by J. A. Low
“I have so many secrets.” He smiles making a locking movement over his lips with his fingers, telling us he wasn’t giving us anymore.
“Oh come on, tell us more about the girls making out,” Johnny adds.
“Fine Isla and Stacey made out.”
“What the fuck?! My sister and I have made out with the same person,” Oscar yells. The pool goes quiet.
“You made out with Stacey?” Derrick asks, catching Oscar’s slip.
“Fuck, she didn’t tell you?” Oscar questions.
“Um no, she was very tight lipped about that… Interesting.” Derrick gives Oscar the once over. “What are your intentions with her, Oscar?”
“I thought she was cool, I liked talking to her. It was just a good night kiss, maybe a little tongue but nothing more.” Oscar scrambles over his words.
“Wonder if Isla gave her a little tongue as well,” Christian pokes the beast.
“Fuck you, man.” The hulking Viking fumes in his seat.
“Well things most certainly got interesting with the ladies tonight then,” I laugh hoping to lighten the mood.
“Sure did, so anyone want to play never have I ever and kiss a guy?” Derrick asks.
Oh my God, I’m getting married today. I make my way through the hustle and bustle that is my cabin. Hairdressers, makeup artists, wait staff all rushing around.
“There she is,” Derrick yells, running up to me. “I can’t believe you are marrying Evan Wyld today. Can you believe all those years ago we used to joke about it?”
I smile and nod because it’s surreal.
“Come on Momma, you need to have some breakfast.” Vanessa ushers us over to the dining room table which is set up with fresh fruit, muesli, poached eggs, scrambled eggs, bacon, pancakes and toast. Looking at all this food I realize how starved I am this morning even though I have butterflies in my stomach.
“Morning, sweetheart.” Mum gives me a kiss on the cheek as she waltzes into the dining room. “How you feeling today?”
“I’m so nervous, but excited as well. Bean is kicking up a storm, I think he is excited to see his daddy today.”
“Just relax and enjoy the day, sweetheart, it will fly by so quickly,” Mum encourages with a huge smile.
“Knock, knock y’all,” Evan’s mum announces as she enters the cabin. “How are we doin’ today?” Her Texas accent thick like molasses.
“Everyone is pretty excited, Carol,” Mum answers her as they hug and do a little happy dance between them. Guess they are excited too.
“Sienna, Evan wanted me to give you this,” Carol says, handing me a gift bag. Thanking her I pull out a gift wrapped box. Carefully I unwrap the paper and there sit three, red leather cases with the famous gold writing. “No, no, no, he didn’t.” I look up at everyone’s expectant faces, tears filling my eyes. “Evan, this is too much,” I say to myself.
“Go on and open them, sweetheart,” Carol urges me.
One, by one I open the beautiful cases, and each box contains diamonds. A simple diamond necklace, tennis bracelet and drop earrings. My heart wants to burst right out of my chest. I can’t believe Evan has bought me these stunning gifts. An elegant envelope drops out of the bag, on the front Evan’s handwritten scrawl.
“Can you excuse me for a moment,” I say to everyone. They nod and I rush away back to my bedroom to read his note.
Dear Sienna
Today I am marrying the shit out of you. I know that doesn’t sound romantic but nothing can accurately explain the way I feel about today and that was as close as I could get to describing the feelings bubbling up inside of me. I get a hard on knowing today you are walking down that aisle, professing to the world that you are mine and mine forever. That every day, for the rest of my life, I get to wake up beside you, I get to make love to you, I get to watch you grow our children inside of you, watch them grow up and watch them go on and live their lives. And the best bit is: I get to grow old with you. Fuck you are going to be a hot old lady. I’m still going to want to bone you, just a heads up. Today, you and I become the Wyld family with little Bean, and I can’t wait to start this journey with you, Sienna.
Forever and Always, I will love you.
Evan
xoxo
Tears, I have a steady stream of tears falling down my face. That man is incredible. Picking up my phone I call him. “I can’t wait to marry the shit out of you, too,” I say into the phone before he gets a chance to answer it properly.
