Clash (The Forever Duet #2)
Page 18
My fashion show had been in all the papers and magazines, but not for the reasons I’d wanted. For almost three months after I woke up in my hospital bed, I hadn’t been able to read a newspaper or watch the TV without constant reminders of what had happened that fatal day at The Mayfair. I haven’t been back there since, either. I can’t bring myself to even walk past it without thinking about what I lost that day.
Turns out I had been pregnant—only a couple of months gone but it had still stung when they’d told me that I had been carrying Neil’s baby and that I had lost it from the bombing.
Pulling myself out of my sad thoughts, I take in the purple floor-length dress I’m wearing and smile.
Today isn’t about the bad times, today is celebrating.
This day should have happened a long time ago, but due to recent events, Serena and Dylan had thought it was best that they postpone their wedding until I was ready. I’d told them they didn’t have to but being the best friends that they are to me, they hadn’t taken no for an answer. I could have lost them, too, that day, and it would have all been my fault. Luckily, they’d only suffered from smoke inhalation and minor concussions.
Hearing the bathroom door open behind me, I spin on my heels and see Serena standing there in the wedding gown that she’d still insisted I design for her.
“Do I look ok?” she asks as she runs her hands down the lace of her dress.
A tear drips down my cheek as I take in my best friend. “You look amazing, babe. Dylan is one lucky man.”
The dress is made out of ivory lace with pearls on the bodice that dips at her breasts. It has straps that come up over her shoulders, leading to a complete open back, and flows into a fishtail. It’s one of my best pieces to date.
“You did a fantastic job, Bon. I know today is gonna be hard for you, but I know you can get through it.”
Today should have been my due date, and instead of it being a sad day, they’d asked me if they could have their wedding today to create happy memories for me.
Taking me in her arms, she squeezes the life out of me just as there’s a knock on the door. We hear Claire the wedding planner shout through the door.
“We’re ready for you now, Ms Davenport.”
“Two minutes please, Claire,” Serena shouts back over my shoulder. “Come on, let's get a drink, quick.” Lifting her dress so she can walk quickly across the room, she pulls the champagne bottle out of the ice bucket and pours us both a glass before handing me one.
When we’ve both drained our glasses, we head out of the suite and down the stairs of the Cafe Royal.
“Let’s get you married, shall we?”
She nods her head at me as we both take our positions behind the oak double doors that will take her to Dylan.
I grip my flowers tightly in both hands just as the doors swing open and Etta James’s At Last starts to play. With my eyes down cast, I blow out a breath and take my first step forwards down the aisle.
When I look up, I smile so big because standing there next to Dylan is not only his Best Man, but the best man for me.
Neil looks at me like I’m the only person in the room and his best friend isn’t about to get married.
Nearly two years ago, we’d fought like cats and dogs when we’d laid eyes on each other, but when you just so happen to clash with the one person you never thought you would, it turns out it’s one of the best things that could ever happen to a person.
Even if it had been wrong at the beginning.
Epilogue
Neil
I’ve thought about that day so many times in the last year. I’d had plans after the fashion show, but seeing Bonnie laid in that bed after the blast, I’d concluded that nothing in my life matters if she isn’t here. I’d been lucky to come out with just cuts and bruises and a concussion. Bonnie, on the other hand, bears the scars of a mad man, all because he’d wanted to be the designer Bonnie is.
Knowing we lost a child at his hands is something I’ll never get over for as long as I live. Bonnie, though, is here and breathing, and for that I’ll be forever thankful.
We never have heard any more from Sarah after I’d kicked her out. Although, Bonnie and I are still living in the apartment. Knowing there’s a concierge helps her to sleep at night, and honestly, as long as she feels safe that’s all that matters.
Sitting here with my best friend in the hotel bar before he takes his vows to worship Serena for the rest of his life is a day to behold—the man I thought would never settle down again, Dylan Proctor, the arrogant playboy, who definitely met his match.
Holding up a short tumbler of whisky, I propose a toast. “To my best friend. May your balls always be protected each time you piss Serena off.”
“You’re a wanker.” He chuckles. “But thanks, they may need it.”
With a clink of the glasses, we gulp down the single shot and bang the glasses down on the oak bar. “Let’s go get you married.”
The music begins to play, I look back over my shoulder seeing Serena and Bonnie walk down the aisle. I give Dylan a gentle nudge and he turns to watch them walk down the aisle together. Seeing as Serena didn’t have anyone to give her away, she’d asked Bonnie to do it. She is her best friend after all, and what a better wedding present than that.
