by Sarah Curtis
Mia tore her eyes from the screen. "How'd you get down there? No more happy juice for you. Don't want to wake up with a hangover tomorrow."
Ali held up her glass. "Careful of the first step, it's a woozy." She started laughing uncontrollably, but soon her laughter turned into sobs. She buried her face in her knees and moaned. "What am I going to do?"
"No-no-no-no-no! We are not sad," Mia said.
Ali looked up at Mia through her alcohol and tear-blurred vision. She blinked a few times then got unsteadily to her feet, slamming her glass down on the coffee table. "You're right. I'm pissed. How dare that no-good, two-timing, backstabbing, um..."
"Douche-nozzle?" supplied Mia.
Ali gave her a grin. "Yeah, okay, douche-nozzle." Her grin faded. "Anyway, how dare he think he could get away with cheating on me, and I would just roll over and play dead." Ali stomped her foot and lost her balance, catching herself with a hand on the coffee table. "In fact, I'm going to call him and tell him that right now!"
"Whoa." Mia grabbed her shoulders, stopping her mad dash to her cell phone. "That's not a great idea in the state you're in. Maybe wait until you're sober. Late night drunken phone calls never end well."
Ali's shoulders slumped, and she exhaled on a sigh. "Yeah, you're right."
"I know I am. Now, sit down. You never did tell me exactly what you saw."
Ali took a deep breath. "Well, Garrett and the woman were standing really close, laughing, and he leaned in to hear her better and..." she trailed off, realizing that was the extent of her knowledge.
"And what? Did he kiss her?"
"Well, no, not exactly."
"What do you mean not exactly?"
"Well, I guess he could have kissed her. I don't know. I stopped watching because I fell into a bush."
"So you don't even know if he actually cheated?"
The alcohol wasn't helping Ali's thought process. "I don't know, ugh." Ali pulled at her hair. Was she making too much out of it? She hadn't thought so at the time, but now, looking back on it, she wasn't so sure.
Mia draped an arm around Ali's shoulders. "Things will look better in the morning. You can call Garrett and get everything straightened out."
Ali sighed. "Okay."
"Come on, let's finish our movie marathon. I'm excited to see Chris Hemsworth getting his Thor on."
≈≈≈≈
Ali groaned as she slowly opened her eyes then promptly closed them again when the sun glared into her eyeballs. She weakly brought her hand to her forehead and took a minute to get her bearings.
She remembered she was at Mia's house, which in turn had her recalling why. She moaned, rolling to her side and curling into a fetal position. She didn't think the ache would ever go away.
Garrett was her life, the other half of her soul and now she had a big empty spot in her chest she didn't think could ever be refilled.
Garrett's face flashed through her mind, his cocky smile filling her vision. She remembered the first time she'd seen that smile. She'd been a freshman and he a junior, and they'd literally run into each other at the campus bookstore. The pile of books she'd been holding had spilled to the floor, and after he'd helped pick them up, he'd given her a smile. A smile she would never forget. It hadn't taken more than a few weeks for her to lose her heart.
And he still had it. She didn't think she'd ever get it back.
With a sigh, she sat up. The house was quiet, too quiet. She saw her phone on the coffee table. Reaching for it to check the time, she saw she had a missed text.
The text was from Garrett. Her finger hovered over his name. She was scared to open it and see what it said. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and tapped the screen. She counted to ten before slowly opening her eyes and after a quick scan, saw red. Heart thundering in her chest, her eyes moved back to the top to reread it slowly.
Babe. Hope you had fun last night. I had to step out for a while so I probably won't be home when you get there. I promise to be back in time for dinner. XOXO
With shaky fingers, her heart now trying to crawl up her throat, she pulled up the tracking app. Sure enough, his phone icon and red dot showed him at the Freemont Hotel.
"What's wrong?" Mia, looking as disheveled as Ali probably did, came walking into the room.
Ali looked back down at her hands. They were empty, the phone lying on the floor by her feet. She hadn't even realized she'd dropped it. Too shocked to even cry, she just sat and stared at the phone. Numb. She'd finally reached a state where she was numb. "I don't think Garrett ever went home last night." Was that her voice, sounding so calm and... distant?
