Chapter 23 Derrick #2
“Yeah, but that’s what I’m here for,” Camryn states, reminding her of her extraordinary event skills.
“Exactly, that’s why we hire the best.” Ness grins.
“Damn right, bitch,” Camryn says, giving her a high-five.
I love me some Camryn. She has no filter on her mouth, she’s like a female me. Utterly perfect, really.
“Well, you look utterly refreshed,” Stacey adds.
“Thanks, babe. I do feel fantastic. Actually, I have some news,” Vanessa says, sitting up. I knew it, Christian’s super sperm knocked her up.
“Shit, you’re pregnant.” Sienna giggles.
“Christian put a bun in your oven,” I tease.
“What? No. No, not yet, but we’re trying.” She grins, which makes us all squeal. We need more Dirty Texas babies, I am in my uncle era.
“Well, you’d better tell us as soon as you pee on that stick, woman,” I warn her, pointing my chopsticks in her direction.
“Of course, you’ll all be the first to know. Well, I mean outside of my husband.” I guess, but she’d better call me next then. “But this has to do with our wedding.”
“And?” Camryn asks.
“And … I have the perfect idea for it. Christian and I were talking about Christmas and how my parents were coming over to celebrate with us to have a white Christmas. I kind of want this Hallmark-style Christmas as my first as a married woman. Is that crazy?” she asks.
“No,” we all shout, it’s kind of cute, and Ness doesn’t do cute normally.
“Then I thought, seeing as my parents will already be here, maybe we should get married properly while they are here. We don’t need anything big or elaborate.
” Camryn scoffs. “But then I was like, Sienna got married New Year’s Eve, and I didn’t want it to look like I was copying you or taking away from your anniversary. ”
“What! You’re being silly. I don’t care. You do whatever suits you,” Sienna tells her.
“Are you sure?” Vanessa asks.
“Yes. Whatever date works for you. Do not let me get in the way of your day,” Sienna tells her, and I know my bestie means it, but I also know Ness wouldn’t ever pick that date either.
“And Christmas day, but I also don’t want it to be the day before or day after, because then guests won’t be able to come as they will be with family then,” Vanessa remarks.
“There’s a week between Christmas and New Year’s,” Camryn advises her.
“See, that’s what I’m thinking. Maybe sometime in there we can all spend the holidays together and celebrate Evan and Sienna’s anniversary and his birthday,” Ness explains.
“Yes. A million times yes. My parents wanted to come over and spend Christmas with Ryder, so a white Christmas would be perfect,” Sienna tells her.
“Are you telling me I am going to get to plan a magical fairytale white Christmas wedding for you?” Camryn squeals.
“Maybe tone down on the fairytale, but yes,” Vanessa agrees.
We all burst out in excited chatter.
“It’s going to be so romantic. A white Christmas and wedding,” I gush.
“Oh my god, this is so perfect.” Camryn squeals. “I have so many ideas.”
“First, we need to pick a spot,” Sienna suggests.
“Somewhere that snows a lot at Christmas,” Stacey adds.
“And it has to be fabulous because there’s no way in the world you two are getting married in some hick town,” I add.
“Do you want to stay here in the States or go overseas?” Camryn asks. Her wedding planner face has been activated, and her meal has been pushed aside as she furiously starts tapping away on her phone.
“I’m not sure. That’s what I am struggling with? I have never dreamed of a wedding, and now that Christian is asking me to plan my dream wedding, I’m so confused. All I know is I want it to snow!”
We all put our thinking caps on.
“Oh my god, I’ve got it. What about England?” Camryn suggests. We all nod regarding that suggestion. “Doesn’t Olivia have a family castle there? I’m sure she’d let us borrow it.”
“Oh my god, I remember that place. Do you think she’d mind?” Vanessa asks excitedly.
“I’ll give her a call and see what she says. We can only ask, and if not, we can try somewhere else,” Camryn says as she walks away on her phone. Gee, she works fast.
“This place is amazing … old stone, endless manicured gardens, it’s like walking back in time,” Vanessa explains.
“Who’s Olivia?” I ask.
“She’s Camryn’s sister’s best friend, she’s a Lady.”
“I’d assumed she would be as it doesn’t sound like a guy’s name.” I chuckle.
“No. I mean, as in she’s a royal Lady,” Vanessa states.
Oh. Wow. Don’t think I’ve met a royal before, how exciting.
Moments later, Camryn is strolling back into the room. “Guess who’s getting married in a castle!” she shouts.
We all lose our minds.
“What? No! Oh my god!” Vanessa hugs Camryn. “She said, yes?”
Camryn’s smiling. “Liv said she’d be so honored if you got married at her estate.”
“This is going to be incredible,” Vanessa tells her.
