Find Me

by A. L. Wood

  When we land, the cars are already waiting to drive us to the resort. As soon as we arrive at the hotel, the concierge is ready to check us into our rooms. Ryan and Natalie booked an entire floor out. Even though not every room will be filled, they wanted the privacy. We all go our separate ways, agreeing to meet up in a few hours for the rehearsal dinner, where the wedding planner will go over what’s to happen tomorrow and how it should happen.

  I head to my room. It’s a beautiful suite, with a gigantic king size bed in the middle of the room and a bathroom big enough for ten people off to the side. I decide to take a short nap before dinner and set my alarm to go off before then, so I have time to get dressed.

  When I awake, I have about thirty minutes before meeting in the lobby to dine on The Veranda. I take off my now rumpled blouse and dress pants and change into an elegant deep green calf length dress. When I reach the lobby, I notice that everyone else is already there. Liam walks up to me and takes my hand, guiding me to the table and pulling my chair out as well, he takes a seat next to me after he pushes my chair in. The affair is a light one and the wedding planner goes over even the smallest of details.

  She mainly address Natalie and Ryan. “Natalie and Ryan tomorrow we’re going to separate you. Natalie you will go with your maid of honor to the spa for some luxurious pampering and then off to the salon for your hair to be done up and the full manicure and pedicure. Ryan, you and your best man will also be groomed in the males section of the spa. After that, you will both get dressed in separate rooms. We have the layout for where your wedding ceremony will take place and the reception will be on The Morgan, with a sit down dinner, an open bar, and an amazing DJ for dancing.”

  “We really have no need to visit a spa,” Ryan interjects. Natalie gives him the stink eye. “Okay, I guess Liam and I can go. If we must.” He says.

  “Anyway, the ceremony will most certainly go off without a hitch, since there is only one couple walking down the aisle before the bride. So finish your dinner and I suggest a good night’s rest.” She says, eventually leaving us.

  We finish our meals and all turn in for the night. Tomorrows the big day.

  First thing in the morning, Natalie and I are escorted to the spa. We strip down to our intimate apparel and clothe our bodies in robes. The masseur leads us into a room with two beds, where we will be receiving an hour long deep tissue massage.

  I decide that now would be as good a time as any to tell Natalie about Liam. I’ve been so worried about losing her friendship, then helping her with the wedding, that I’ve yet to share any of this with her.

  In the middle of our massages, I blurt it out. “I slept with Liam.”

  “Huh?” Natalie asks, lifting her head up to look at me.

  “Liam and I slept together.”

  “Really?” She smiles.

  “Yeah, I’ve been meaning to tell you, but with everything, you know. Anyway, he kind of apologized for it right after.”

  “He apologized for sleeping with you? I’m going to kick his fucking ass!” She exclaims, now aggravated.

  “Natalie, calm down,” I laugh. “We’ve moved past that. Now he’s saying he wants me to wait for him, if I want to. That he’s working on himself.”

  “Now that you mention it, Ryan did tell me that Liam was seeing a psychiatrist to help him overcome something from his past. This could be good. That is if you think you’re ready to be in a relationship.”

  “I am. I’m ready for him. He knows about all my shit that I carry around and he’s accepting of it. Supportive really.” I beam.

  We go back into the silent relaxing mode of getting our muscles rubbed down. We spend the day soaking in a mud bath and then experiencing one of my favorites, a blueberry acai full body wrap.

  After hours of being pampered, we’re led to the salon, where we then receive manicures and pedicures. Natalie picks our polish. Mine a light shade of coral pink and hers a classic French tip.

  The hairstylist then whisks us away. She lightly trims my long locks and twists my strands into a half up do, with rhinestone bobby pins holding it in place. Natalie’s hair is held tight high on her head, with loose tendrils sprouting out beautifully. When our nails are dry, make-up is applied to our faces. A light touch of color and gloss for me, while Natalie gets a sun kissed bronze pallet applied and a smooth peach lipstick.

  As soon as our hair is done, the wedding planner whisks us into a private room not far from where the ceremony is. I’m led into one changing room, where my dress is hanging, and Natalie is led to another. My dress is a light pink chiffon silk, cutting off at the knees.

