Chapter 25
Chapter Twenty-Five
CARA
I woke up the next morning to a phone call from my dear best friend, demanding my presence at eight in the morning.
It was now two in the afternoon, only two hours until the wedding, and I still hadn’t had a chance to talk to Vera.
I woke her up to tell her I had to leave and she kissed me good morning and said we’d talk when I got the chance, which looked like it would be at the reception, which was fine.
All wedding shenanigans would be over, and we’d have time to talk in private.
Bali had been a revelation. Spending every day with Vera, pretending we were a couple, had opened my eyes to what life could be like with her.
But then last night, it didn’t feel like pretending anymore.
Especially once we got to our room and the door closed us out from the real world.
There was nothing fake about the way my body reacted to her.
And then I had to go and call her baby. What the hell?
It wasn’t like I’d said it during sex, so I couldn’t blame it on that.
I had been completely comfortable and it had just slipped out.
I hoped it didn’t bother her. She’d made her feelings pretty clear from the beginning, so it probably didn’t bother her. Maybe she didn’t even hear it.
We were all waiting in the restaurant of the resort, waiting to get into position. The wedding was just a few feet down the beach, so we’d sort of commandeered the restaurant’s patio as our waiting area. They were closed anyway and we had permission.
The brides were in their respective rooms getting ready, and Fallon and I were sent out to check on everyone. And make sure no one was missing. Everyone was accounted for, and when I found Vera, my legs carried me over to her without a second thought.
“Vera. You look…” I couldn’t form words. She’d worn the tux from the first time we met, and I didn’t know how to hold myself together. It was like the entire night came flashing back all from an outfit. The way she looked at me. The way she danced. The way she touched me.
“What’s wrong? You’re a little speechless?”
I scoffed. “Yeah, a little.” I shook my head, trying to gather myself. “Sorry. I’m just… remembering the last time you wore that.”
She stepped closer and pushed my hair back behind my shoulders. “Now you know how I felt last night, princesa. Anytime I see you in that dress, I’ll be reminded of that night. At least now I know I’ve still got it if you’re at a loss for words.” She winked.
“I didn’t think you ever lost it.”
The wedding was absolutely perfect. A simple arch stood in front of rows of chairs, tulle hanging off in an elegant way, yet not flashy. It was a simple beach wedding, but no one’s eyes were dry. Drea wore a form fitting white dress, while Blair looked absolutely breathtaking in a white ballgown.
Blair’s brother, Christopher, walked her down the aisle since both of her parents had passed when she was younger, and both of his twin boys were the ring bearers.
One for Drea and one for Blair. Drea’s friend, Penelope, was there with her husband, Gregory, who officiated the wedding, and their daughter Nora.
The front aisle chairs were reserved for Blair’s parents and grandmother, Ameila, who also passed away a few years ago. They had their pictures and a small vase of flowers on each.
Drea’s three younger sisters were there, and her parents had somehow been able to be in the same place at the same time without ripping each other’s heads off.
Although, with the looks they were giving each other, it seemed like something else might get ripped off later in the night. Weddings did that to people. It was like the air was laced with ecstasy or something.
All of our friends and their spouses were there as well and it was just so magical to see my best friend marry the love of her life, even if I would’ve never thought I’d be a witness.
If someone would’ve told me five years ago that my best friend would be marrying Drea Voss, I would’ve laughed. Saying they hated each other was putting it lightly. But despite having a rocky relationship for several years, things changed, and now I was watching my best friend kiss her new wife.
I spotted Vera in her seat and smiled before the couple was walking down the aisle and back toward the resort. We were all taking a shuttle to another resort where the reception was being held.
The resort had a massive ballroom that we took over. It was filled with a few tables and chairs with white linen and a massive dance floor with an open bar. Each table had little mason jars filled with string light. Our names were on little plaques on our spot on the tables and it was so adorable.
I walked in with Fallon and as soon as we got to our table I took Vera in for a hard kiss.
There was something about weddings that just made me more sentimental, and even though we hadn’t talked about things, last night had changed our dynamic, and I wanted her to know my thoughts on what happened before I could have the chance to voice them.
Whatever happened next, I wanted her to know I was in it. I wanted her to know that if she wanted to see where this thing between us could go, I wanted that, too.
After I ended the kiss, her cheeks were red and I patted myself on the back. I didn’t know she could get flustered like that, but damn did it feel good to be the one to do it?
“Wow! If I’m not just the luckiest woman alive. You look so beautiful, Cara.”
