After The One (The One Series Duet)

by Danielle Allen

  I grinned as everyone took a sip of the expensive bubbly. I turned to Julian just as he was attempting to give me a kiss on the cheek. Since I was facing him, his lips landed on mine and I couldn’t resist kissing him back.

  Even though they were just two little pecks, I could still feel Julian’s amaretto soaked lips against mine. I licked my lips and closed my eyes.

  “So do you think they forgot we were here? Or…more probably, Zoe forgot what she was going to say?” Lenny asked loudly, bringing my mind back to our friends.

  My eyes flew open. I tried to look serious, but I could feel the love-struck smile on my face.

  “I’m assuming there’s a second of all. You can’t say first of all without a second of all.” Koko giggled from directly in front of me.

  I looked around the limo as the amusement loudly bounced around the vehicle. “He’s been gone for two months and his kisses are distracting,” I explained, looking around. “Sorry!”

  Everyone groaned again as the teasing revved up.

  “Okay, okay, okay.” I tried to corral everyone’s attention back toward me as I suppressed the giggle that lodged in my throat. Once everyone was quiet and had their glasses back up, I continued, “When Julian and I called you all last weekend to tell you about the conversation with the creator of The One and the contractual obligation, we knew there was a chance you wouldn’t want to take part in the wedding. But you all still did and that means everything to us. When we asked if you would be interested in coming down for dress shopping and tux fitting, we were sure some of you wouldn’t be able to make it, but you rearranged your schedules to come into town tonight so we could make a night out of this and then handle wedding business tomorrow. Everything is happening so fast and we appreciate you rolling with it.” I felt myself getting choked up and it took me by surprise. I cleared my throat. “I just want to say that I love you, we love you and we thank you. Now let’s get crazy tonight!”

  Everyone cheered and someone turned the music up as a Julian Winters-produced track thumped through the speakers.

  Forty-five minutes later, we arrived at Lux Lounge. The Los Angeles club was a celebrity hotspot due to the strict no cell phone policy. Stories about famous hookups at the club littered gossip magazines, but with no photo evidence, the stories died quickly.

  “Don’t forget to leave your phone in here,” Julian reminded us just as we rolled to a stop at the side of the building.

  The limo driver opened the door and as soon as I stepped out, the flash of a paparazzi photographer taking a picture surprised me. When Julian stepped out of the car behind me, the onslaught of photos and questions commenced.

  “Julian! Zoe! Over here!”

  “Pose for a picture!”

  “Let us see the ring!”

  “Are the wedding rumors true?”

  “Why the rush?”

  “What took so long?”

  It was overwhelming so I kept my head down and walked toward the building. I felt Julian’s hand on the small of my back and it filled me with a sense of safety and security.

  As each of the rest of our friends ducked out, the questions were directed toward them.

  “Who are you? Are you musicians?”

  “Why are they rushing down the aisle?”

  “Are you going to the wedding?”

  “Do you know when the wedding is?”

  After finding Julian’s name on the list, security let us in the VIP entrance and we waited in the mirrored hallway. One by one, our friends rushed in.

  “Don’t worry about it, Lenny,” James said as he followed her in. They were the last to enter. “He’s an asshole.”

  “Who’s an asshole?” I asked, taking note of Lennon’s flushed face.

  “Some idiot out there told me I was pretty for a big girl.” Lenny shrugged.

  “What?” Koko and I exclaimed in outraged unison.

  “Who was it?” Keisha added. It was at that moment I realized that she had put her fitted jacket back on.

  Julian looked pissed. “Are you okay?”

  “I’m fine. It’s the most ass backwards ‘compliment’ and unfortunately, I get it all the time, but never with so many cameras recording it,” she explained. She gestured to James with her bright red lips turned upward into a smile. “But James here went straight knight in shining armor and threatened the guy.”

  James ran his hand over his beard as he looked at her. “If I’m the knight, does that make you a damsel in distress?”

