinking copious amounts of wine. Putting it mildly, the night was fantastic.
She pats herself on the back and Tinley watches as her husband paces the floor, wearing a hole into the carpet. The small room feels like it’s getting smaller the more he walks back and forth, and if she doesn’t do something soon, he’s going to drive himself crazy, or at least her. She knew he wouldn’t be taking the day well, but she racks her mind for a way to distract him and calm him down a little bit. She takes a deep breath and slides her hand down to her belly and says, “Did you know I never wanted kids? That the idea of producing my own offspring scared the shit out of me?”
It has the effect she’s looking for as he stops in his tracks and lifts his head up, looking toward her. Marek takes a small step forward and Tinley adjusts his tie, which has loosened some. As she’s straightening up his appearance, he says to her, “Seriously? But I couldn’t imagine you not being a mother.”
“Yeah, Dakota and I used to joke about keeping each other accountable so neither one of us went down that road. Now that I think back on it, I can’t help but laugh.”
“Oh yeah? And why is that?”
It was a lifetime ago that she had those feelings, and that person was a child compared to who she has become. Luna and Cedric both filled an emptiness in her life she didn’t realize was there until it was gone. “Because I couldn’t imagine my life without my children in it—all three of them.” Even though she wasn’t the one who carried and delivered Luna into this world, she is still one of her own, and that will never change.
“Three?”
This wasn’t h
ow she planned on telling him their exciting news, but then again nothing seems to go the way it’s supposed to with them and Tinley is perfectly okay with that. Who needs to plan their life when they can actually live it? She brings her hand down to nonexistent baby bump. She just took the pregnancy test this morning and she was shocked and ecstatic when those two pink lines showed up. She slowly nods her head and can’t help the smile that spreads across her face. “Yes. We’re going to be parents, again.”
Marek runs to her side and wraps his arms around her. His hands slide into her hair and slowly he brings his face to hers kissing her lightly on the lips. Leaning his forehead against hers he says, “I don’t know how I ever got lucky to find you. Every day I don’t think you could make me happier and you prove me wrong each time.”
Now that she’s got his attention, she decides to ask him the question she knows he’s been wrestling with all day. “Are you finally ready to let your sister go?”
“Never. She’s my baby sister, and I don’t know if I trust this asshole. But, I know where he lives, so if he hurts her again, I’ll go after him.”
The whole situation makes Tinley feel like laughing, but she refuses to let Marek see that. She might think he’s being irrational right now, but in his mind, he’s only trying to protect his little sister. Only problem is he took those protection duties a little too far. “I’m pretty sure he’s very aware of how you feel. In fact, I don’t think anybody doubts your opinions and feelings.”
“Yeah, yeah.” He starts up his pacing again, and it’s reached the point where she just wants to wring his neck to make him stop.
“Marek, stop it. You know they’re in love—there’s no denying it.”
He throws his hands up in the air and turns toward her with a million different emotions on his face. He’s confused and upset, maybe a little bit hurt, but underneath it all, the love and happiness for Giselle still shines through. “Yeah, well, it came out of nowhere. She left for her trip and now she’s getting married.”
“Some people might say the same about how quickly we got married.”
“The circumstances were different. When you add a natural disaster to the mix, that changes things.”
While it does change things, it doesn’t change that they did get married quickly. They were barely together for a year before tying the knot, and even though she would never change a thing, there were still people at work placing bets on how long it would be before they got a divorce. It pissed Marek off like no other when he found out, but Tinley didn’t care in the slightest. They can say whatever they want, but the two of them? That’s forever. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Romeo.”
“Don’t get me wrong, I know I don’t have a say in any of this and I’ll have to get over it, but I haven’t even had a chance to get used to it yet. I just need a minute to breathe, let alone think about the craziness of all this.”
It’s true. This whole thing did happen rather fast, but if there’s one thing Tinley knows, it’s that time has no bounds on being with the one you love. Sure, she and Marek had their own ups and downs with some bruises along the way, but nothing and no one could have ever stood in the way if them being together, and she knows the same goes for his sister. He’ll understand that eventually.
Giselle walks in the room looking like nothing short of a goddess with her beautifully bronzed skin and raven black hair set against her stark white lacy gown. If Tinley didn’t love her so much, she’d hate her for how gorgeous she is. She’s completely glowing and exudes so much happiness that nobody, not even Marek can rain on her parade. She has the biggest smile on her face when she says, “Well, big brother, you’re just going to have to get over it, because this is forever.”
Tinley can’t help the laugh that slips from her lips as she takes a step forward and wraps her arms around her sister. She whispers in her ear, “Don’t worry about your brother, he’ll come around. Now let’s get you married.”
* * *
You’re cordially invited to the drama-filled nuptials of Giselle Outlaw.
Read her story in
Marry Me
* * *
Turn the page and continue reading for a preview of Kiss Me, the prequel to Marry Me. Find out just what happened that first summer Marek brought Anders home with him.
