“Happy birthday.” I smile.
“Beautiful, thank you.” He breaths and captures my lips with his. I close my eyes allowing myself to be taken away with him, until my bubble is broken my mom’s high pitched voice.
“No kissing. You have to wait until tomorrow.” She pulls Calvin away from me. Calvin laughs but I frown at her making it clear that she’s annoying the hell out of me. She doesn’t notice though, if she did I don’t think she would care.
“Common lover boy. Let the drinking commence.” Dante steers Calvin away from my mom. I roll my eyes at her smugness that she’s made him leave and walk in the opposite direction.
Tyler has arranged for the bridal party to get together in his and Jamie’s room tonight for a small drink. To Tyler a small drink its ten glasses of wine.
I’m also staying in Tyler’s room tonight.
Calvin is out with the men but he’s staying in a room on his own room for the night. Not the marriage suit though. That’s the special one that he insisted on only us having when we’re married. Which makes sense. He didn’t want to spoil it.
The rest of our family has taken residency in the other huts that are above the sea. It’s astoundingly beautiful. The huts have thatched roofs and timber latticework. I’m in love with them as they represent the true culture of the Maldives. The crisp white sands, crystal clear seas and blazing sun places the cherry on top of an incredible fulfilling cake.
Tyler has bought light blue robes for everybody with their names stitched into the back and I have a white one with bride, he also has one with Mrs. Blake written across the back but obviously I am not allowed to wear it before tomorrow.
Calvin’s grandparents have bedded down for the night along with Calvin’s aunts and uncles. Ruby wanted to join us but Claire wouldn’t allow it. I’m extraordinarily appreciative that they have all came. I only have my mom, Elise, Dante, Tyler, Jamie, Jason and aunt Guila for myself. Jason has done a lot for my family since the death of Mauricio. He wants to make it right and has done incredibly so far. As for Guila, she was disgusted in her brother and was on the brink of divorcing Jason but they worked it out and I’m glad.
Nana Joyce doesn’t like flying so she couldn’t make it and Madison couldn’t get the time off to come along but the way she broke the news seemed like she didn’t really want to make the effort anyway. It seems we’ve drifted apart since university and I don’t understand why. The conversation I had with her where she confessed about making things up about Calvin made it a little worse. I did forgive her and she said she wants to make it right but I won’t hold my breath.
I also feel a huge part of me is missing without Sophia hear. I know what she did was increasingly heart breaking but I can’t help but think that she is still my sister and she should be here. She was a best friend to me and I hate that she can’t be here on my big day.
I did text her telling her all the details with that small piece of hope in my heart she would come, but I got nothing back. My step family from Italy want nothing more to do with me and my mom after what happened. It is sad to have lost them but my attitude towards that is if they want to condone what Mauricio did then they are just as bad.
“Olivia, why do you look glum? You’re getting married tomorrow.” My mom smiles all giddily from the wine she’s drank and bumps shoulders we me, hiccupping as I sit down on the bed.
“I just wish Sophia could be here mom,” Just as I thought, she give me daggers. Wobbly ones at that.
“She would only ruin things trying to out-do you on the dress.”
I sigh but smile at the pleasant thought. She definitely would but that’s just Sophia.
“I miss her mom. That’s all.”
“Your have such a soft heart, Olivia. You never see the wrong in anybody. But you know, if you meant that much to her, she would be here. Don’t dwell on it darling, just remember, the people you have here now are the most important to you.”
I lean over into her open arms. “I no and I love you all.”
After a night of crazy antics, dancing singing and a lot of wine, it’s almost time to call it a night.
My mom glances at her watch and goes into drama queen mode. “Is that the time?” she gasps out of horror. “Why didn’t any of you tell me? I need my beauty sleep. Mayra, let’s go.”
Mayra and my mom are sharing a room. Mayra flutters her eyelashes drastically. “I don’t need any beauty sleep. I’m fabulous darling.”