I can’t help but watch Bonnie slowly walk towards me, a huge smile spreads across her face when she looks at me. If I could freeze frame this moment, I’d cherish it for the rest of my life.
Getting over what has happened has been hard on both of us, but I’m hoping after today we can start looking to the future.
As they reach the end of the aisle, Bonnie hugs Serena and leaves a kiss on her cheek before doing the same to Dylan, coming to stand at my side. Threading my arm around her middle, I hold her as close as I can to me. The woman is like an extension of myself. I'm lost when we’re not together.
“You were brilliant. I’m so proud of you.” I press my lips to the side of her head as she looks up at me from underneath her lashes, her gaze filled with love for me. My heart is so full I’m afraid it’s going to burst.
My hand sweats like crazy in my jacket pocket, and if I don’t do it now, I never will. I’d never wanted to do this on Dylan and Serena’s day, but if I can make her happy then I ‘ll do whatever I can.
The conversation is light as we all stand at the bar, and Dylan shouts up some shots.
Thank fuck I could do with that.
As soon as the small shot glass hits the bar, I pick it up and knock it back as quickly as I can, ignoring the burn in the back of my throat. With my hand on the box in my pocket, I drop to one knee in front of Bonnie, taking her left hand in mine.
She covers a gasp with her free hand and looks around us.
“Bon,” I call her, and without a second to spare she looks straight at me. “I love you so damn much that some days I can barely breathe. I thought I was destined to be miserable for the rest of my life, then you walked into it with your larger than life attitude and I was hooked.”
“Oh my God, Neil. I love you…”
“I know life hasn’t been how we expected it, and we didn’t have the best of starts, but every single minute I’ve spent with you, good and bad, has been the best time of my life.” Filling my lungs with another breath, I blow it out slowly and carry on. “Bonnie Jones, will you be my wife and allow me to cherish you for the rest of our time together?”
Dropping to her knees in her purple gown, she cuts me off with a kiss. Her full lips covering mine while her hands hold on to my face. “Yes,” she mumbles against my mouth. Leaning back an inch, she shouts this time. “Yes! I’ll marry you. You are the love of my life, and I couldn’t imagine my life without you, Neil Montgomery.” Sealing the deal with a kiss that probably shouldn’t be displayed in public, we finally get up from the floor and celebrate properly.
When it’s said that two people shouldn’t be together because of other circumstances, then the
y haven’t felt or witnessed what Bonnie and I have.
Yes, I was in a relationship, but not a happy one, far from it.
When your heart clashes with another, the only thing you can do is take the ride.
The End
Playlist
Atlantic Star - Secret Lovers
Roxette - Joyride
Pink - Hustle
Annie Lennox - Walking on Broken Glass
Millie Jackson - My Man, A Sweet Man
Shanice - I Love Your Smile
Keith Urban - Somewhere in My Car
Micheal Jackson - Wanna Be Startin’ Somethin’
Bryan Adams - The Only Thing That Looks Good on Me Is You
Def Leppard - When Love and Hate Collide
Jennifier Lopez ft Ja Rule - I’m Real
Nelly - Ride Wit Me
Everybody Loves an Outlaw - Give ‘em Hell
Justin Timberlake - Senorita
Whitney Houston - Greatest Love of All
Whitney Houston - All the Man That I need
Billy Paul - Me and Mrs Jones
Author Bio
Sienna Grant
Sienna Grant is a British writer from the West Midlands in the UK, who decided to step into the world of writing and has since never looked back.
She started her journey with contemporary romance as she loves a happy ever after but has since sampled different genres and has pushed every boundary, she has set herself. From contemporary romance to suspense, teen and young adult but also stepping into the darker world of Mafia and women’s fiction.
When she’s not writing, she’s a wife and mother to three children.two of which are now grown up and starting their own lives.
Sienna loves to read most romance when she can, but always with a hint of realism.
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Author Bio
Jennah Thornhill
Jennah Thornhill is a wife and mother, who lives a town called Stoke-on-Trent, with her husband Nathan, and her two kids Mollie, and her little ginger critter Noah.
She’s had a lot of ups and downs in the past three years, going from a full-time mother and hard worker, to fainting at work one day and ending up in hospital.
After tests confirmed her as having IIH, she was unable to return to work. She now manages her time between coping with her illness and being a wife, mother, and writer.
When she’s not writing about her characters, being a mum or laid up in a hospital bed having meds, she spends her time reading or sleeping.
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