"Are you sure?" Mia's voice wasn't as calm.
Ali shrugged. "Pretty sure. I used the tracking app. He's at the same hotel. I don't think he ever left."
"What are you going to do?"
"I don't know." She rested her forehead on her knees. A chill raced down her spine and she shivered. Dejectedly, she whispered, "I just don't know."
"Girl, listen to me, everything's going to be all right."
As Mia's words sunk in, Ali slowly felt the cold melt away as a blazing heat engulfed her body. Anger replacing the numbness. Not anger toward her friend. Anger at Garrett.
How dare he do that to her.
How dare he sneak behind her back with some other woman and not have the balls to confront her first. How dare he treat her like a piece of garbage, an old shoe, something insignificant.
Fuck that!
Getting to her feet, she breathed heavily.
"Ali? You okay? Talk to me."
"Yeah, I'm okay. And I know what I'm going to do."
"What? Girl, don't do anything crazy. Though, you know I got your back if you need bail money. Kids don't really need to go to college anyway."
Ali shook her head. "No. I'm not going to jail, but I am going to that hotel to find my husband even if I have to knock on every door to accomplish that goal."
"I'm going with you. Mark took the kids to the park, so I'm good."
Ali closed her eyes, tears forming behind her closed lids at the love she felt for her best friend at that moment. Opening her eyes, she looked over at Mia and with a voice roughened with emotion, said, "Thank you."
≈≈≈≈
After grabbing a quick shower to wash the last traces of alcohol from her system, Ali planted herself behind the steering wheel of her car, travel mug full of coffee firmly tucked between her legs. She glanced over at Mia as she slipped into the passenger seat.
She'd lied to her friend. She wouldn't really knock on every door until she found her husband, but she did hope if she called him when she arrived he would at least feel... Guilty? Concerned? Obligated? Enough to come down and meet her.
Other than that, she had no plan. She didn't know what she would say to him. Her thoughts churned with the various possibilities, but this time, her smooth-talking husband wouldn't be digging himself out of his grave. Nope, this time he didn't have a shovel.
Having been at the hotel the day before, she knew the lay of the land and picked a parking spot close to the entrance. If she broke down, she wanted a fast getaway.
Stepping from the car, she looked up at the sky and observed for the first time, it was actually a beautiful day. Big, fluffy, white clouds surrounded by a sea of bright blue with the sun radiating the perfect temperature. The complete opposite of the dark and stormy thoughts that raced through her head.
Though close, the walk to the entry still seemed endless, and she imagined she now knew how a Death Row inmate felt, taking their final walk. She wasn't really about to die, but the irony of the situation wasn't lost on her. She did feel as if the life she loved was coming to an end.
Mia walked quietly by her side, a silent protector, there if she needed her.
Stepping on the mat, the glass, double doors automatically parted as if welcoming her in. And if that wasn't the most ironic thing of all, she didn't know what was.
She crossed the threshold, stepping into a b
eautifully decorated lobby. White marble, gleaming fixtures, greenery, a long reception counter manned by smiling employees, and a woman, coming at her at a fast clip, her heels tapping a frantic beat against the hard floor. Her head was slightly bowed, looking at a clipboard she held in her hand, and she wore a headset, the microphone dangling in the vicinity of her chin.
Ali knew she looked familiar, but it wasn't until the woman drew closer, she realized it was the woman her husband had met with the day before. Serena. A name permanently etched into her brain from the moment she'd read it scrawled in her husband's distinctive handwriting.
Looking up, impatience dripping from her tone, the woman said, "Finally, you're here." She took Ali by the arm, leading them deeper into the hotel.
Ali tried to twist her arm free. "Wait just a damn minute. What the hell—"
"We're running behind schedule." Serena cut her off.
"Hey!" Mia yelled behind her as she was pulled forward.
What the heck was going on? Ali gave another tug on her arm. "Listen, lady, I don't know what you—"
"We really need to hurry." Serena picked up her pace, dragging Ali behind her. The woman was stronger than she looked.