  It’s gorgeous. I gently put it on, easing it over my hips and then exit to await Natalie’s reveal. As I stand with my hands on my hips nervously, nervous for Nat to go in front of everyone and confess her love, finally, forever, Natalie steps out. She has a tiara held veil shielding her face and a pure white princess ballroom wedding gown with small pink flowers sewn on the hem.

  My eyes start watering happy tears. “You are the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I’m so happy for you, Nat.”

  “I love ya too, now stop crying before you ruin our makeup.”

  A knock sounds at the door. It’s the wedding planner. It’s time. She hands me a small bouquet of pink lilies and Natalie a large bouquet of white lilies and baby’s breath. “I’ll see you out there.” I say, while exiting the dressing room.

  As I reach the opened doors that lead to the waterfront aisle, Liam greets me with an intense smoldering look, “shall we?” He asks while holding his arm out for me to wrap my arm around.

  Dusk has just started to set in. The aisle is aligned with lights, and the outer aisle for guests is as well. I clutch his arm with one hand and hold on to the flowers with the other. Ryan is fetching in his white tuxedo. Liam too in his black tuxedo, wearing a tie that matches the color of my dress.

  There are a few chairs for guests, barely filled, on purpose with Zepp, Gage, his date Abigail, and the bands tour manager Mel. My mother next to him. An older couple that I was introduced to at dinner last night. Gages parents. Another couple sits beside them. Jason’s parents I assume. That’s the guest list in full.

  The carpet Liam and I stroll down is black, laid upon the fresh green grass. Ryan’s standing at an arc that’s been woven with Lilacs and Lilies of all colors and the waterfront is just behind that. When Liam and I approach, I let go of his arm and stand to the bride’s side. Liam stands behind Ryan.

  We all look back to the opened glass doors, waiting for Natalie approach. Moments later, she strolls out at a reasonable pace, while holding my father’s arm. And at that second, everything in the world is right. Nothing looks gloomy, everything is forgiven and this day is the beginning again for all of us.

  I can see the tears of happiness gently rolling down Natalie’s face, through her transparent veil. Her smile in sincere and tranquil, my dad holding her arm also has the same peaceful look upon his face. He knows he was forgiven, and the guilt that has plagued his face for years seems to have finally lifted.

  When Natalie approaches the end of her walk, my dad lifts her veil over her head and places a simple kiss her cheek. Tears shine in his eyes threatening to fall.

  I take Natalie’s bouquet and she turns to greet Ryan. He places a chaste kiss on her lips just before he clutches her hands in between his.

  The priest starts “Do you Ryan Aaron Hurst take the Natalie Marie Wright to be your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold for all the days of your lives?”

  “I do.” Ryan says without hesitation.

  The priest continues. “Do you Natalie Marie Wright take Ryan Aaron Hurst to be your lawfully wedded husband, to have and to hold for all the days of your lives?”

  “I do.” Says Natalie with the biggest smile on her face.

  I tear up throughout the ceremony. Love flowing through the air, when the priest announces Ryan and Natalie as man and wife. They kiss, and of course it ends in a full on make-out se
ssion. They suddenly remember that there are people around and stop, but not before a peck or two. Natalie and Ryan lead the way to the boat for the reception. Liam and I follow arm in arm.

  Liam and I wanted to give a toast, but Ryan insisted that we had done more than enough to honor them and their relationship. So I promised to save a dance with both, as a form of tribute to them.

  We sit around a large table and are served a four course meal of soup, salad, pasta and finally, baked chicken parmesan. Ryan’s favorite. Then to the cake cutting, that unfortunately Natalie was smeared with.

  When everyone is full on dinner and cake, Natalie and Ryan lead us to the top deck of the boat, where the open bar and dance floor is, with live music provided by a DJ.

  The first dance is Ryan and Natalie to All Of Me by John Legend. A perfect choice, if I say so myself. It fits their entire relationship. I stand on the outskirts of the dance floor, watching appreciatively.

  When they’re done, Ryan holds his hand out to me and we dance crazily to Counting Stars by One Republic. When Ryan and I are done, I change hands to Natalie and we hold on to each other, while swaying to Cyndi Laupers’ True Colors.

  When we were finished, I place their hands in each other’s and depart the floor, searching out the bar for an upper hand with liquid courage. Courage to ask Liam to dance.

  “True love stories never have endings.”

