by Toni Aleo
Jace nods and then stands. “Also, she was raised by a dude. We are not all sensitive like you, Jay.”
Looking down, I bite into my lip. My heart is aching for her. Even though I’m mad and hurt and feel like Baylor betrayed me, I still yearn for her, and I really don’t know what to do with that. For once, I don’t know what to do with my own feelings.
Stopping in front of me, Jude crunches down to look at me. Placing his hand on my shoulder, he says, “Mom told me that everyone deserves a second chance. Mind you this was a few days after Dad had just cheated on her for the billionth time, and she was done. But she still believed in love, and because of that, I took her advice and now I’m marrying the woman of my dreams.” Meeting my gaze, he holds it and nods. “Don’t let yours walk away.”
“I don’t want to,” I say softly, my throat thick with emotion. “But what if—”
“No, stop,” he says, squeezing my shoulder. “Because yeah, there are a ton of what-ifs, but what if you don’t? What if you walk away and let her go because of this? Will you be able to live with yourself? You and I both know, and Jace too, that you can’t. She is your Baylor, you take all of her because you have to. Because there is no other way. She’s it. I know because that’s how it is with Claire. I’ve accepted every single thing about her, and you have to do the same. So suck it up, find her after this and tell her that you love her and keep saying it until she says it back.” Shaking me a bit, he grins. “So stop frowning like that grumpy cat, and let’s go get me married.”
Reaching out, I squeeze his shoulder and then glance over at Jace, sharing a long look with him before looking back at Jude. I really don’t know what I would do without these two. Yeah, we fight like cats and dogs and we are sorta mean to each other, but in the end, we are brothers, and they are my best friends. “I couldn’t live my life without you two.”
“And Baylor,” he adds, and I nod. Smiling, he stands before wrapping me up in a tight, back-slapping hug. “You’re a fucking pussy, but man, I couldn’t live without you either. You’re the rock of this family.”
“Let me in on this girlie, emotional shit too,” Jace says, wrapping his arms around us, and I squeeze my eyes shut as I hug my brothers. While they are two of the most important people in my life, they don’t complete me the way Baylor does. I understand that she has struggles, and yes, she is a hot fucking mess, but she is my mess. I knew that from the beginning. The moment I met her, I knew she wasn’t going to be easy to love, but I still dove in and loved her. I still love her. When I think of love, I think of her. I see her. She is it.
It’s just that I feel like a car stuck in the mud with nowhere to go because I walked away. I should have grabbed her, shaken her, and screamed that I loved her. Instead, I let my pride get in the way. Instead, I walked away, and I really think that was the biggest mistake of my life. She’s a fickle little thing. She could give up, but then, that’s not Baylor.
She fights until she wins.
And in this case, I just have to let her.
Claire is exquisite.
In a floor-length lace dress that is completely backless, her red hair blazes in the lights that shine down on her as her eyes fill with tears, squeezing her uncle’s arm. Jude, God, my brother looks like he’s about to cry, and the room is suffocating with the love that is radiating off these two. You don’t even notice that anyone else is in the room but them, you don’t see the gorgeous white decorations or the lights that are shining in their eyes. All you see is them.
When Jude looks back at me and grins, I smile back as he says, “That’s my forever.”
“I know, man,” I say, reaching out and squeezing his shoulder before wiping away the tear that spills out of my eye. I’ve never seen my brother this happy, and the feeling is overwhelming.
When Claire finally reaches us, her uncle, Phillip, brings her in close, whispering something in her ear and she nods. Turning, he reaches out and shakes Jude’s hand, but Phillip doesn’t let go. With his eyes boring into Jude’s, he says, very sternly, “This is my everything, and I’m giving her to you with all the trust in the world that you’ll keep her safe and love her the right way. It isn’t easy. Not in the least. And I’d rather punch you in the face.” Everyone smiles, some crying and laughing as Jude’s eyes stay locked on his. “But she chose you, and so I choose you too. Don’t let me down.”