Completely bewildered, Ali opened her mouth to voice her objections again, but their arrival at a closed door with Serena unceremoniously flinging it open halted her speech.
It took Ali's brain a long moment to comprehend what her eyes were seeing, and even then, she didn't fully understand what was going on. Mia came up beside her, sharing her same bewildered expression.
The room was midsized, about the size of her bedroom at home. Two beauty stations were set up along the side wall, complete with vanity, mirror, and the high-tech chairs seen only in salons. A table laden with breakfast foods occupied a good portion of its center. A couch draped with garment bags dominated the far wall.
"What the hell is going on?" Mia, obviously recovering first, voiced the question on the tip of Ali's tongue.
Serena, blinking her baby-blues behind a pair of steel-framed glasses, waved an envelope in Ali's direction. "Here. Read this, then we really must get you ready."
Mia, leaning in and looking over Ali's shoulder, whispered, "There's no way in hell Garrett's having an affair with that bossy witch."
But Ali barely paid her any attention. She was too busy staring at the envelope in her hands. White and thick, the paper was high quality and looked a lot like an invitation. Her name was written across the front in calligraphy. She flipped the envelope over, slid her finger under the flap, and pulled out what was indeed an invitation. Printed in gold cursive on thick card stock, it read:
We Are Forever
In honor of celebrating seven years of marriage, please join Garrett and Alison Evans as they renew their wedding vows on Saturday, the tenth of June, two thousand and seventeen at two o'clock in the afternoon at the Freemont Hotel, 1234 Wilshire Boulevard, Beverly Hills California
She heard Mia gasp from over her shoulder and couldn't agree more. What the hell was going on?
≈≈≈≈
Ali stood in front of a full-length mirror, admiring herself draped in cream satin. Formfitting with a plunging neckline and long, skintight sleeves the dress was sexy as hell. Her husband had good taste.
Even after reading the wedding announcement, it had still taken Ali an embarrassingly long time to figure out what the heck had been going on, but once the light bulb had clicked, it had flashed like a neon sign.
Then chaos, by the name of Serena—AKA the wedding planner—ensued. With her damn clipboard in hand, she'd started rattling off things that needed to be done if they were to be ready on time.
After nibbling a light meal, a makeup technician had performed a miracle on Ali's emotionally exhausted, hungover face after which, a stylist had produced a complicated hairdo Ali would never in a million years be able to replicate.
She smiled into the mirror as Mia came into view behind her.
"We really do clean up well," Mia said, giving Ali a smile in return.
"That's quite a dress." Bright pink was not a shade she'd ever seen Mia wear.
Mia grimaced. "Yeah, not my first color choice, but hey, it's a free dress."
Ali laughed.
Mia nudged her shoulder. "So... tell me what you're thinking." When Ali raised her brows in question, Mia elaborated, "About all this." She waved her arms encompassing the room.
If Ali looked at the big picture—the trouble Garrett must have gone through to set the whole thing up—she found it hard to hold onto her anger. She really did love the big ass.
Ali sighed. "He meant well, and the extent he went through to pull this off, it was sweet. Makes it hard to stay upset."
Mia nodded, agreeing. "I don't think he realized how much your thoughts had snowballed. I'd cut the guy some slack. Actions speak louder than words and by the look of this," she again waved her arms, "he loves you to distraction."
The wedding planner called to them from across the room. Mia gave her another smile in the mirror. "You ready to become Mrs. Evans, Mrs. Evans?"
Grabbing Mia's hand, Ali gave it a squeeze. "Let's do this."
≈≈≈≈
The large banquet room Serena led them to was full of people. Ali recognized the faces of family and friends, sitting in rows, creating a makeshift aisle. Looked like everyone had been in on the surprise but her and Mia.
Mia stood by her side ready to walk with her down the aisle. Emma and Noah—who upon Ali's arrival had excitedly gushed about Daddy's big surprise for her— stood in front of them, looking adorable in a pink fru-fru dress and mini tux.
