You Deserve Better (By Your Side Series Book 2)

by A. P. Watson

  “Let’s get you married.” I moved to hug Ter one last time and then adjusted my bouquet. The magenta silk gown Ter had picked out for me fit tight through my waist before cascading to the floor. The sweetheart neckline added a touch of sexiness while the delicate beading made it one of the most beautiful gowns I owned. And the memories we made while I wore it would forever be a part of one of the happiest days of my life.

  Excitement swirled inside my chest as I watched Gina and Stacey walk down the aisle ahead of me. Ryan stood at the altar, a smile firmly plastered across his face. Sean and Morrison were already standing beside him, and Gina and Stacey mirrored their positions on the opposite side of the aisle. But the moment the doors opened to permit my entrance, the only soul I was able to see was Jacks. His gaze focused on me, watching as each step I took brought me closer to him. Breath stilled in my lungs. I tried to make myself smile at the guests, especially my parents, David, and Nate. I even tried staring at Ryan, but eventually, my attention always returned to the same man . . . Jacks. The way he gazed at me said everything. And the notion I was walking down an aisle toward him wasn’t lost on me. Anger, pain, sadness, heartache, distance. None of it had gotten me anywhere, and I was tired of pretending otherwise. The invisible tether between us might as well have been a chain because it was impossible to break.

  Time seemed to stop altogether, because it felt as if we’d been staring at one another for an eternity. My feet moved, music played, but all of it faded into insignificance. Everything I wanted to say, but couldn’t. Everything I wanted to do, but wouldn’t. It was all there, hovering between us, and it always had been. I smiled at him. Not out of politeness or obligation, but because it felt right. And when he returned my smile, I knew the same held true for him. Sometimes words failed to truly express our emotions. But in that moment, we didn’t need words because our expressions told us exactly what we wanted to know—I miss you.

  I chanced a slight finger wave while I crossed in front of the altar. Jacks’s smile broadened and his face lit up as he returned the gesture. Ryan and I nodded at one another. Then, when I finally reached my place, the music changed. The song Ter chose to play while she walked down the aisle was her mother’s favorite. Even now, I can recall spending the night at Ter’s house and hearing her mother softly hum the tune. Ter had known she would play this song at her wedding since we were kids. So, when the first few notes of “When You Say Nothing At All” began to play, a dizzying combination of elation and sadness caught in my throat. This was happiness. It was a beautiful thing to witness and even more lovely to feel.

  Light danced off the crystals sewn into Ter’s gown as she began to walk down the aisle. All the guests stood and turned to watch her procession toward her soon-to-be husband. Silent tears tumbled down her cheeks as she stared at Ryan. They had been through their fair share of pain. Love wasn’t easy, and some may even say it’s a struggle. But it was something worth fighting for. The obstacles they had to overcome in order to be with one another only strengthened their love, not diminished it.

  Ter and Ryan turned to face the officiant as a hush settled over the ballroom.

  “Please be seated,” the officiant stated. “Treasured family and friends, we are gathered here today to witness the joining of two souls. The love Terayn Andrews and Ryan Evanston have for one another is confirmed by the commitment they are about to partake in. Who gives Terayn away in marriage to this man?”

  “I do.” With a quick kiss, Ter’s father placed her hand in Ryan’s before moving to sit next to my parents in the front row.

  I moved forward to accept her bouquet as she spun toward Ryan, their fingers interlacing as they held on to one another.

  I watched and listened in awe as the officiant recited a few verses about love. Each line he recited deepened the beauty of the entire ceremony.

  “Terayn and Ryan will now recite their vows. These vows are a way of openly declaring their love for one another in front of all of those who are in attendance here this evening,” the man said. “Ryan, you may recite your vows first.”

  Ryan squeezed her hands as he gazed at her. “I, Ryan, take you, Terayn, to be my lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live.”

  “And now, Terayn, you may recite your vows.”