“Wouldn’t think of it,” Jude says, his voice breaking as he looks over at Claire. “I will love you for the rest of my life.”
“Told ya,” she says, leaning into Phillip. “Now let us go so we can do this.”
Phillip still hesitates but then finally lets them go before joining their hands together. He leans in and I doubt anyone hears him, but I do, as he whispers, “I will kill you if you hurt her.”
Jude grins as he nods, bringing Claire into his arms. “And I still haven’t forgotten that.” He then looks at Claire. “You ready to do this?”
“Been ready,” is her answer, a grin so big that you could probably see it from Jupiter.
When Claire’s aunt, Reese, starts to sob, I smile, holding back my own tears. Claire’s family is very unconventional, but they love each other to the ends of the earth, and it’s evident that will never change. When Phillip goes down the stairs, he lifts his son into his arms and then goes back up to wrap his arms around Reese. Grinning in a bittersweet way, she leans into him before taking Claire’s bouquet from her. This isn’t how it was rehearsed, but who the hell cares. We are here to celebrate Jude and Claire, and they don’t seem to care one bit.
I’m pretty sure they don’t care about anything but each other.
As my brother and my very soon-to-be sister-in-law join hands, gazing into each other’s eyes, I watch as Jude makes his vows, promising to only love her, while the room is full of tears. My mom is crying so hard, she’s gone through a whole box of Kleenex, and my dad should be beside her, but he isn’t. And for once, I’m okay with that. We don’t need him. She doesn’t need him. We have each other, and we will love each other enough to make up for the loss of his presence.
As Claire declares her love to Jude, I try to pay attention. I mean, I know I should, but it’s hard because, while they declare their love, I want to declare mine to Baylor. But as I look out into the room full of people who love Jude and Claire, I don’t see the person I love. I pray that doesn’t mean she isn’t here. That would mean I would have to wait hours before I can find her, but it would be so like her. Lord knows she doesn’t make my life easy, but I wouldn’t want it any other way.
She’s mine.
Figures! Today is the day I am running late. First, I couldn’t get my hair to do what I wanted. Then I changed into seven different outfits before I decided on a simple little black dress that I know Jayden loves. And then the real kicker is that I got lost finding the damn mansion. I blame all this on the fact that I’m a mess. I can’t think straight, and God, I miss him. So fucking badly.
Since I know the wedding has started, I decide to sit in the car and wait until the reception. Turning on the radio, I sit back and twirl my thumbs. I’m nervous, my heart, it just hurts, and I’m convinced that it won’t heal until I see Jayden. Until I feel his lips on mine and I utter the words that we both so desperately need me to say.
As I close my eyes, I know what I need to do when I get in there. I need to muster up all the confidence in the world. I need to know that when I tell him how I feel, he’s gonna wrap me up in his arms and kiss the hell out of me. It’s scary, and it’s hard to let go of all that fear. But the truth won’t hurt us; it will only help us grow. And I have to be honest with myself and him.
I love him. I need him. And nothing can ever change that.
I’m a mess without him. Hell, I’m a mess with him, but I have to clean it up and be the woman he needs and deserves. That woman is someone who loves him, and I’m that woman, I just need to tell him that because I can’t go another second without him.
When movement grabs my a
ttention out of the corner of my eye, I see Jude and Claire coming out of the building, blissfully happy. And my God, they look like they’ve stepped out of a magazine! I want that. I want to feel that. When I see Jayden, I throw the door open, fully ready to pounce because I can’t wait any longer, but then he is being ushered toward a photographer and my heart sinks.
Maybe this wasn’t the place for this?
No! It is. Confidence, Baylor. Suck it up!
“Hey, what are you doing?”
Glancing over. I find Jace looking at me with his brow up. “Why are you out here and not in there?”
“I was late,” I admit shyly, and then I smile with a shrug.
He grins. “Thought you were hiding.”
“I probably am, subconsciously,” I say, and he laughs.