We all go into fits of laughter but my mom’s impatient foot and scowl calms Mayra down.
“Alright, alright I’m coming.” She gives me a tight hug and leaves with my mom.
Elise left a while ago, Jamie has gone to bed so it’s just me and Tyler.
I’m about to jump into bed but Tyler does his own run and jump on the bed, pulls me up to standing position and takes my hands and sings. “You’re getting married in the morning…”
I jump on the bed with him clumsily and sing along with my hyper active best friend.
Yes, I am getting married in the morning.
“I can’t believe it. Where has my Jessica rabbit gone?” I sense an emotional deep conversation coming along. He’s drunk and he’s sang his happy songs so now it’s time for the second part of his ritual where he breaks down.
“I’m still here Tyler. Besides, we work together I’m not going anywhere don’t be so soft.”
He blows in his nose in a tissue he gracefully pulled out of the tissue box.
“I no, but remember when we made that pact to never fall in love. We said that it was for losers.”
We both laugh at our young choice of words.
“We did, but we didn’t really know much back then Ty, and I guess we were both scared of falling in love for different reasons. Some people have those reasons for life and never get to experience it. Like Ashton for example. It’s so sad. If I knew love would feel this good, I would never have doubted it. Do you love Jamie?”
Tyler smiles looking into his lap.
“You do!” I slap his leg getting a little too over excited. Finally!
Tyler forces me to be quiet. “I haven’t told him yet. And he hasn’t told me. I don’t want to be the first.”
I grin at the familiar words he’s just spoken and offer advice. “Ty, tell him. What could possible go wrong?”
“Are you kidding me?” He raises his skeptical eyebrow at me and I remember what happened when I told Calvin the first time.
I burst out laughing. The once was painful memory has now turned into a funny one for me because after all that pain, I found peace.
“I think I’ll give that one a miss.” Tyler pouts.
I get a text of Calvin before I go to sleep.
*I miss you and love you very much. Good night my sleeping beauty, until tomorrow.*
Chapter Thirty Eight*
My wedding day.
The next morning I’m woken up by Tyler jumping up and down on my bed. I lazily open my eyes to the burning sun coming in from the open doors in our room, then glance up at Tyler.
“Get up, we have a wedding to go to.”
I chuckle childishly. “Oh yes, I’m going to be Mrs. Blake today.” Tyler laughs at my face splitting into a proud grin as I sit up in bed.
“Tyler, I’m ready to ask you that second question now.”
He busies himself, pulling out makeup, rollers and other beauty products from a pink bag.
“Go on.”
I inhale deeply getting ready to ask him a question I have been dying to ask from the moment Calvin asked me to marry him.
“Will you give me away?”
He freezes with a pink roller in one hand and a hair brush in another. He finally turns his head slowly to face me. I think he might have gone pale if I could see through his fake tan.
“You… you want me to give you away?”
“Yes. I don’t have a father. I don’t have a brother. The only male I have in my life that is close to me is you Ty. You have always been
there for me through thick and thin. You support me in everything I do. Yeah you might have a Tyler hissy fit now and again but that’s only because you care. I wouldn’t been where I am today if it wasn’t for you. I thank god every day that he blessed me with you in my life. I love you like a brother, like a friend and so much more. So I’m asking you, if you will?”
Tyler inhales a shaking breath. His bottom lips quivering. He looks up at the ceiling to stop himself crying as he fans his eyes with his hands. “Olivia… I would be honored.”
I bounce off the bed and rush over to him and bring him into a hug.
“Now don’t make me cry. I will have water streaks in my tan.” He laughs wrapping his arms around me.
“It will be hard though,” he whimpers.
I pull away from him confused. “Oh? All you have to do is walk me down the aisle.”
“But I don’t want to give you away.” His voice is soft and meaningful. What’s he like.
“Ty, I will always be yours. You just have to share me now.”
He dabs his eyes carefully with his fingertips. “Well, I don’t mind sharing with Calvin freaking Blake.”