  “I, Terayn, take you, Ryan, to be my lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold, from this day forward, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and health, to love and to cherish, for as long as we both shall live.”

  “Terayn and Ryan will now exchange rings as a symbol of their commitment. The wearing of rings is a visible, outward sign that they have committed themselves to one another.”

  Jacks and I handed the rings to our friends.

  Ryan placed the sapphire ring and matching diamond band on Ter’s finger. “I give you this ring as a symbol of our love. For today, tomorrow, and all the days to come.”

  Terayn glowed as she held the silver band at the tip of Ryan’s finger. “I give you this ring as a symbol of our love. For today, tomorrow, and all the days to come.”

  “By sharing your vows and exchanging rings, you have made a solemn pledge to spend the rest of your lives with one another. You are no longer two separate souls but a singular couple.”

  And when the vows had been uttered, the rings exchanged, and the final words spoken, my friends were finally husband and wife. Cheers erupted from everyone in the room as Ryan dipped Ter parallel to the floor and kissed her passionately.

  The music resumed as Ter and Ryan walked down the aisle hand in hand. I quickly wiped away a tear as I watched them. They really did have it all.

  By the time my friends disappeared through the doors at the end of the aisle, it was time for the rest of the bridal party to follow. When Jacks stepped toward me and offered his arm, my heart fluttered around wildly. I hooked my arm with his, the scent of his cologne enticing my senses.

  “You’re breathtaking,” he whispered in my ear.

  “Thank you.” Warmth crept into the apples of my cheeks as I followed his lead. I slid my hand along the length of his arm, until our palms were touching and our fingers were intertwined. “You look wonderful as well.”

  “Thanks, chipmunk.”

  Our hold never faltered as we walked down the aisle and out of the grand ballroom. If anything, it strengthened with each step. And the possibility of having to let go filled me with more sadness than I thought possible.

  chapter sixteen

  dreams of us

  ONE THING WAS CERTAIN, Ter and I knew how to plan one heck of a reception. Tables laden with rich cream and magenta fabric dotted the ballroom while peonies, roses, and orchids bloomed from tall glass vases. A five-tiered wedding cake adorned with a similar floral arrangement sat next to the bar like an immaculate tower of confectionary decadence. Happiness filled the air, as potent as any drug I’d ever seen. Champagne seemed to flow as if it were an endless river, filling glasses which were then bustled out to all the guests. David sat between Jacks and I at the bridal party table and Ter’s father joined our gathering as well. Plated dinners of steak and chicken marsala were circulated throughout the room, filling the air with the most delectable smells imaginable.

  I took a long sip of champagne and cut into my chicken.

  “Thank you for asking me to be your date,” David said, digging into a plate of steak.

  “Are you kidding? I’m lucky you agreed to come with me!”

  “Is Kenneth still out of town?”

  “Yeah. He had to go to a conference in Michigan. He should be back by Monday though,” I replied. “He wanted to be here, but his job requires a lot of traveling sometimes.”

  “That’s understandable,” he said, leaning closer to me. “Did you hear Henry was fired?”

  I coughed loudly, nearly choking on my chicken as I quickly took another long
drink of champagne. “You know about Henry?”

  He nudged me with his elbow, smiling devilishly. “My dear, I know everything.”

  “Of course you do,” I stated with a chuckle. “Jacks told you Henry was fired?”

  My eyes darted to Jacks. He sat next to Stacey, listening intently as she told him about the newest artist they were featuring at the gallery.

  “Jacks went to his boss about Henry. I don’t know what was said, but immediately following their conversation, Henry was fired and asked to leave the premises.”

  “Wow. I had no idea.” It took me a bit to absorb the gravity of his words. At least the fuck boy got what was coming to him. “Did Jacks tell you why he went to his boss about Henry?” My head bent toward David’s as I anxiously waited to hear his reply.

  “I believe you know why.”

  “But we’re talking about Jacks’s work. He wouldn’t let something like that interfere with his career.”