  “I don’t need a knight,” Lenny returned. Her eyes narrowed, but there was a hint of a smile on her lips.

  James smirked. “That’s because you haven’t experienced this knight before.”

  “Oh shit!” Omar laughed.

  “Ohhhh!” Julian and Scott called out, hyping the situation up.

  Koko and Keisha fanned themselves.

  The door opened, interrupting our ridiculousness.

  Oh. My. God.

  Three of the four members of the pop-rock group Burgundy Four walked in. They offered polite greetings and then saw Julian.

  “Julian!” The lead singer, Adam Dean, gave Julian a handshake, one-armed hug greeting. “I’ve been meaning to get in touch with you. How are you?”

  “I’m good, man. I’m good,” Julian replied as he slipped his arm around me. “Life is good.”

  Adam looked at me and replied, “I see that it is.” Taking my hand, Adam kissed it. “Very nice to meet you.”

  Julian pushed his shoulder good-naturedly. “Okay Mr. Sexiest Man of the Year, keep it moving. This is my fiancé you’re flirting with.”

  After the other members of the group greeted and congratulated Julian and Julian offered a quick introduction to all of us, Adam said, “I’m sorry, man. I’ll keep my flirting to myself. I’m still trying to wrap my mind around the fact that you are engaged.” He looked at me. “You must be something because this is the pickiest man I’ve ever met.”

  “Okay, okay, you can go now,” Julian joked, while his best friends howled with laughter.

  There must be some truth to that, I considered silently as I grinned.

  “I’m going to get in touch with you Monday. We’re looking for a certain sound and we think you can give it to us.”

  “Call me and we can set something up.”

  After the Burgundy Four continued down the long hallway, Julian turned and looked us. “Before we go inside, I just want to say that the bullshit with the paparazzi will die down after the wedding airs. For a couple of months after the show aired, Zoe and I didn’t really go out in L.A. We didn’t really go out much at all, now that I think about it. Then the summer show with Bailey premiered and it was safe to live our lives again. It may be like this for the next month or so, and not just for us, for you too. If it’s too much for you and you want to back out, we will understand. We know we’re asking for a lot from you.”

  “How much liquor did you put in those drinks Scott?” Omar asked. “You have Julian over here being emotional and shit.” The guys laughed as Omar came over and slapped Julian on the back. “I’ve been your boy since you moved to Cali. I didn’t stop having your back when you wore suspenders in eighth grade. I didn’t stop having your back when you almost got us kicked out of the dorm because you played your music too loud. I didn’t stop having your back when you put every penny into your studio and didn’t have enough money to eat. I didn’t stop having your back when you started succeeding. So don’t think a couple cameras and a few write-ups in the media will stop me from having your back. And that goes for all of us. Now we came here to party so get your sappy ass together and let’s do this shit!”

  Everyone cheered and I gave Omar the biggest hug. When I looked back up at Julian, I saw the worry in his eyes had dissipated completely and I was happy about that.

  I glanced at my best friends and realized that while Julian’s best friends may have grown used to this life, my friends were new to it.

  “I’m going to talk to the l
adies for a second,” I whispered to Julian. “You guys go ahead. We’ll be right behind you.”

  The guys headed down the hallway and I turned to my best friends.

  “To piggyback off what Julian said, are you okay with all this? It’s crazy and inconvenient, but it should die down soon after the wedding. If it makes you uncomfortable in any way, please don’t feel like you have to do this.”

  “It’s fine,” Koko said, waving her hand in the air. “I’m supporting my best friend in the entire world. Period.”

  “Yeah, it’s a few pictures. Don’t worry about us,” Keisha added, touching my arm comfortingly.

  “Exactly. We can handle it. And that guy outside was nothing compared to the Friday night crowd at Breakers. Don’t tell me you’ve been in the law office for so long you’ve forgotten?”

  I laughed. “No, I didn’t forget.” I looked at each of the gorgeous women who’d had my back for my entire adult life. “I love you so much. Thank you for being here.”