“Probably, knowing you,” he teases. “But you’re here, so get in there. We’ll be in in a bit. I have to get Angie’s shoes for pictures. She left them in the car, and by the time anyone noticed we were already at the altar.”
“Oh, okay,” I say as he rushes to his mom’s car, but I don’t move.
When he comes back, he looks at me funny. “What are you doing?”
Wrinkling my face, I shrug. “Does he even want to see me?”
Giving me a bored look, he says, “Yes, Baylor. Now go, stop being a little puss.” He starts for where his family is taking pictures, but then he turns to look at me. “Just be real, Baylor. Don’t beat around the bush, just be real.” When I don’t say anything, just stare at him, he shakes his head and laughs. “Y’all are the most frustrating couple in the world. I love you both, I do, but shit, just be together and be happy.”
Just be together and be happy.
I can do that.
But can Jayden? Or did I ruin that chance?
Sucking in a breath, I walk up the walkway and enter the door that says Reception on it. After getting my table assignment, which I am pleasantly surprised to find I have, I go to table number two. Sitting down next to a gorgeous lady with auburn hair, I cross my legs as she looks over at me with eyes the color of emeralds.
“Baylor Moore?”
Surprised, I nod my head. “Yes?”
“Hi,” she says sweetly in a thick country accent, taking my hand in hers. “I’m Elli, and Claire and my uncle have told me so much about you. I made sure she sat you next to me and my husband.”
I look past her to see her husband, and my jaw drops. It’s fucking Shea Adler, the captain of the Nashville Assassins, and everything inside me freezes. If that’s Shea Adler, then this is Elli Adler, owner of the Assassins.
Oh, I’m gonna kiss Claire.
Reaching over, he shakes my hand and then smiles. “So we heard you’re gonna be the first woman in the NHL?”
“That’s the plan,” I say breathlessly. “I was actually speaking with your uncle at our little fundraiser back in November.”
“Oh, I know, he told me all about you! We’ve been watching your game. We were at the game when Jude’s brother got hurt.”
Oh, God.
“Bad hit for him, but man, can you take some hits of your own,” Shea says with a nod, and I unfreeze. They don’t think it’s my fault?
Breathing in deeply, I nod. “Yeah, I’m as tough as they come.”
“And you can shoot, you’re fast, and man, we really like your game,” Elli says very adamantly as she talks with her hands. “I’ve never seen anything like you.”
“Me either,” Shea agrees. “We were really looking forward to meeting you.”
“Wow, I’m a little speechless here,” I laugh, a little overwhelmed as I look away.
When I look to the side, I see Jayden walking in with Jace beside him.
And he looks perfect.
With his hair brushed to the side, his face clean-shaven and his suit fitting him effortlessly, I let out a dreamy sigh. Looking back the Adlers, I know I need to stay and talk. This could further my career, and I need that, but I need to talk to him more.
“Don’t be speechless! You have to talk to us!” Elli giggles when I turn to look back at her.
“I’m so sorry, but can you excuse me real fast?” I ask, and she nods, but when I go to get up, Jace has a mic and Jayden is grinning at him like he is a dork. “Or not.”
“Announcing my brother and his gorgeous new wife, Jude and Claire Sinclair.”
When the room erupts in applause, Jude and Claire enter. But Claire isn’t wearing her wedding dress that I saw her in earlier. No, she has on a white silk cami dress thing that I highly doubt is proper wedding attire, but then Jude’s changed too into a thin white tee and his slacks.
“She changed,” I mutter, and Elli leans in to me.
“Yeah, they are going to dance. Isn’t it sweet? She’s a dancer and wanted to do something special.”
“Oh wow,” I say as I turn my attention back to the couple.
When the music to Ed Sheeran’s “Thinking Out Loud” starts, I sit back and watch as they slowly walk toward the dance floor, hand in hand, and then they are dancing. Now, I sat through a dance team tryout and I saw some great dancing, but holy crap on a cracker, Claire can dance. Like really dance. She moves around Jude effortlessly, her body looks like its fluttering, and Jude, he’s there catching her and lifting her like he’s been doing it his whole life. When they join up, moving in perfect unison, the room loses it, hollering and cheering them on.