“It’s going to be perfect, plus, not to mention it’ll be a total paparazzi-free zone, seeing how large the estate is,” Camryn adds.
That is a big plus, especially after what’s happened since Vegas and the media attention.
“This is seriously going to be amazing. We need to start planning now because you only have a couple of months. We have to get a dress, suits for the boys, bridesmaid outfits, food, theme, honeymoon …” Camryn starts rambling off lists.
My kind of girl. But I can help with the dresses, I know enough designers who would give their left kidney to dress Vanessa.
“Okay, well, first, let me start with my squad,” Vanessa says, looking out at us.
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” Butterflies flutter in my stomach. “She’s asking us to be her bridesmaids, bitches,” I shout as the rest of the room catches on and squeals as we all launch ourselves at Vanessa, hugging and kissing her.
“What’s going on here?” Christian walks in with Axel.
“Ness just announced her squad,” I tell him.
“Squad?” Axel questions.
These guys are supposed to be rock stars. “How do people not get this? Taylor Swift has a squad, now Vanessa Taylor has a squad. Us.”
“I asked them to be my bridesmaids,” Vanessa explains in a language the boys understand.
“We’re planning your wedding.” Camryn squeals.
“Really, now?” He seems surprised but also excited as he walks over and takes a seat beside his love and kisses her temple. It’s so sweet and yet so romantic. “So, what are the plans?”
“A friend’s castle in England,” Camryn tells him.
He looks at his wife. “I know people.” She winks at him.
“Sometime between Christmas and New Year’s.
A winter wedding, imagine watching the snow fall, cozied up together beside a roaring fire, all your family and friends around you.
” Camryn paints a magical picture, and I am there ready to toast marshmallows with my love, but the image is of a faceless man.
Hmm, my brain doesn’t automatically see Chance. I’m going to ponder that later.
“I love it, but can I add something?” Christian asks. “I know it’s a moot point having a bachelor party, seeing as we’re already married, but I’ve been thinking.”
“And you know that’s scary when my brother has been thinking.” Axel chuckles as Christian punches him.
“Like I was saying, I’ve been thinking, and if I could have the bachelor party of my dreams …” Vanessa frowns at him. “Angel, don’t look at me like that. I’m serious, I want something cool, and Camryn, I want you to organize it.”
“If it’s strippers, I’m going to veto it,” Camryn tells him.
Christian scrunches up his face. “Strippers! You think my dream bachelor party would include strippers?”
“Yeah, we kind of do,” Camryn adds, which makes Christian pout.
“I’m so offended right now, guys,” Chris tells us.
“Bro, come on, most bachelor parties include strippers,” Axel states.
“Well, this one doesn’t,” he says smugly. “Ah, that got your attention, didn’t it?” He smirks as he teases us with whatever his weird ass dream bachelor party is. “Now, I’ll tell you. I want a James Bond-themed bachelor party.”
I wasn’t expecting that, but I’m all in on that. “Hell, yes,” I shout in agreement.
“In Monaco,” Christian adds, which makes the room fall silent. “No one has anything to say?”
“Fuck, yeah. Count me in,” Axel says.
“All the boys in tuxedos, my dreams will be coming true,” I add.
“Babe, so what do you think?” he asks Ness. The poor guy looks so excited. How could you say no to that face? Luckily she doesn’t.
“I think that sounds awesome.” She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him.
“What about the bachelorette party?” Isla pipes up. “If the boys are going to Monaco, then so should we.”
“We could be Bond girls,” I suggest.
“And Yvette can do your dress. We could fly to Paris, then onto Monaco for the party,” Sienna adds.
Thanks, SiSi. That was who I was going to suggest because she did a fantastic job of hers, plus Yvette is a friend and we can trust her not to sell out the details to the media.
“Oh my god, that’s brilliant.” Vanessa squeals.
“Sebastien could do the catering. He’s a famous chef,” I suggest more as a joke, but I think they are taking my suggestion seriously. Oh shit.
“Do you mean Sebastien Sanchez?” Camryn asks, and Vanessa nods. “He’s like one of the most sought-after chefs in the world, plus the man is stunning.”
“Sienna knows all about that, don’t you?” I smirk.
Camryn gasps.
“Stop it,” Sienna says, throwing a fortune cookie at me.
Camryn looks between Sienna and me, and I can see she wants to know the goss.
“Before she got serious with Evan, she hooked up with Sebastien,” I explain.
“D,” Sienna shouts.
“We only kissed, we were friends, plus my relationship with Evan was complicated then,” Sienna explains.
“Who cares? That boy is fine. Do you seriously think he’d cater the wedding?” Camryn asks, looking hopeful.
Sienna shrugs. “I can always ask, no harm in it.” Until Evan finds out, I think.
“This is going to be the best wedding ever,” Christian says excitedly.