“Hey darlin’,” he huskily laughs. “I see you got my present.” I can hear the smile in his voice.
“Evan, seriously it’s too much, you didn’t need to buy me all that.” I know exactly how expensive these things are because I fell in love with them when we picked out our weddings rings.
“I could say the same thing to you as well, thank you for the watch.”
I heard Evan talking about this watch with one of the boys, I googled it, found it, bought it and gave it to him last night to open this morning.
“You deserve it,” I cry into the phone, smiling through my tears. Just talking to him this morning has calmed my nerves.
“Babe you deserve it all and more and I can’t wait to give it to you, in more ways than one,” he says, dropping his voice low and husky.
“Me either, tonight I promise, and I almost forgot, happy birthday.”
He chuckles, “Thanks, sweetheart. Fuck I miss you. I hated being apart from you last night. Never again, you hear me, we are never spending another night apart, okay.” Evan says seriously.
“I agree, never again.”
***
The day flew by in a blur. We decided on a sunset New Year’s Eve wedding, the heat of the day would be too much, especially being heavily pregnant. I would probably faint as I walked down the aisle and that is not at all how I envisioned today going. My hair is pulled back into a messy bun where my cathedral veil will be pinned down low at the crown of my head, my makeup is done and the diamond jewelry Evan gave me this morning is placed on. It’s time to get my dress on. I had to wait until the last possible moment because I have to pee all the time.
“It is time,” Yvette says with a smile, primping my dress.
It is beautiful. She has done an amazing job. It’s hard trying to find a style that would accommodate my belly as well as my need to be a princess for the day. Eventually I fell in love with a simple strapless dress with the most intricate lace overlay that clings to the curves of my body, I needed something that was easy to go to the toilet in. Glamorous, hey? Yvette ushers me into the bedroom along with my mum to help me into my dress. Slowly she pulls the dress up over my expanding belly and over my breasts. Now comes the true test in doing me up. Inch by inch she zips up the back. We decided on a zip over beautiful little buttons just in case I needed to get it off quickly.
“Sweetheart, oh my goodness you look beautiful,” Mum sniffles through her tears. She looked beautiful herself, in one of Yvette’s creations, a grey, beaded evening dress and with the special jewelry I had bought her to remember this day.
“Don’t cry, Mum, you will ruin your make-up,” I tell her, trying to keep the tears at bay.
Pulling me into a hug she says, “I’m so happy for you, baby. Evan is a wonderful man, you are going to be a family, everything you have ever wanted.” She sniffles again. “Your dad and I just want the best for you, sweetie.” She kisses me on the cheek. “Come on everyone is dying to see you,” she continues as we make our way out to the living area.
“Oh my God,” Charlotte gasps.
Everyone else is silent, their eyes looking at me.
“You look beautiful,” Vanessa squeals as she hugs me.
“Sisi, you’re a vision,” Derrick finally adds, snapping out of his shock.
“My baby is all grown up,” Dad says, trying to hide the tears I can see welling in his eyes.
Seriously does everyone want me to ruin my make-up before I have even walk down the aisle. The wedding photographer is
milling around taking photos.
“You all scrub up quite nicely as well,” I say, looking at my wedding party in front of me. The girls are dressed in stunning, satin champagne colored evening dresses, their bridesmaid gifts glittering on their skin. Derrick is dressed in caramel colored skinny jeans, riding boots, white rolled up shirt with a tweed style vest and a champagne colored tie. A similar version as the boys, just more the bridesmaid’s colors. There was a loud pop from a champagne bottle, “It’s time to celebrate,” Camryn says, pouring out glasses to everyone and a sparkling apple juice for me.
“Congratulations to Sienna on her wedding day,” Vanessa says making a toast.
Picking up my bouquet of Australian natives, it was time to see Evan.
“Are you okay, man?” Jake asks as we make our way to the wedding ceremony.
“Honestly I feel like I am going to be sick,” I confess, playing with the band of the new watch Sienna surprised me with this morning. My heart is racing, my palms are sweaty, my body feels like a junkie waiting for their next fix, jitters trying to take over.