And waiting at the far end of the aisle, was her husband. Standing tall, looking incredibly handsome in a tux, Garrett had his eyes trained on her. She could feel the heat of his stare even from so far away.
Music started, the traditional wedding march, and all eyes in the room turned her direction. Her kids took a forward step, and Ali followed as they made the slow trek to the waiting groom and officiant who stood by his side.
Mia veered off and took a seat in the front row next to her husband, Mark. Noah took his place beside his father and Emma stayed at Ali's side.
Garrett reached for her hand, entwining their fingers and pulled her close. He leaned down, whispering in her ear, "I'm so fucking sorry. I know toward the end my actions seemed suspicious, but I couldn't find a way to reassure you without ruining the surprise. You mean the world to me, and I don't want you to ever doubt that. I love you so damn much."
Ali tipped her head back, saw the sincerity in his eyes, and hers filled. "I love you, too." She gave him a watery smile and giggled. "Remind me to tell you the story of my escapades, someday."
He gave her a small grin. "I'm not sure I want to know." His eyes traveled the length of her. "You look absolutely ravishing."
Ali gave him a slow smile. "You look pretty good, yourself." She looked around. "I can't believe you did all this." Shaking her head, still a little dazed, she continued, "Why did you do all this?"
Leaning down, he kissed her forehead, then spoke at her temple, "That, you'll find out in a minute."
The officiant cleared his throat. "Family and friends, we are gathered here today for the vow renewal ceremony of Garrett and Alison Evans. The couple will be reciting their own vows. Mr. Evans." The minister tipped his head Garrett's direction.
Garrett took one of Ali's hands in his then turned them to face their audience. "As most of you know, Ali and I met in college." He swung his gaze to her. "I couldn't keep my hands off her—some things never change." A smirk played on his lips as their guests laughed.
When the laughter died down, he turned back to the audience and continued, "As a result, we ended up with an unexpected surprise. I was a pushy bastard, even back then, and I dragged Ali to Vegas for a quickie wedding. She never once complained, not then," he looked at Ali, his expression serious and full of love, "not now.
"Fast forward seven years." He turned and captured bo
th of her hands, so they now faced each other. "You asked me to turn the spare room downstairs that we used for storage into a playroom for the kids."
Ali smiled. "I was tired of looking at their mess all over the house and wanted a place to contain it."
Garrett nodded. "What you didn't know, I found a box of your childhood things."
Ali frowned wondering where this little story was going. She didn't have long to find out.
"In the box was an old diary." He gave her hands a squeeze. "And I'm not ashamed to admit, I took a peek."
Ali felt her cheeks grow hot, and she knew her face must be flaming. Oh, God, she remembered what diary he was talking about because she'd only ever had one. Back in tenth grade, her then best friend who had been an avid diary writer, had insisted she start one. Not knowing what one put in a diary, she'd written about all her fifteen-year-old hopes, fantasies, and dreams. How embarrassing.
"And in that diary—among other things I won't mention but will forever be ingrained in my head," the audience laughed again, "was a detailed description of your dream wedding." He took a step closer, regret filling his eyes. "A wedding I denied my beautiful, loving, and sexy-as-hell wife." He raised their joined hands and kissed the backs of hers. "A wedding so meticulously planned even your clueless husband could follow along."
Ali looked around the room with new eyes. She noticed her favorite flowers in large vases scattered around the room, and the colors her fifteen-year-old self had loved were prominently displayed. Her eyes swiftly zeroed in on Mia. Horror filled her then laughter bubbled up her chest as it became clear why she wore a tacky, pink dress. Ali smiled at her best friend, hoping to impart the love she felt for her in that moment.
The smile she received in return spoke volumes. She understood.
Garrett let go of her hands and turned to their son. He bent down and whispered something to him before Noah handed him a small square box.
Turning back to Ali, he picked up her right hand. "I know you and knew you wouldn't want to part with your original wedding ring however small the diamond is."
Ali shook her head vigorously and giggled through her tears.
"Right. So I settled on an anniversary ring." He let go of her hand and raised the lid of the box, revealing a gorgeous band encrusted with diamonds and topped with a princess-cut ruby—her favorite stone.