Preview of Kiss Me
Chapter 1
Giselle
July 2002
Prisoner’s log.
Day…unclear and getting fuzzier the longer I’m here.
* * *
I’ve lost count of how many days I’ve been trapped in this miserable place without any contact to the outside world. I’m not sure how long I can go on like this before I start crawling the walls or make friends with an inanimate object. Volleyball anyone? It’s getting harder, but I still have a shred of hope that I’m holding onto like a life raft for my reprieve any day now. As Disney as it might sound, I know my prince is just around the corner to save me and take me away from here. At least Rapunzel had a tower that she could look upon the land from. What the hell do I have?
So much melodrama and I should know, I watch Dawson’s Creek. A disgusting snort escapes and my hand flies to my mouth as I roll onto my side in a full-blown belly laugh. Each word slowly disappears with each little square I doodle over the fake diary entry that fills the back cover of the magazine I’ve been flipping through. It came from my mom’s overflowing stash back home so it’s not like she’ll notice it’s gone or even care. Then again, she’d have to feel anything these days to care. But I shake my head forcing any negative thoughts out. I truly will be miserable if I don’t let myself enjoy my current surroundings at least a little bit. The reason why we’re here doesn’t matter right now.
My eyelids flutter close and as I take a deep breath. The smell of fresh cut grass and the briny ocean air from the Pacific fills my lungs and I sigh laying my head back. I love the beach, it’s one of my favorite places especially here in Oregon. The sun kissing my body and bronzing my skin to perfection is something I would do every single day. I just wish I had a friend or my brother here to enjoy this amazing weather with me. It doesn’t matter where you are or how much money you have, it’s meaningless if you’re lonely.
The vinyl plastic from the lounge chair sticks to my sweat-soaked skin and squeaks as I try to roll onto my side. My toes curl as a shudder travels down my spine. So gross. A dip in the pool would probably be a good idea right about now, but I stay firmly planted in my spot rather than moving the ten steps it would take. I'm too sun drained to even move.
The glossy pages of the magazine slip from my fingers as I continue flipping through it. Who are all these people? And why is that woman wearing a goose for a dress? Or is it a swan? Either way, it looks absolutely ridiculous. Must have been some sort of statement or something. Who knows?
This must be an older issue, I think as I read about another celebrity’s disaster wardrobe from the Academy Awards, which was months ago. I aimlessly turn the pages, not really reading anything when the sky above me darkens. A storm must be coming in because the light above me is almost nonexistent.
Odd.
Blocking the sun with my hand, I shriek not prepared for the who not what standing in my light. The iPod skitters across the deck as I trip over my own feet ripping the earbuds out of my ears. Whimpering in pain as my ass slams down on the scorching concrete I silently curse whoever interrupted my afternoon and question why the hell he’s standing in my backyard.
A sharp pain travels through me as I gently lift my hands from the hard surface where they attempted to break my fall. That’s going to leave a mark. A hiss slips from my lips as I run my palms against the tops of my thighs and I leave a long scratch in its wake. What the fuck? Turning my hands up the teeny tiny asshole of a pebble is staring back up at me. Who would have thought that something so small would have the power to cause so much damage?
Plucking it out and tossing it to the side, I’m pulled from my own thoughts when
I hear, “Shit. Are you okay?”
Oh, right. I almost forgot about the creepy offender who caused this whole problem in the first place. Ignoring the pain that’s pretty much covering every part of my body at this point, I glance up to the man behind the voice. My eyes travel up, up, and then up some more. Wow. His tan skin pops against his khaki pants and pastel polo. A drop of sweat slides down the side of his neck from his disheveled sandy blond hair. Seriously who is this guy?
His eyes are wide and focused directly on the mess I just made of my thigh. At least that’s what I’m going to pretend he’s doing because it’s less creepy than thinking this guy is some leering rapist.
“Why are you in my backyard right now?” My voice comes out a little harsher than normal, but seriously W-T-F? Who just walks into somebodies’ yard like that? Not normal people, that’s for sure.
Trust fund crazy takes a small step back and grabs the back of his neck rubbing his fingers against the skin there. The muscles on his arm tighten and even though I’m thoroughly creeped out, I can appreciate a great forearm. “Sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.”
Did he not hear my question? Whether or not he scared me is so totally not the point right now. The hand that was just running through his messy lock’s lands in front of my face. I narrow my eyes at his offering and instead say, “You have exactly thirty seconds to tell me who you are and why you’re here. If you don’t, I’m going to start screaming at the top of my lungs. Trust me, you don’t want that to happen. Both my father and brother will come running to my rescue. They’re big. Huge. And they carry guns. Big ones. They’ll rearrange your face for even thinking about touching me.” I keep my face neutral spewing the lies so well I believe them myself. I was raised a pacifist and I don’t think my father has stepped foot in a gym in his life.
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