  ~Richard -Bach

  Chapter 27

  Liam

  As the night winds down, everyone begins to dance. After the bride and groom had their first dance, of course. I seek Layla out.

  The song that Ryan had me tweak and record is going to be playing very soon and I want to dance with her as it plays. Tonight is a night of love and its cloaking the air and infecting everyone around with it.

  I find Layla, looking absolutely gorgeous in her blush colored halter bridesmaid gown. It covers her best assets, but shows her bare arms that I would love to lick every inch of.

  She spy’s me staring at her, so I casually approach her. “Would you dance this dance with me?” I ask courting.

  “Why thank you sir, I thought you’d never ask.” She plays along, blushing lightly.

  I take my time walking her to the dance floor, located on the top deck of the boat. The sun set hours ago and the stars are out and the moon is at full shine.

  When we approach the dance floor, I take her hand in mine and bring it to my mouth, lightly kissing her hand. She smiles coyly.

  I pull her into me and wrap my arms around her back, as she wraps her arms around my neck. In this precise moment, it couldn’t have been more perfect. The song, that I sung for Ryan starts playing over the speakers. The first verse sings out melodically and Layla comments.

  “What is this? It’s so...so beautiful.” She says, still listening to the words.

  “It’s me.” I say proudly.

  “What?”

  “I recorded it for Ryan, it’s a wedding gift.”

  We stroll along in a sway of dance, just listening to the song. When the last verse plays, she looks at me knowingly.

  “Layla, I’m ready to be found.”

  She beams brightly back at me. “I’ve already claimed you.”

  We lean in at the same time, our lips meeting passionately. I grip her sides with my hands, as she pulls me closer.

  I’ve never been happier to have been found.

  Find Me

  Living life without a care, never having a free moment to spare.

  I looked to you with vengeance on my mind, by hurting you it would be peace that I could find.

  I was lost and looking down, afraid to admit I’d heard the sound. My soul, silently screaming to be found.

  My soul was shattered and hidden in a cage, my entire life now played out on every stage. You saw right through my disguise, it was only the beginning to my demise.

  I was lost and looking down, afraid to admit I’d heard the sound. My soul, silently screaming to be found.

  Your soul was broken too, yet I hurt you, only making me the fool.

  But with music we slowly healed, and my feelings for you I remained concealed.

  I was lost and looking down, afraid to admit I’d heard the sound. My soul, silently screaming to be found.

  We were two lost and broken souls, forever searching to be complete, love no longer taking the backseat,

  I fought the darkness that was trying to consume me, and instead found you, forever mine to be.

  I am now found, and that sound still haunts me. The sound of your heart breaking, a regret I won’t be mistaking,

  Baby, my heart is yours for the taking.

  An Excerpt

  Save Me: Rock Romance #4

  Coming August 2014

  Gage

  This gold digging bitch, for some reason believes she has a connection with me that goes beyond a mere attraction. I’ve been trying to shake her off for a few months now and I thought I had succeeded. Turns out she was just laying low, somehow she in turn trumpeted my plans and managed to gain employment through our record label.

  Here we are packing all of our shit onto the bus we will be somewhat living out of for the next six months when a cab the broad is in pulls up alongside the curb. At first, the long golden locks flowing freely down this woman’s back were unrecognizable. It had been months, so how should I have been able to remember who she was, that’s what I keep telling myself anyways.

  I glanced, saw her back view, admired it for a moment and continued packing luggage into the compartment on the outside of the bus. Everyone already grabbed the shit they wanted with them on the bus, all of this crap is the luggage we would take into a hotel with us. Hotels that we will be staying at more than before, due to the fact that Natalie and Temperance have joined us as well, with lots of convincing on Ryan’s part.

  Luckily, the label put up a large sum of money for them to have their own bus, they need room, and the baby needs room. Zepp, Jason and I have been staying at Ryan’s for well over a year now, but that place is fucking huge. A mansion if you will.

  The Rock Romance Series

  By A.L. Wood

  First Chance

  Last Chance

  Find Me

  Save Me: Coming August 2014

  Forever, Hold On: Coming October 2014

  Letting Go: Coming December 2014

  About The Author

  A.L. Wood resides in Glens Falls, NY with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing she’s reading and spending time with her family and friends.

  A.L. Wood can be found on Facebook and twitter, both links are below if you are interested in keeping up with any new releases.