Starring Me and You

by Ella Bradshaw

  He walked so fast through the hotel hallway that I I could barely keep up with him in my stupidly high heels. I just about managed to keep hold of his hand until we reached the elevator. He pressed the button and we waited in silence until the door opened.

  To my surprise, he pressed the button for the top floor instead of the ground floor.

  “Nate?” I said. He pressed a finger to my lips and smirked.

  “Trust me. For once.”

  The elevator got to the top of the building. Instead of opening up into another hallway, a carbon copy of the one on our floor, it opened into the most beautiful rooftop garden I had ever seen. A cobblestone path interrupted the lush grass. Colorful trees and shrubbery burst forth from every angle. It looked like an illustration from a children’s fairytale book. Fairy lights were strung throughout the trees, leading to a beautiful little archway.

  I looked around. Now I was as much in awe as Nate had been at the sight of me in my new dress.

  “What is this?” I whispered. The night sky was deep navy but the city lights lit up like little stars.

  “Not a stupid movie premiere,” said Nate.

  “It’s beautiful,” I turned to him and took his hands, “How did you think of this? The dress, the perfume, the shoes, now this. What’s it all for? Did I forget that it’s my birthday or something?”

  “No,” he said, “But today’s an important date.”

  “Is it?” I responded. I wracked my brain for answers but found nothing whatsoever. Nate’s birthday wasn’t for another two months. It wasn’t Christmas or any other major holiday. What could this all be about?

  “It’s a year since the day I met you,” he said. A soft smile appeared on his handsome features. A year? It had been a whole year since I had first laid eyes on Nate McCoy (not including the times I’d seen him on the big screen before that). It seemed like a world away, but at the same time I could remember every little detail like it had all just happened yesterday. A year sounded like such a crazy amount of time to me. My life had changed so much in those twelve months.

  “Really?” I said, but I knew he wasn’t bullshitting me. He nodded.

  “Did you forget?” he said. I bit my lip again.

  “Yeah. I’m sorry. You’ve gone to all this trouble for me and I didn’t even think about it. I’m such a bonehead sometimes, I don’t know how you deal with me. But really, thank you for all this. It’s beautiful.”

  “You’re beautiful,” he said, “And it’s ok. I was hoping you wouldn’t remember so I could surprise you with all of this.”

  “It’s an amazing surprise,” I said. I gave Nate a soft kiss on the lips, “I’m so glad I met you, Nate.”

  “I’m glad too,” he said. There was a slight quiver in his voice. Was it…nerves? No, of course not. Nate McCoy didn’t get nervous. I’d seen him stand on a stage in front of thousands of people and answer their questions without breaking a sweat. He’d jumped from airplanes, gotten into fistfights with guys twice his size and even worked with a tiger on one of his films. Like I said, Nate McCoy didn’t get nervous.

  “Are you all right?” I said. Nate nodded. He was looking at me earnestly now.

  “Yeah. Yeah, I will be. Would you do me a favor babe?” he said, slightly regaining his signature cool charm. I nodded quickly.

  “Sure, anything you want,” I said. I owed him that much. If he wanted me to run out and get him a burrito so he wouldn’t be hounded by paparazzi on the way, I’d do it. If he wanted me to come away with him on his next PR tour I certainly would.

  “Anything?” he said.

  “Anything.”

  “Ok. Good.”

  Without warning, Nate dropped onto one knee and took my hand in his.

  “Darcy, this past year has been the craziest fucking roller coaster of my life and I have loved every minute of it because I’ve had you by my side for almost all of it. You are the most beautiful, intelligent, talented, stubborn woman I’ve every met in my life and you drive me crazy. When you’re in the room I can’t pay attention to anything else. All I want is to be with you and hold you and make you laugh. But almost all the time isn’t enough for me. Darcy, I’m addicted to you. You’re the only girl in my heart and in my soul and I know you’ll be there forever. I can’t ever lose you again. SO what I’m saying is…” I watched as he pulled out a black velvet box from his suit pocket, “Will you make me the happiest bastard who has ever lived and marry my sorry ass?”

  “Nate…” I said. I was speechless. Out of everything that could have happened tonight, this was the last thing I was expecting. The ring gleamed at me in the box. It was beautiful, of course, and totally unique. A princess cut sapphire with two small but dazzling diamonds, one on either side. “Of course I’ll marry you.”

  “She said yes!” A female voice screeched. Before Nate and I even had a chance to respond, five figures appeared out of the srubbery. They had clearly been hiding and spying on our little moment. It was my mama, daddy, Alex, Javier and Nate’s mother, Tanya. They were all as dressed up.

  “Surprise honey,” Mama kissed me on the cheek, “You look so beautiful!”

  Daddy, Javier and Alex had their turns to hug me to. Alex sheepishly wished me luck before telling Nate that if he ever hurt me, he would kill me. I could tell he was only half joking, but that was ok. I didn’t have to worry about that stuff anymore.

  Nate’s mother gave me a shy smile. She looked a lot better than she had in the old photographs Nate had shown me. Though she was still thin she had filled out a little bit and her skin had a youthful glow to it.