  “According to Jackson, Henry hadn’t been performing well at the office. He was consistently late and couldn’t finalize deals for any of his clients.” He paused, picking up a glass of water. “There is also everything that happened with you.”

  Every inch of my skin burned. I didn’t know if Jacks had told David I used to be a stripper or not, but the thought of it made me somewhat anxious. “He told you all the details about the engagement party?”

  “No. He just told me Henry said some very demeaning things about you and was very inappropriate with you.”

  “That’s putting it nicely,” I huffed.

  “From what I hear, Henry got what he deserved twice over. He lost his job and had to have his jaw wired shut.”

  “His jaw was wired shut?” It might be terrible, but I didn’t even attempt to temper the surprise or glee from my voice.

  “Yes.”

  “Good. Fucking prick.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more.”

  “Thanks.” I took another bite of chicken, my attention drawn to where Jacks and Stacey sat. Their interaction appeared friendly enough, but Stacey had practically been laughing non-stop since we all sat down to eat. “They seem to be having a nice time.”

  David rolled his eyes so dramatically that he would’ve put Ter to shame. “It’d be a completely different story if you were sitting next to him.”

  “Eventually, he’ll find someone else.”

  David shook his head, laughing slightly. “No, he won’t.”

  “And what makes you say that?”

  “Because you’re it for him.”

  I’d be lying if I said those weren’t some of the most wonderful words I’d ever heard. Unable to help myself, I began watching Jacks. As if able to sense my thoughts, he lifted his gaze to meet mine. “He told you that?” I asked. Jacks winked at me, and just like the first time we met, my heart began to beat like a damn drum.

  “It doesn’t take a genius to figure out.”

  “I’m really trying to open myself up and allow everything to go back to the way it was when we were friends. It’s just hard . . . and I’ve been burned a lot.”

  “I know.” His somber expression said it all. His hand squeezed mine lightly. “It simply takes time.

  “Looks like the two of you are conspiring over here,” Jacks said, his hands resting on the back of our chairs.

  “We would never conspire,” I gasped. Jacks laughed, a clear indicator he wasn’t buying my reply. “Okay, so we would never admit to conspiring.”

  “That sounds much more likely.”

  “Oh my gosh!” I put my face in my hands, entirely pissed at myself. I hadn’t introduced Jacks and David to my parents yet. The day had been so hectic with trying to get Ter ready, making sure everything was perfect, and then rounding up the entire bridal party for pictures after the ceremony.

  “What’s wrong?” Jacks asked.

  “I just realized I forgot to introduce both of you to my parents.”

  “I talked to them briefly before the ceremony,” David stated.

  “So, did I,” Jacks added.

  I sighed heavily and pushed my chair backward. “Yeah, but if I don’t formally introduce y’all, my momma will skin me alive.”

  Jacks and David exchanged a look of amusement as I grabbed both of their wrists and led them to the small round table where my parents sat with Sean and his date.

  “Hi, Momma, Daddy.”

  “Hi, baby,” my mother intoned, her gaze quickly moving from Jacks to David.

  “I just realized I haven’t introduced either of you to Jackson and his grandfather, David.” I gestured toward the two men standing beside me. My parents rose from their chairs and rounded the table. “Momma, Daddy, this is Jackson and David Carmichael.”

  My father immediately went for Jacks, moving in to shake his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

  “Same to you, sir. Wren talks about you and Mrs. Williams all the time.”

  My father laughed, his attention shifting to me. “She’s a handful. Just like her mother.”

  “And an amazing woman too.” Jacks grinned at me briefly before my mother assaulted him with a tight hug.

  “I’m so happy to meet you, honey! Wren has told me so much about you.”

  “It’s nice to finally meet you too, and I am honored she has,” Jacks replied graciously. “And I’m glad to see where Wren inherited her lovely smile from.”

  “Oh, you are just too sweet!” my mother cried.