“It’s going to be alright,” Axel grips my shoulder.
The day has been spent relaxing, shooting the shit with my friends, then Mom and Dad arrived and helped me get ready. The tears started from Mom and that kind of set me off, seeing the look of pride on my parents faces, telling me how happy they are for Sienna and I. The magnitude of what today means hit me like a ton of bricks. I just need to see Sienna, once my eyes hit hers I know that all this jittery, unease will subside and everything will be okay.
“Here, have some of this.” Christian hands me a flask of something.
Taking a quick sip, the bourbon burning down my throat, hopefully that will take the edge off.
“Welcome boys,” Camryn sings happily, greeting us at the aisle.
“Fuck this looks amazing,” Jake says, pulling me from my thoughts.
My eyes fall upon the gorgeous scene before me. Sienna is going to lose her mind when she sees the area all decorated. She’s been working so hard planning this wedding, seeing all her ideas come to fruition is awe-inspiring. The old barn doors that create the entrance to the aisle, white bench seats on either side with Australian native flowers dapped from the pews. At the end of the aisle is nothing but blue sky and ocean before us and two large gum trees framing the view perfectly. Just under the gum trees is a floral arch where the wedding officiant will stand and marry us in front of our family and friends.
“Chris, I think I need another shot,” I state, putting my hand out to him. He places the flask into my hand and I take a sip. Ahh, that feels better.
Last night Derrick dropped off the groomsmen swag for my boys. Overnight sized leather bags with each of the boy’s names stitched onto it. Inside there was a personalized BBQ kit. Being Texans this was one of the best gifts ever. There was also a crystal decanter with each boy’s initials on it, with a personalized bottle of bourbon, a personalized wooden box filled with a leather bound flask, Cuban cigars, plus so much more. Sienna went over the top for my boys.
“Sienna looks beautiful, Evan,” Camryn says, grabbing my attention. “They are just having photos taken and should be here right on time. Your photographer is over there and would like to take some shots now.” I nod and follow in the direction of the man with the lens. It wasn’t long until Camryn was ushering us into place. I watch as the seats fill up with everyone that is close to Sienna and I. My parents arrive, I can see Mom had already put her sunglasses on and a hanky is twisted in her hand.
“Good luck, sweetheart,” she says, kissing my cheek. Dad gives me a pat on the back.
“Shit’s about to get real,” Jake whispers to me.
I look down the line of my groomsmen, Jake, my best man, then my Dirty Texas brothers, Axel, Christian, Finn and Oscar. They all look at me and give me nervous smiles, as we wait in silence for Sienna’s entrance. Camryn taps me on my shoulder, “She will be here in five.” Then I watch her walk away toward the large double doors that have been closed, nothing but open air around them, but still the symbolism is there. Slowly I turn myself around to look out to the ocean and the boys follow suit.
“Fuck, man I’m nervous for you,” Jake mumbles.
“Yeah me too,” Finn agrees.
“Feels like my wedding day,” Christian adds.
The boys burst out laughing.
“I think this is the closest you will ever get to a wedding day, bro,” Axel jokes.
“Hey, man that’s harsh. I bet I’ll get married before you,” Christian grumbles, holding his hand out.
“Yeah, how much?” His brother asks.
“$10,000.”
“That’s nothing, Chris, go big or go home,” Oscar pipes in.
“Okay then $100,000.” Christian ups the ante.
Axel shakes his head, “Nah, that won’t buy me shit. I bet you a million dollars.”
“Seriously you guys are betting on who is getting married next, what the fuck is wrong with you?” At least these fuckers have made me forget my nerves. “You guys are single, I thought you would be all betting on who would stay single the longest,” I add, looking at my friends.
“That’s no fun, clearly I am going to be the winner. Who the fuck would want to marry him?” Axel goads his brother.
“Don’t forget we are twins, dickhead, we’re pretty much the same,” Christian bites back.
“Yeah but my personality is so much better than yours,” he chuckles.
Christian punches him in the arm, making him wince.