But I’m in awe.
They are so in love, so perfect, and fucking hell, that’s how I feel about Jayden. I’m not saying I want to dance around like they are, but I want to be on that level with him. The level where I can just fall and know he’ll catch me. The level where I don’t question his motives, his love for me, and that he loves me, no matter what.
I’m there, I’m ready. Now I just need to tell him that.
As the song ends, Jude lifts her up, looking up at her with all the love in the world before he lowers her into his arms, his mouth connecting with hers.
“I knew they were gonna get married the day I met him,” Elli says beside me.
“Really?”
She smiles as she dabs at her eyes. “You always know when a man loves a woman; it’s in the way they smile. But unlike me, Claire went for it while I fought it off,” she says with a wink as Shea cuddles her in his arms.
“The best love is the one you fight for, though,” he says against her cheek, and tears sting my eyes.
“I’m a fighter too,” I admit, and she smiles at me.
“The best women are,” she says, leaning into Shea.
Before either of us can say anything, Jude says, “Okay, so yeah, that wasn’t easy.”
Turning my attention to where he holds the mic, he’s breathing hard as Claire grins up at him, and everyone laughs while some dry their eyes. Mainly Mrs. Sinclair.
Clearing his throat, he says, “I didn’t want to do that. But because she wanted to do something to show how much she loves me, in the way that she does best, I did it. Because I love you.”
“I love you,” she says, and the crowd swoons as they press their lips to each other. I know this is my chance to go after Jayden, but then I want to watch. It’s beautiful and I’m astonished by them.
“Now, she did her thing, and now I’m gonna do mine,” he says as a chair is brought out, and Jayden is there, handing him a guitar. “Let me tell you guys a little story,” he starts before sitting down. Jayden takes the mic, putting it on a stand. “Way back in the day, I got into a heated karaoke battle with a certain fiery redhead. When I won—”
“You didn’t win, I did,” she calls out, and he smirks back at her.
“Minor details,” he continues with the laughter of everyone. Even I’m cracking up. “I looked at her and knew that this girl was it. Every song that played reminded me of her, and it’s only right that I sing the song that is the epitome of my wife,” he says, and when Elli awws beside me, I grin really big, my eyes welling up with tears. “This one is for you, baby,” he
says softly, and then he starts playing the guitar. My jaw drops at how good he is, but when he starts singing, even I’m swooning. I’ve always loved “All of Me” by John Legend, but hearing Jude sing it in his low, raspy voice, it does something to me.
It leaves me breathless, my heart is hammering in my chest, and it isn’t because he is so good. No, it’s because this song, it’s me and Jayden. He loves all of me. Even the fucked-up parts, and I’m out of my mind to not be screaming that I love this guy.
But that needs to change.
As Jude finishes up and wraps his arms around Claire, kissing her hard on the lips, I stand up and push myself to move to where he is. When I reach him, Jude looks over at me, surprised, and smiles.
“Um, Baylor?” he says, and I smile back.
“Can I borrow your mic?” I ask, and then I look at Claire. “You are unbelievably beautiful, and I’m sorry, but I need to say something.”
“No, go! Here!” she says, pushing the mic to me, and when it’s in my hands, I really don’t know what I’m about to say, but I know I have to say something. When I look up from the mic, Jayden’s eyes are wide. His brows are in his hairline and his eyes are asking what the hell I’m doing.
And there is only one answer.
I’m doing what I should have done a long time ago.
Better late than never, I guess.
“What in the Sam Hill is she doing?” I mutter as Baylor stands awkwardly by Jude and Claire, the mic in her hand and her eyes trained on mine.
“Oh God, please say she isn’t going to sing,” Jace says beside me, and while I agree, it is great to see her. She looks beautiful in a short little black dress, her hair down in curls the way I like, and her lips painted that trusty red color she loves so much. The red I love.