Chapter 70 Derrick
DERRICK
“Inow pronounce you man and wife. You may kiss your bride, Ragnar,” I say, marrying Oscar and Stacey.
He tenderly grabs her face and kisses her.
“That was hot.” I chuckle. “Ladies and Gentlemen, let me introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Eriksen,” I announce, introducing the married couple to their guests.
They look so happy walking back down the aisle as the blazing orange sunset starts to disappear over the eucalypt trees, and there on the horizon are those four kangaroos.
They watch Stacey and Oscar walk down the aisle, and then they turn and hop away as if they had stayed and watched the entire ceremony, and now they know Stacey and the kids are safe, their job is done, and they bounce away toward the sunset.
“You were amazing up there.” Charlie steps out of his seat and finds me on the aisle.
“Yeah? I was so nervous I didn’t want to mess anything up for them.”
“You were perfect. The entire ceremony was perfect.” He smiles before kissing me.
“You’re perfect,” I say, resting my forehead against his.
“Aw, do weddings make you sappy?” He chuckles.
“I’m a romantic at heart. And Stacey deserves her happily ever after, after everything.”
“And she got it. It was beautiful, D. Stunning.”
“It was a gorgeous wedding.”
“Do you want to get married in Australia?” he asks.
I raise a brow. “I don’t know. I haven’t thought about it.”
“You haven’t thought about your wedding, you, the fashionista,” Charlie teases.
“Honestly, before you, I never thought I’d get married. That finding love wasn’t in the cards for me.”
Charlie’s face softens. “Me too.”
“Look, we are a long way off getting married …” I quickly add.
“Doesn’t mean we can’t think about it.” He smiles, kissing me.
“You wouldn’t think that was weird? We’ve only just started dating.”
“When you know, you know. But just so you know, I won’t be proposing in the first year of us dating.”
I stare at him, gobsmacked. “Charlie!”
“What? Have I not made my intentions known? I’m marrying you, Derrick. You and me, kids, the house, the dog, a huge, big closet,” he explains.
“You’ve been thinking about this?” I stare at him in surprise.
“I think about it when I do my exercises, visualizing our future helps me get through the torture.” He grins.
“That is the most romantic thing anyone’s ever said to me,” I tell him, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Where do you want to get married then? If you’ve been thinking about it. I assumed the ranch …”
“You’d be right there. Who says we can’t have more than one wedding?” He shrugs.
“Charlie. Don’t fuck with me. Are you seriously saying we can have more than one wedding?” I question him.
“Why not? We can do whatever the fuck we want. Whatever makes us happy.”
“You are so fricken perfect.” I squeal, kissing him again.
“Derrick, photos,” Camryn calls.
“I’ve got to go, catch up later. I love you,” I say, kissing him.
“Love you too, go, look pretty.” He smirks, urging me on.
The reception was in the old shearing shed, and Camryn used her magic wand and turned it into this gorgeous country-inspired wedding event space.
Tables upon tables lined the old, corrugated iron shed, fairy lights twinkle above us, and beautiful native flowers fill the centers of each table.
It was simple yet luxurious, and after the conversation with Charlie, my mind is whirling with all the possibilities, but don’t get ahead of yourself, Derrick.
You’re not engaged yet, and you’re not even living together, and he told you it wouldn’t happen in the first year.
See, I told you he’s so honest and communicative.
He knows I would be in my head constantly wondering when he is going to propose, every holiday, every fancy dinner, anything really, I’d always be wondering if it’s going to happen now.
We’ve only been together, technically, a couple of months, but it feels like forever.
Stacey and Oscar had gone for a melding of Texan and Australian barbeques for a massive all-you-can-eat barbecue buffet.
Sienna’s dad, who is a celebrated vegan chef, created vegan and vegetarian options for the Hollywood crowd.
An entire section was set up for kids with toys, coloring books, a petting farm, a magician, and video games for the older kids, along with a couple of the dads.
Once everyone had finished dinner, it was time for the bride and groom’s first dance.
Oscar hit another banger out of the park with the Gypsy Sisters, where they danced under the stars to another song Oscar had written called ‘My Heart’.
Who knew the Viking could be so romantic?
We watched as Oscar and Stacey danced across the floor, looking lost in each other, totally in love.
Once the first dance was over, fireworks went off in the paddock, lighting up the night sky.
When the floor was opened to the rest of the guests, Charlie came and found me and asked me to dance.
After dancing for a bit, we headed to the games set up outside under the large tents. There was also a champagne lounge, and whiskey and cigar areas to hang out in.
“Derrick, come play corn hole,” Christian calls out. I look at Charlie, and he smiles as we join Chris and Vanessa. “You versus me, Ness is hopeless at it.”
“Hey,” she argues.
“Babe, it’s true.”
“We can’t all be corn hole freaks like you. I’m going to get some bubbles. Good luck, D.” Ness huffs away.
Now I’m a little worried, Christian seems rather competitive over corn hole.