  The five of us chatted for a while, and although I half expected the interaction to be awkward, the reality was quite the opposite. Laughter presided over the entire exchange. My family and Jacks’s seemed to fit together perfectly. Four important people in my life were finally meeting, and the thought caused happiness to seep into the very marrow of my bones.

  Across the ballroom, dancing had ensued. Ter and Ryan were already taking their turn around the floor, Ter’s skirt billowing behind her as they spun. Several other couples had joined them. Nate and Eric were laughing and spinning, arms wrapped around one another, while Robbie and Sasha swayed slowly in place.

  “Well, I wouldn’t be a very good date if I didn’t ask the most beautiful girl here for a dance.” David held his hand out to me, charm practically radiating from his skin. There were no doubts where Jacks learned his moves from.

  “I’d be delighted.” I placed my hand in his as we walked to the dance floor. A slow song played while David and I waltzed. His strength had improved so much in the past few months, and I was pleased to see he no longer required the use of his cane. “I wanted you to know I carried through on my promise to you. I heard Jacks out, and you were right. There was more to the story than I ever imagined.”

  “Thank you for doing that,” he replied. “I know it wasn’t easy for you, but it means the world to me.”

  “With you asking, how could I possibly say no?” I asked teasingly.

  “You’ve brought peace to this old man’s heart.”

  “You couldn’t be old if you tried.”

  “A fine point.”

  David and I continued to dance as the song changed again and again. The romantic ambience of the ballroom only intensified as more couples joined us, filling up the open space.

  “May I cut in?” Jacks asked.

  David glanced at me, a smile already tugging at the corners of his mouth. “What do you think, Wren?”

  I nodded, my heart already teetering on the edge of sinus tachycardia. At this point, I really didn’t know how much more the sucker could take. “Okay.”

  David gave my hands a final squeeze before placing them in Jacks’s. The familiarity of his touch worked against me, and I inched closer, decreasing the space between us. Would there ever be a time when this didn’t feel right?

  “Thank you for agreeing,” he whispered in my ear.

  “You’re welcome.” My grasp on his shoulder tightened as I heard the first few notes of my favorite song. “This is . . .”

  “‘Interlude.’
”

  “I absolutely love this song.”

  “I know. It’s your favorite.”

  “You remember my favorite song?” I asked.

  “I remember everything about you.”

  “And you requested this for me?”

  “Is that okay?”

  “Yes,” I breathed, melting into him. The effect of his presence was instantaneous, driving the world around us into obscurity. Being acquaintances wasn’t enough for me, it didn’t even come close. “For this one song, can we just pretend everything isn’t so fucked up? Can we simply belong to one another once more, even if it’s only for a few minutes?”

  He pressed a tender kiss to my temple. “Whatever you need.”

  We swayed in time to the lyrics, our bodies moving as if we were a single entity. The past didn’t matter; in fact, it ceased to exist at all. So many emotions surged between us. Longing, regret, desire, and love radiated from our flesh like electricity. Was it even possible to have everything and nothing at the same time?

  When the music stopped, I felt as if I were waking up from a dream. But I wasn’t a sleeping princess, and this wasn’t some fairytale. This was reality, and if I wasn’t careful, it would break me down again.

  “I need to get some air,” I mumbled, releasing my hold on him. I turned on my heel and made my way across the dance floor and out of the ballroom. The outside corridor was empty, and I continued forward, walking toward the ladies’ room. My hand trembled as I turned the knob on the door, but I didn’t let that slow me down. I pushed inside and stood in front of the sink.

  Breath filled my lungs in heaving gasps. I tried desperately to calm my nerves, but the dance with Jacks rattled me to the core. Why did I have to ask him for that? And why on earth did he give it to me? As I heard the knob on the door twist, I stared into the mirror and began fixing my hair.

  “Wren.” The word he uttered was a plea, and I turned in the direction of the sound. Jacks walked inside, searching the entire room before returning to the door and locking it.

  “Yeah?”

  “Why did you ask me for that?”

  “Because I wanted to remember what we had.”