“Fuckers, no punching each other in the middle of my wedding,” I whisper yell at them. “Sienna is about to turn up, I need you all to please act like grown-ups for the next thirty minutes, okay?” They all look at me shocked and burst out laughing.
“Never seen Evan so stressed,” Finn adds as he smiles.
“Fuck, if getting married is this stressful, there is no way in hell I’m doing it,” Oscar grumbles.
Then I hear the place go silent, shit, she must be here. I watch as the boys take a peek over their shoulders. “Man, turn around,” Jake shoulders me.
I was going to keep my back turned until Sienna is right beside me, but now that the time is here, fuck it, I need to see her. I turn around and face the wooden doors as the string quartet starts to play. The doors swing open, and Charlotte is the first one through. Fuck, she looks beautiful, I can already feel my eyes watering.
My eyes flick toward the crowd and I see the look on Blake’s face and he is in awe. Next down the line is Isla. I look over to where Oscar is standing and give him a smile, his face beaming at his little sister, then my eyes dropped to where Finn is standing trying to control his emotions but he couldn’t hide them. Then there is Stacey, the girl who is Sienna’s right hand woman and from Oscar’s little confession last night, his new special friend.
Vanessa struts out next and I hear Christian audibly suck in a breath, I don’t get why those two don’t hurry up and get together. I wished I had grown the balls from the start instead of wasting all those months going back and forth with Sienna. Maybe Axel doesn’t realize the depths his brother is in love with Vanessa, otherwise he wouldn’t be making that stupid bet. Because I guarantee if Vanessa asked Christian to marry her he would be rushing her to Vegas and putting a ring on her finger. But they need to work out their own shit, in their own time, no one can rush them.
Out walks Derrick with the biggest smile on his face, fuck I love that man. For everything that he has done for Sienna, especially when I fucked up, I owe him so much. Our eyes catch for a moment and I can see he is holding his shit together by the tiniest of threads. The doors close again, nervous anticipation floats over the crowd, as they stand and wait for Sienna’s arrival. The string quartet change their music to Canon in D, the wooden doors slowly open and that’s when I am hit by the most beautiful vision of my life. Back lit by the setting sun, Sienna floats down the aisle like an angel on her father’s arm, a vision in white lace. Fu
ck, she is beautiful. Her misty eyes find mine and she gives me a smile. That’s when I realize I’m crying, errant tears fall down my cheeks as she moves toward me, I feel like I have been holding my breath forever, and finally the breath escapes my lungs when she stands beside me.
“Hey,” I whisper as Sienna takes her spot beside me.
“Hey,” she responds with a smile.
The officiant starts the service; Sienna’s father gives her a kiss on the cheek as he hands her over to me.
“Treat her right,” her dad whispers to me on his way back to his seat. I give him a reassuring nod. The ceremony continues quickly after that, like a blur, we exchange rings, my hand shaking as I place her diamond wedding band on her finger.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife, you make kiss the bride,” the officiant declares.
Turning I grab Sienna’s face and I plant a very non-traditional kiss on her lips. It’s been over twenty-four fucking hours since I have touched her. Her hands rest on my chest, the loud hollers of the wedding crowd muted as my lips capture hers. This is what my life has led me to. Her. This kiss is the start of our new life together, the start of being a better man than I was yesterday.
“Evan.” She’s breathless from the kiss.
“Fuck, I love you,” I whisper, as our foreheads are pressed together.
“I love you too, my husband.”
I’m married!
Evan and I are married!
And that kiss. That was a Notebook kind of kiss. I could hear everyone clapping and whistling as Evan had hold of me, kissing the life out of me. Far out, how did I get so lucky to marry this man?
“It’s time for the first dance,” Camryn whispers to us.
We’ve just finished dinner, and the speeches, which were most definitely entertaining. Christian and his tales of rock star life, Jake and Charlotte and their tales of Evan growing up. My dad making everyone cry with his beautiful speech, and how could I forget Derrick and Vanessa’s song which had everyone in hysterics. We cut our beautiful three tiered, chocolate cake just after we arrived, and served it for dessert, it was delicious.