He hands me the sacks and then we start.
Ness is right, Christian is a freak. How did he get the sacks in every single time?
“Best of three,” I argue. I’m determined to get this.
I did not get it. Christian wiped the floor with me.
“Charlie, you have a go.” I hand my boyfriend the sacks.
“Okay,” he says, happily taking them.
“Please tell me you know how to play,” Christian asks.
“I’ve played.” Charlie grins. And then proceeds to decimate Christian.
“No fair. You have military training.” Christian groans.
“Yeah, like the military trained him in corn hole.”
“No, but he has the skills,” Christian complains.
“You’re just upset because he’s better at it than you.”
“Let’s try ring toss,” Christian asks.
Charlie looks over at me and smiles. He’s going to destroy Christian at that game.
“I’m going to catch up with the girls in the champagne lounge. Come get me when you’re done,” I say, giving him a kiss.
“Won’t be long.” He grins, following Christian to the next lot of games.
“Let me guess, he beat you too,” Vanessa says as I take a seat beside her.
“He did, but Charlie is giving him a run for his money. I had no idea Christian was so competitive.”
“He is. He’s horrible to play games with. I think it’s a twin thing.” Vanessa grins, handing me a glass of champagne. “You and Charlie seem to be going well. He’s lovely.”
“We are.”
“I’m happy for you. Have you heard from Chance?” she asks. I shake my head. “That’s good. Not that he’s a bad person, just not the right one for you.”
“Charlie and Chance are like night and day. Look, I wish Chance the best, but we were never going to work, not until he works on his unresolved issues. Being with Charlie, who is like the biggest green flag ever, he’s emotionally intelligent, he communicates well, and he is mature and thoughtful.
I’ve never been treated so well. I’m happy. ”
“I can see. You’re glowing.”
“Not as glowing as Sienna and Issy,” I joke.
“Right? More babies. It’s hilarious that Sienna thought Evan was going to let her have a break from producing babies. That man loves seeing her knocked up.”
“He probably has a breeding kink.”
Ness gasps and bursts out laughing. “Yes. For sure. To be fair, I think Christian has one too. He’s desperate now to knock me up again, but it’s not as easy for me to fall.”
“He likes the practicing.” I nudge her.
“True. We’ve had to be so creative with our sex life. The twins are always cock blocking, and then his parents are there helping. We’ve resorted to doing it in the shower, which is really the only time we have to ourselves.”
“Uncle Derrick is happy to come over and babysit one night. You guys get a hotel for the night and get your freak on or go spend a couple hours at The Paradise Club.”
“Thanks. Don’t tell Christian or he is going to have you booked in. If I’m honest, I would love to book into a hotel to sleep, uninterrupted, for one night. The girls are crawling into our beds in the early hours, and I’m woken up to a tiny foot or hand in my face.” She chuckles.
“Well, the offer is there for whenever you need it.”
“Thanks, D.”
“It’s not fair. He’s too good at everything.
” Christian walks in with Charlie, looking unhappy.
“He beat me at every game. When we get back home, you need to come to golf.” This is something the boys have started to get into recently.
They said it’s a dad sport, but really, I think it’s an excuse to grab time for themselves away from the kids.
“Sure. Sounds good.” Charlie smiles.
“Don’t tell me, you know how to play, don’t you?” Christian grumbles.
“Yeah, I’ve played with my dad.”
“Then you and I are on the same team,” Christian tells him.
I smile up at Charlie, loving how easily he has fit into my life with my friends, it’s as if he’s always been there. He takes a seat beside me and places a hand on my knee.
“Now, do I want you on my team?” he teases Christian.
“Hey man, come on, I’m the best.” Charlie raises a brow as if to say ‘Really?’. “Babe, come on, tell him.” He turns to Vanessa, who shrugs. “Derrick?” he asks me.
“I haven’t seen your golfing skills.” I smirk.
“Fuck you guys,” he grumbles as he heads off to the bar, making us all laugh.
“Hope he knows I was joking?” Charlie whispers to me.
“Yes. Christian knows, he’s a prankster too. Don’t worry, they love you. The fact that you are getting invited to their golf days shows how much they like you.”
Charlie visibly relaxes. “It would suck if your friends didn’t like me.”
“You’re besties with Jackson, and they trust him.” Charlie nods in understanding. “Are you having fun?”
“I am. Oscar and Stacey look so in love. And Australia is amazing.”
“I’m glad you’re getting to see outside the main cities as many people don’t come to the bush.”
“Because it’s scary.” He chuckles.
“No bears here.”
“But you have snakes ….”
There was an unfortunate incident where Charlie nearly stepped on an Eastern brown snake.
It was a heart-attack-inducing, underwear-changing experience.
I did suggest maybe not going for morning runs around the camp for that very reason, as they also have Tiger snakes in the area, and they are two of the worst kinds of snakes in the world.
“Yes. But honestly, that is the first time I’ve truly seen those kinds of snakes,” I try to reassure him, but he does not look convinced.