  We did a group hug and then walked to catch up with the guys, where they were waiting at the door for us. The closer we came to the door with the words ‘Entrance Only’ emblazoned across the top, the more the mirrors seemed to shake from the vibrations of the music on the other side.

  “I am uncomfortable with one thing,” Lenny whispered.

  “What’s that?” I asked, glancing at her in the mirror as we continued the walk.

  “I’m kind of into James right now.”

  “Uh, yeah. Obviously.” Koko’s shrill giggle-gasp combo stopped us all in our tracks.

  “Where did that come from?” Keisha asked Lenny, seeming to hold in a giggle.

  “Did you hear what he said to me back there?” Lenny peeked over my shoulder to where the men stood and then huddled us all closer together.

  “Yeah, the knight in shining armor thing,” I answered.

  She shook her head. “After that. You were talking to Adam Dean.” She looked at the other two. “Did you hear him?”

  “No, I was trying to get Adam’s attention to let him know I’m newly single,” Koko admitted, running her hands through her blue hair.

  Keisha shook her head. “I was in an argument with Omar and Scott. What did he say?”

  “He said that both him and his dick would love the opportunity to show me just how beautiful I am. I told him I have no doubt about how beautiful I am. And his response was that his dick could tell me in ways I’d never experienced before.” Lenny gave us a look. “I damn near came right then and there!”

  I laughed so hard I doubled over. Julian found his way over to us and rubbed my heaving back with a hand wrapped around my arm for support.

  “What’s so funny?” he asked when I stood up straight to wipe the tears from my eyes.

  “I’ll tell you when we get inside.” I looked in the mirror to make sure my eyeliner wasn’t running. I caught Lenny’s eye in the reflection and she gave me the same look, causing me to crack up all over again.

  “What’s so funny?” Scott asked, looking around at all of us.

  James eyed us all before his eyes landed on Lenny. “They’re laughing because Lenny’s not going to be able to walk tomorrow.” Then he opened the door and the hallway flooded with music and blinking lights.

  If that wasn’t a mic drop, I don’t know what is.

  Chapter 7

  I pushed my sunglasses to the top of my head as we approached the boutique. I was exhausted, but Koko, Lenny and Keisha were suffering from varying degrees of being hung over. I’d hoped brunch would perk the ladies up, but they were still a little sluggish.

  Lux Lounge was a success. We had a VIP space on the second floor balcony so we could overlook the packed dance floor and party privately. We only left the VIP area once so we could dance in the throng of people on the floor. The majority of the night we just spent time with each other, having a good time.

  It was the first time since Julian’s birthday, the first year we were a couple, that we’d all gotten together like that. With all of our busy schedules, whenever something was planned, all eight of us weren’t able to attend because one or two had prior commitments. It wasn’t our official bachelor and bachelorette party, but with so little time before the wedding, we partied like it was.

  “Here we are,” I announced, holding open the door open to Urbane Bridal.

  “Why are you so perky?” Koko whined, her long ponytail swinging back and forth as she entered first.

  I felt refreshed, especially after Julian had surprised me with a quickie in the shower before the ladies and I embarked on a day of shopping.

  “It’s so early,” Keisha groaned as she crossed the threshold into the boutique.

  I laughed. “It’s eleven o’clock.”

  “Yeah, but it was a late night,” Lenny complained as she passed me.

  I shook my head and followed the three of them into the boutique.

  “Hi! Welcome to Urbane Bridal. Do you have an appointment?”

  “Yes,” I answered, walking around my friends. “My name is Zoe. We have an eleven o’clock.”

  “Yes, we have you right here, Ms. Jordan. I’m Anastacia and I will be your consultant today. Please follow me.”

  We followed the clicking of her heels as she swiftly moved us through the empty boutique to one of two stark white dressing areas. One of the three walls was just one big mirror and directly across a row of free-standing curtains created the actual dressing rooms. Three antique couches and a chaise lounge were strategically situated along the back wall with a glass table with mimosas and water on the table.

