Chapter 32
DERRICK
We’ve just celebrated Vanessa and Christian’s rehearsal dinner, all the parentals have retired for the night, leaving the rest of us here to continue drinking and chatting away before the big event. Isla stands and taps a knife against the crystal glass. Tap, tap, tap. This silences the room.
“I have an announcement to make,” Isla states.
Oh, shit, this is it. Come on, Finn, this is the moment you grow some balls and have an adult conversation with Isla before she goes, because once she’s gone, she might never come back, or she’ll fall in love with that hot Spanish chef. I wouldn’t blame her.
“For the past ten years, I have been working with the amazing guys of Dirty Texas. It’s been a crazy rollercoaster ride, and I have loved every moment of it. But … I have decided to pursue a new adventure.”
You could hear a pin drop in the room. Oscar and Finn look shocked, as do the other guys, but I suspect Ness and Sienna have already spoken to their men about what we spoke about the other night.
“I’m going to be Sebastien’s new assistant.” Isla beams.
Finn looks devastated, he knows she is leaving because of him.
“I’m so happy for you,” I say, congratulating her because the room has been quiet for long enough, and eventually everyone else does the same.
Then suddenly, Ragnar launches himself out of the chair and pulls his sister into a tight hug, she’s bawling her eyes out.
They are lost in a private conversation, just the two of them.
“Go see the world. Enjoy life. Have some fun. Find yourself,” Oscar tells her. Then Sebastien walks out unknowingly into the drama. Oscar then turns and points directly at Sebastien. “Hands off my sister.”
“Oscar!” Isla yells at her brother. “You can’t talk to my new boss like that.” Isla looks over to where Sebastien is sitting and mouths, ‘Sorry.’
“Congrats,” Finn mumbles. Isla gives him a head nod and ignores him. He just sits there looking devastated until he gets up and storms out of the dining room.
It’s the wedding day, and Vanessa has asked me to marry them. I’m so honored, but also nervous as hell. It’s as if I’m getting married. You’ve got this. Everything is going to be okay. You are marrying two of your best friends today. Just let the love take over and everything will be fine.
I look over at Christian, and he looks like he’s shitting bricks as much as I am.
“Are you good?” I ask him.
“It’s not the first time I’ve married her,” he jokes.
“First one you remember, though,” I shoot back, making him laugh.
“I can’t wait to marry her again, D, happiest day of my life.” He grins.
The music starts and we all turn to the back of the room where there are two massive wooden doors.
One by one, the bridesmaids walk down the aisle.
Then Vanessa appears and she looks a vision.
As soon as Christian sees her, he loses it, which sets me off, but I’m the bloody minister and I can’t cry.
Vanessa looks like she is freaking out as she walks down the aisle, so I give her two thumbs up, which makes her smile.
She continues down the aisle, her father handing her off to Christian, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen him smile so wide.
I launch into my welcome speech, welcoming everyone here and the people who couldn’t make it from both sides of the family.
“The bride and groom have elected to say their own vows,” I announce to everyone.
“I, Christian, take you, Vanessa, to be my lawfully wedded wife. I promise to love, honor, and cherish you. I promise not to look at the credit card bills when there’s a Louboutin sale.
I promise to cook dinner for you every night.
I promise to always leave the toilet seat down and make sure there’s enough toilet paper available.
I promise to do manly things like chop wood to fulfill your unhealthy lumberjack fantasies.
I promise to give you foot massages twice a week. ”
“Six times,” Vanessa teases.
“Five.”
The congregation giggles.
“Four, and that’s my final offer.” Vanessa smirks.
Christian rolls his eyes. “Fine, I promise to give you foot massages four times a week. I promise to love you in sickness and in health. I promise to love you when you’re as big as a whale with our babies inside you. I promise to be a vault when it comes to your secrets and anyone else’s.”
“Ness, no sharing from the vault,” I tell her with a wink. Except for me because I need to know everything.
“I promise to take you on regular dates, even when we have kids. I promise to still grab your ass when we’re old and gray.
But most of all, I promise to be the best husband you’ll ever have.
” Aw. That was beautiful. “Oh, and yeah, I promise to love you forever, nearly forgot that. That one is kind of important,” he says, making us all laugh.
Then Christian leans over and kisses Vanessa’s cheek.
“Hey, not yet,” I tell him. “Vanessa, it’s your turn.” I look over at Ness. She looks so nervous, and I watch as she tries to steady those nerves.
“I, Vanessa, take you, Christian, as my lawfully wedded husband. To have and to never let go, even when there are manic fans around. They may be little, but they are strong, but I promise no matter what, I won’t let you go. I promise I’ll attempt to cook dinner once a week.”
“Four times,” Christian chuckles, starting his own negotiations.
“Two times.”
“Sold,” Christian agrees quickly because we all know how much she hates cooking, which makes everyone laugh.
“I promise to let you watch football in peace and not try to distract you in some kind of way that usually works.”
“Don’t you dare stop doing that, woman,” Christian declares.
“I promise that I’ll stay healthy for you.
I promise that I will believe you when you tell me that man flu is worse than anything else in the world, and I promise to attempt to make you chicken soup just like your mum.
” Vanessa looks over at Christian’s mum, and she gives her a thumbs up.
Christian must ask for Mama Taylor’s chicken soup when he’s sick.
Aw, that’s cute. “I promise not to work as much, even though technically, you’re the boss and set my hours,” she teases.
“Fine, you’re fired,” he whispers, which makes Vanessa glare at him. “Fine, but you need to cut back those hours.” He relents.
“I promise to hide any new purchases from you and pretend that they have always been in my wardrobe. I promise to love, honor, and obey you sometimes. But most of all, I can’t wait to spend the rest of my life with you.” Vanessa reaches out and swipes a tear from Christian’s face.
Then they look up at me expectantly. Oh, right, that’s me.
“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”
Christian’s face lights up, and you can see he has been dying to do this all day as he grabs her face and kisses her. “I love you, Ness,” he mumbles against her lips before launching into a NSFW kiss, which makes everyone cheer.
“Ladies and Gentlemen, Mr. and Mrs. Christian Taylor,” I declare excitedly. I did it.
They are married!
I watch my friends walk down the aisle with beaming smiles on their faces. Now I let the tears that I’ve been holding in fall. They deserve all the happiness in the world.
“You did good, D,” Sienna says, hugging me before joining Evan and walking down the aisle. The rest of the bridal party says the same.
“Can I ask for the bride and groom to please come here for the first dance.” I call Vanessa and Christian to the ballroom, they settle themselves in the middle of the dancefloor.
The opening strings of a guitar echo through the quiet room, the velvet curtain falls, and behind it are the Sons of Brooklyn together with Gypsy Sisters.
What’s going on?
“Congratulations, Christian and Vanessa,” Blake says into the microphone. “Christian wrote a song for you for today, and here it is. It’s called ‘Angel.’”
Oh my god. No way, that is so sweet. We watch as the two of them get lost in their own little world. It is utterly romantic. They sway to the strings of the music, it’s magical. This moment makes my single heart ache, to be that lost in your person must be beautiful.