  “Congratulations, Darcy. You look beautiful. I hope you two will be very happy together,” she said. She reached out to shake my hand, but I was too overcome with emotion for that. Instead I hugged her tightly. She giggled and whispered to me, “Be sure not to put up with any of his bullshit!”

  “Gee, thanks mom,” said Nate, but I could see happy tears welling in his eyes. This meant so much to him, I could tell. Nate’s mother hugged the two of us and kissed her boy on the head.

  “So you planned all of this?” I said to Nate, once everyone had settled down somewhat, “An impromptu engagement party on top of a roof?”

  Nate and the other guests shared a knowing smile.

  “What? Why are you all looking at each other like that?” I said. My heart was hammering. Nate took my hand once again.

  “This isn’t our engagement party. This is our wedding.”

  What? I looked around, waiting for someone to tell me that he was only joking. That of course a movie star like Nate McCoy couldn’t possibly have a beautiful, intimate ceremony with close family only and no photo shoot. That just would not do. Or would it?

  “It’s real, sweetie,” Mama said gently, “Today’s your big day. Alex got ordained online and everything.”

  I looked at my big brother and he shrugged.

  “If someone’s gonna marry you two it might as well be me,” he said, shooting me a smile. Nate squeezed my hand.

  “Does that sound all right to you, Darcy?”

  “It sounds perfect,” I breathed.

  So we had our own little ceremony on the roof of the hotel, looking out over the city and surrounded by family. Nate and I held hands as our parents watched. Alex did a beautiful job as our minister.

  “We are gathered here today on this beautiful evening to witness the marriage of Darcy Jean Scott and Nathan James McCoy. I think I speak for everyone here when I say that this is an amazing day that we will all keep in our hearts forever,” he began. Nate couldn’t stop smiling and neither could I. This was really happening, “It’s so great that both Nate and Darcy could express their love and dedication to one another in front of the people who mater most in the whole world. Their family. I’m sure the bride and groom would like to thank everyone for being here and playing such an integral role in both of their lives.”

  I could see my mother welling up now and Nate’s mother wasn’t far behind. My own eyes
began to water.

  “Now, I know the couple have vows prepared,” said Alex. I shook my head. How on earth could I have had vows prepared? This morning I had a boyfriend, now I had a fiance and in a few minutes I’d have a husband. I was in no way prepared.

  “It’s ok,” said Nate, giving my hand a squeeze, “I’ll do the talking.”

  “You’re good at that,” I said. Everyone laughed, including Nate.

  He pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket and opened it up.I could just about see his frantic handwriting through the paper. I noticed that I was trembling in my high heels but he kept hold of one of my hands. I would be okay as long as he was there with me.

  “Darcy, if I am reading this you said yes. So thanks for that,” he said. Everyone chuckled and he squeezed my hand. I knew he meant it, “I always wondered how people could promise to be with someone for the rest of their lives. It always seemed crazy to me. I thought people were just lying through their teeth or taking a risk and hoping it works out in the end. I don’t like to break promises so I never expected to get married. I would never hurt someone like I’d seen others do.”

  His expression was so genuine. I felt a tear coming to my eye and he wiped it away.

  “But everything changed when I met you, Darcy. You were so different to any girl I’d met before in my life. So beautiful and witty and full of life. And you didn’t take any of my shit,” he said. Everyone laughed again but Nate just kept looking into my eyes, “Seriously. I was used to people fawning over me and treating me like royalty and agreeing with everything I had to say just to keep the peace. You were so real and smart, I couldn’t help myself from falling in love with you. And to think that you love me to, to think that you want to spend the rest of your life with me just like I want to spend the rest of my life with you…well, I can’t believe it. I’m the luckiest guy in the world.”

  He took a deep breath. Our mothers were really sobbing now and even Daddy had to wipe away a few stray tears.

  “So I just wanted to say thank you. Thank you for putting up with me and thank you for loving me.”

  “I’ll always love you,” I whispered. Only Nate heard it but that was enough. Though I hadn’t planned any vows he knew. He knew that since the day we’d met one year ago I had fallen deeply in love with him. I just squeezed his hand and he squeezed back.

  Alex smiled at us.

  “All right. That was beautiful, guys. Now, we’ve got canapes that need eating and champagne that needs drinking. So let’s get this show on the road! Nate, Darcy, by the power vested in me I now pronounce you husband and wife. Congratulations. Nate, you may now kiss your bride,” he said. Nate didn’t hesitate for a second. He took me into his arms and kissed me. It felt just as amazing as the very first time.

  We spent the rest of the evening on the rooftop, listening to music and chatting with our families. They had champagne, Nate and I had orange juice and what felt like a million stuffed olives. I didn’t want to forget a second of this night and Nate felt the same way.

  Nate pushed my hair aside and kissed my ear.

  “I love you Darcy. I’ll never stop saying it.”

  “I love you too Nate.”

  He kissed me again. I looked forward to the rest of our lives.

  Hungry for more? Sign up for my mailing list to keep up to date with new releases and to claim your FREE bonus chapter ‘The Honeymoon’ now http://https://www.instafreebie.com/free/oEA4G.

  Or visit me on Facebook http://https://www.facebook.com/Ella-Bradshaw-1131811976928857/