I smiled, agreeing with her. I’d changed out of my gold dress Blair had all of us wear, and into a red one-shoulder dress. Red was my color of clothing choice most of the time.
“Thank you. I thought you’d like it.”
“Oh I really do.”
We sat down when the DJ introduced the new couple. Blair had kept her last name for business purposes. She wanted to change it, but Drea convinced her to keep it. She said she only needed her in her bed every night to know she was her wife. Drea was sweet when she wanted to be.
It was a basic reception, with good food, music, laughing, and toasts, but it was such a beautiful set up and Bali was the perfect destination for a wedding. I wanted to get married there someday.
They had sent out a food suggestion with the invitations, and it seemed like they went with the chicken. It was a good, safe choice, and whoever made it did a phenomenal job.
They had an open bar, of course, and a three-tiered blue and gold cake. The blue layer was vanilla and the gold layer was strawberry. It was extremely moist and decadent. My favorite wedding cake by far that I’d ever had.
The playlist was on point too. There were several songs that made you want to get up and shake your ass, but there were also songs to just listen to and bop your head. They played a few Lady Gaga songs, a gay staple on any playlist. And several really sweet slow songs.
Their first dance was to “Can’t help falling in love with you,” and I had tears in my eyes watching them hold each other and just being in love.
My best friend had been through so much, before Drea and with her, and I couldn’t hold back the tears at seeing her finally get her happiness. If anyone deserved it, it was Blair.
I felt Vera’s arms around me and I looked at her and smiled, wiping my eyes. “Sorry. I’m just really happy to see Blair find her person.”
“Of course. You don’t need to apologize. They are beautiful together.”
I kissed her softly and let her hold me closer. I was thankful that she was there and I didn’t have to come alone.
I watched my two good friends dance and share a kiss when it was over before the DJ announced it was time for everyone to get up and have fun. They decided not to do a father-daughter dance, out of respect for Blair, but she did dance with her brother.
“Care to dance, princesa? You know I’m an excellent partner.” She winked and I wanted to say I agreed. I didn’t know what we were yet, but I knew she’d be the perfect partner. She’d been a perfect pretend one.
“Of course.” I took her outstretched hand as she led me to the dance floor.
The song was slow, something about being the reason his heart was beating? I didn’t know the song but it sounded beautiful.
I wrapped my arms around her and she led us into a slow dance, our bodies closer than they probably needed to be while also not being close enough.
“Can I ask you a question?” It had been pricking at the back of my mind since last night.
“Uh-oh, that sounds scary. Should I be worried?”
I laughed. “No. It’s just, I’ve been thinking.”
“Okay, I’m definitely worried.”
I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious. Last night was… perfect, if I’m being honest. It took me right back to Fairview, but that also means it got me thinking. Please know there is no wrong answer here, I just want your honest opinion.”
“Of course, Cara. I’m always going to be honest with you.”
“Was last night just a vacation thing? Just an itch to scratch because we’re in this beautiful place watching our friends get married and be in love?”
She looked at me for a long moment. So long, in fact, I started to get nervous.
I was relieved Blair interrupted us from talking about it. I didn’t know what I was going to say, and I didn’t know what I wanted her answer to be. But as I stood there with her, looking into her eyes, into her smile, holding her, I realized I knew exactly where I wanted this to go.
“Oh, princesa. I don’t know how to make it any more obvious that I’m so into you.
I’ve been waiting for last night since I first saw you again.
I’m all in on this. Whatever you want this to be.
If we leave it in Bali, then so be it, but I hope not.
I want to carry it back to Seattle and see where it takes us.
I don’t want you to be just another night. I don’t want to give this up just yet.”
My smile practically leaped off my face. “When I woke up this morning, I wasn’t sure what my answer would be. But I know now that I want that, too. I don’t want this to just be a thing we think about sometimes, like Fairview. I want to see where this could go.”
She cupped the side of my face, rubbing her thumb across my jaw, and staring at me with the softest eyes I’d ever seen. I wanted to ask what she was thinking, but I also wanted her to kiss me.
She leaned in closer and whispered so softly, “Bésame, princesa.”
I smiled and closed the space between us, connecting our lips together. I didn’t care that we were in public. I didn’t care that my friends were most likely staring at us. If they didn’t believe we were together, that kiss would’ve been all the proof they needed.
I melted into it, wrapping my arms around her and letting her support me. I let it lift me up and carry me to a place that was just for the two of us. A place where we were connected just like that for eternity. In that moment, in Bali at my best friend’s wedding, I knew what peace felt like.