After a morning of being poked and prodded, my hair and makeup is done. Tyler had me in rollers so they softly waved my hair and Elise has styled it into a beautiful soft loose bun, inserting a small crystal hair clip into the back. I wanted to wear it down but Tyler demanded I wear it up, otherwise the front and back of my dress would be covered. He made a compromise that I could take it down after the ceremony.
Whose wedding is this?
My bridesmaids hair have all been styled by Elise, they all have soft loose milk maid braids, with the rest of their hair down wavy. They all look stunning and it causes me to fill up to Tyler’s distress.
“Go now girls, make sure everything’s ready at the beach. Olivia’s makeup cannot be ruined.”
My makeup is light and minimalistic.
The girls do as Tyler’s asked after giving me hugs and wishing me luck.
My mom lingers behind urging the girls to go on so she can talk with me in private.
“I just want to say how very proud I am of you darling. I hope you have the most wonderful perfect day. It’s only what you deserve.”
Now I know I’m going to cry so my mom quickly pulls a tissue from her pastel pink cocktail dress. She has her hair up in a tight beautiful style but you can’t really see over the huge hat she has on. She do though, look gorgeous.
“Thank you so much, mom. Now go before Tyler kills me for crying.”
Jamie leaves with my mom and Tyler goes to get changed after an hour spent on his own hair.
I’m still in my robe, when my cell rings, my heart does that skip, hop and jump when I see its Calvin.
“My soon to be wife,” he acknowledges me this way when I answer which automatically splits my face in two.
“I can’t wait. How is everything?” I’m relatively surprised at how calm I have actually been.
“Everything is amazing, there is just one thing missing to make it perfect,”
Now I panic. “What is it? The cake? The flowers?”
Calvin laughs that laugh that makes everything in my soul vibrate. “You.”
My heart sinks with love and also relaxes. “I will be standing next to you soon.”
“It’s not soon enough. But, I suppose I can wait, you will be next to me forever after today.”
“I would have been anyway.”
Calvin makes an appreciative sigh, while Tyler comes out of the other room in a pair of gray suit pants, black shoes and a fitted light blue shirt and gray tie. He looks devilishly handsome.
“That better not be Calvin on that phone,” he points his finger while marching towards me.
“Bye baby.” I tell Calvin quickly then put the phone down before Tyler snatches it out of my hand.
“Bad luck don’t you know.” He scolds me pointing my cellphone in my face.
“I think my bad luck has all ran out Ty. At least, I hope it has.”
Tyler’s eyes relax after he straightens his tie. “Of course it has babe. Now. Let’s get you dressed.”
“You look good by the way.” I tell him as I go and fetch my dress.
He poses in the mirror at himself. “Correction, I look so damn good. I can’t believe you haven’t made Calvin wear a full suit.”
“Tyler it’s scorching out there, besides, he's wearing a half a suit. I want him to look him. He holds the definition of perfection.”
***
I stand in the mirror looking down at myself in my beautiful wedding dress.
Tyler has done an incredible job.
The dress is white satin with a plunging v neckline. It has sparkling jewels on the shoulder straps which sit just off-the-shoulder. I adore the deep v cut out back, also with jewels on the v lining. This is why Tyler told me I couldn’t wear my hair down and he was right.
As always.
The elegant satin material sits tightly along my waist, then loosens as it drops past my thighs into a small pool of satin around my feet. The back is a little longer than the front making a small train, but it does sit perfect on my backside.
As the back of the dress is open I found it hard to get sexy lingerie that couldn’t be seen. I can’t wear a bra, so I have those stick on fillets which Calvin will definitely not be seeing.
“Jesus, Calvin better try and keep his hands off me until I change into my lingerie.” I moan to Tyler.
“Like that’s going to happen. Lock yourself in the bathroom Olivia, he cannot see those hideous fillet things. Imagine the shame. Besides, your boobs are pert enough not to wear them.”