  “Wow,” I commented as we entered the room.

  Anastacia tossed her auburn hair over her shoulder and smiled. “I take it you like the set up.”

  I nodded. It looked like something from the movies.

  Is this where they filmed ‘Pretty Woman’? I wondered, trying to think back to the movie I saw my freshman year in high school.

  “This is your area for the next ninety minutes. You are free to choose up to four dresses per person at a time to bring back to this dressing area. I will be your main consultant, but Kim will also be assisting. The brides who choose Urbane Bridal are usually looking for something different. Your chart said you were looking for black dresses so I’ll have Kim bring in our suggestions. Do you have any questions?”

  “No, thank you. I’m just excited to get started.”

  “While we wait for Kim, tell me a little about you and your fiancé. What song are you walking down the aisle to?”

  The corner of my mouth quirked up as I thought about the plans Julian and I had made. “An acoustic version of Chele King’s ‘Always The One’.”

  Just thinking about Chele King’s voice singing those lyrics instantly made my eyes sting. Somehow, without knowing me or my relationship, Chele King managed to encompass every single thought, feeling, and emotion that I had about Julian. “Always The One” wasn’t just a song to me; it was my heart, fully exposed. Having my feelings represented through Chele King’s song as I walked down the aisle to the man I wanted to spend my life with felt right to me. On my wedding day, I wanted to shout my love for Julian from the rooftops and with that song, the love that filled my heart would be completely on display for everyone to see.

  “Check out the expression on her face. Awww,” Keisha teased wistfully, both of her hands on her chest.

  Anastacia looked over her shoulder, seeming to look for Kim. When she looked at me again, her brown eyes bore into mine with feigned interest. “So, how did the two of you fall in love? How do you know he’s the man you want to spend your life with?”

  I knew she wasn’t sincerely interested, but fortunately, I loved talking about how much I loved Julian.

  “Well we fell for each other fast and even though I knew it was real, I also knew it was way too soon for marriage and he felt the same way. Once we officially became a couple, we spent a lot of time at home, just the two of us. He was out of town every other week
for a couple of days for work and I was studying for the bar exam so we were busy, but we made it work. Even though we already felt that ‘in love’ feeling, we spent a lot of time getting to know each other on a deeper level. We took the time to build what we had. We didn’t just want to give each other butterflies; we wanted to give each other a future together. He is the best man I’ve ever known.”

  “Awwww,” my friends cooed, causing me to giggle.

  Anastacia’s face softened. “He sounds perfect.”

  “He’s not.” I had a huge grin on my face as I shook my head. “He’s not perfect at all. Occasionally he’ll get it wrong just like I do. We argue and fight just like anyone else, but the difference between him and any other man I’ve ever known is that he understands me. He gets me completely and I understand and get him too. And because we communicate so well, every argument has ultimately just brought us closer. I wouldn’t trade him for anything in the world.”

  “Well, you sound happy and he sounds like a catch,” Anastacia commented.

  “I am and he is.” I looked down briefly, feeling a swell of emotions come over me. I swallowed them back. “I’m blessed.”

  A blonde I assumed was Kim pushed in a rolling cart full of black dresses and then disappeared. Once the dresses arrived, my friends shifted from giggling school girls to fashion week fashionistas.

  Anastacia pulled each of the dresses from the cart and showed them to us. I wasn’t impressed, but I was more interested in the feedback from my bridesmaids. They were also unimpressed.

  “These are lovely.” I gestured to the tulle, silk, and satin fabrics. “But I am looking for something different. I want it to be interesting without being distracting. Would it be okay if we looked around?”

  Anastacia did a horrible job of hiding her displeasure. I could tell she was excited about the dresses she’d picked, but I knew what I wanted. With a sad smile plastered on her face, she said, “Of course. Feel free to roam around.”

  She turned on her heel and the clicking of her shoes on the floor alerted us to how fast she exited.