Macy has designed and made my lingerie specifically for me. All I have to do is change into it before Calvin whips my dress off. I couldn’t believe it when she showed me the pieces she made, they’re simply divine, elegant and sexy. She made me think about adding lingerie on to our design label. I have a white lace, almost see through corset to change into and suspenders with stockings, but at least I already have on the white lace thong. I’m almost more eager to see Calvin’s reaction to them than the wedding dress.
I turn to face Tyler after admiring the dress. I find him watching me with tears in his eyes.
“You look stunning Olivia. Absolutely fucking stunning and completely booty-licious. I know how much Calvin loves your ass and thighs that’s why I took particular care with them parts of the dress.” He grins mischievously.
“It’s beautiful Tyler. Thank you so much.”
“Are you still not going to wear any shoes?” He asks me trying to get me to change my mind. It’s a beach wedding and I’m all about looking a natural and an innocent bride.
“I want bare feet.” I be direct so he doesn’t argue the toss, and he doesn’t. I just get an eye roll from him. He goes into his bag pulling out a white garter.
“Here put this on, Calvin must take it off you.”
I match his grin thinking about tonight, but Tyler soon squashes it. “Not alone,” he points out.
I frown confused as he slips in up my leg and secures it on my thigh. “What do you mean not alone?”
“Calvin has to take this off at the wedding.”
“Oh no. Not happening. I will die from embarrassment. Tyler don’t make me.”
I warn him but beg while I’m at it. I bet no one will even mention this taking off the garter nonsense until Tyler pipes up with his pervy mind.
He smirks not saying another word. I will kill him.
He carefully unwraps my flowers and hands them to me. I admire the remarkable work that’s gone into these flowers. I have light blue roses with calla lilies and posy’s tied together beautifully in a light blue bow in a round dome shape. I’m in love with them. This is what the flowers are like all across the beach, on the chairs etc. and the bridesmaids have similar ones but theirs are tear drops shaped.
As we get ready to leave I get a knock on the hut door. I stare across to Tyler oddly. He sig
hs annoyed and opens up. “Calvin you shouldn’t...” he stops mid-sentence telling me it isn't Calvin so I walk to the door and see Sophia standing there.
“Sophia.” I breathe shocked. “What are you...”
“I know you might not want to see me right now, and... oh my god, you look beautiful.”
Tyler turns to me raising a querying eyebrow, so I nod. “It’s Okay Ty, give me five minutes.”
Tyler purposely brushes past Sophia abruptly, pouting. She walks into the room as I close the door behind her. She plays with her long brown hair a little nervously and her brown eyes are full of pain.
“Olivia, I flew over here last night and was debating whether to come and see you. How could I miss my little sister’s wedding day?”
After not quite believing she’s here my brain starts to function. “Soph, I don’t blame you for what happened. Everyone seems to be blaming the wrong people, and I appreciate it more than you will ever know that you came all the way here to see me, it means a lot. But my mom won’t be happy your here...”
She nods her head understanding. “I know that, but I couldn’t stay away on your big day. But at least I have seen you and your dress. You’re simply stunning.” She smiles warmly. I study her beautiful face and she seems low. She looks lost and vulnerable.
“I hate that I've lost you Olivia. I lost the respect of your mom, I’ve lost Elise and my father is dead. I know you hated him and what he did is unforgivable but he was my dad, you know.” She turns away from me while her voice brakes. I take a deep breath so I don’t cry. I feel for her I really do.
“Living with gran Mona is driving me mad.” She giggles trying to overcome her tears.
“You could come back to Chicago Soph, feeling's mend over time. I miss you. I was only saying yesterday that it doesn’t feel right you not being here.”
She wipes her tears away disagreeing. “I can never go back home. Now not. I shouldn’t have come here. I'm sorry.” She about to leave but I pull her back. “Sophia don’t go. You didn’t come all this way for nothing.”
Confessions and Olivia (Olivia #2) Page 40