CHAPTER THIRTY
MY BIG DAY PART 1
BIANCA
T he girls had taken the party to the exclusive VIP section. The most adorable sight of the night was seeing Ritchie sound asleep with his head resting on my best friend's chest.
My friends and I were having such a good time I’d forgotten that Tori and Ritchie almost died this morning.
Catch wrapped his arm around my waist and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before joining Ezra, Rémy, and Romeo near the banister overlooking the dance floor.
I placed my hand on Tori’s shoulder. Her gaze met mine. “Is Ritchie all right?”
Her smile lifted her cheeks but didn’t meet her eyes. “Arlis gave him a heavy dose of pain meds. I think they’ve finally kicked in,” she whispered loudly over the thrum of the music.
“Tori, I don’t think you noticed but when you’re distracted in a setting like this your demons don’t come out.”
Her smile met her eyes this time. “When you have this handsome guy who’s willing to die for you in your arms there isn’t room for the demons. He needs me. Also, I’m having fun tonight. We beat the shit out of four women who flirted with our men.”
My mouth dropped open. “What?”
Tori kissed Ritchie’s temple before resting his head on top of the sofa.
“Brock, you got him right?” Tori asked.
“I sure do,” he said as he inched closer.
Tori walked toward me. “As I was saying there was a group of women who knew the guys had girlfriends but proceeded to come on to them anyway. I knew it was because we weren’t sitting with the guys.”
“It’s funny you mention the fight with the women. I also had a fight with a redhead. Their friend. I almost choked her out.”
Asia and Simone halted beside us.
“Why didn’t you finish the job?” Asia asked.
“There were people standing outside the bathroom filming the ordeal with their phones,” I stated.
“Oh, shit,” Simone snickered. “That’s a good reason to stop.”
“Well, Catch had to stop me because I blacked out.” I shrugged.
“Way to go kicking that bitch’s ass,” Tori chuckled.
The girls roared with excitement.
“Let’s grab more drinks and hit the dance floor,” Tori said, shimmying her hips as she flagged down our waitress.
I felt a set of eyes on me. My gaze met his. A smile lifted my lips. “I love you,” I mouthed.
“Love you too,” he mouthed back.
Returning my attention to the girls, we sipped our cosmos as we danced to several classic songs.
My night was incredible. Spending time with my best friends and our men made the night extra special.
***P***
Loud banging jarred me from my sleep. What the fuck?
“Go away,” I muttered from under my pillow.
The knocking didn’t stop. I sat up and glanced around the room. The oversized room felt inviting yet cold at the same time because my fiancé wasn’t lying next to me.
The knocking started again.
“Coming,” I yelled.
My bare feet padded across the penthouse suite marble floors. Gosh, it was stunning. I kept the suite Catch and I stayed in when we arrived. He was staying in the penthouse suite down the hall.
I swung the door open as I rubbed my eyes. “What?”
“Is that anyway to talk to your mother?”
My eyes grew in size. “Mom?”
“Yes, Bianca, I’m here.”
Falling into her arms, I squeezed her tightly.
“I’m so happy you’re here,” I breathed in her coconut scented hair.
“I wouldn’t miss your big day,” she affirmed as she stepped back.
“Now let me take a look at my baby.”
“Mom,” I whined.
“White satin PJs. Cute. A far cry from the cotton PJs from Walmart.”
I wore a tiny white tank and a pair of matching shorts. The material felt so soft on my skin.
“Yes, it is. Make yourself comfortable. I won’t be surprised if breakfast arrives soon. Catch doesn’t miss a beat.”
“He doesn’t. The plush seats on the private jet were so comfy. I figured we’d be flying first class on a commercial flight. I wasn’t expecting to fly private.”
Her eyes moved around the suite. “I don’t think I’ve ever stepped foot in a place so nice.”
I felt a little uneasy due to all my new wealth.
“Mom, I’m going to take a shower.”
“I’ll be right here.” She picked up the remote control and turned on one of her favorite TV shows. Leave it to my mother to pick up where she left off on one of her precious shows.
I laughed under my breath as I strolled to the bathroom. Standing in the oversized mirror, I stared at my reflection. This was my last morning as Bianca Landry. A huge smile lifted my lips.
Soon I’d become Mrs. Callum Rizzo. I applied a cooling mask on my face, then brushed my teeth.
With my free hand I reached in my toiletry bag and retrieved the shaving cream and razor. I couldn’t believe I carried around this beautiful, oversized water-resistant bag. My man spoiled me so much.
After relieving myself, I climbed into the state-of-the-art shower. It was fit for a queen. I could get used to living like this. The piping hot water poured over my skin from the six shower heads.
My eyes shot open. “I’d be living in that massive warehouse all by myself,” I muttered aloud.
Unless Simone and Asia moved in with me. It wasn’t like I hadn’t lived alone before, but that warehouse was enormous.
A light tapping came from the bathroom door. Damn, my mother was probably here to tell me the food had arrived. My stomach growled at the thought, but I wasn’t ready to give up the peace of the shower just yet.
“Bianca,” a deep voice whispered.
My eyes widened. “Yes?”
“Bombshell, it’s me.”
“Leave, you can’t see me before the wedding.”
I can’t believe my mother let him in.
The door creaked open slowly. "Bianca, close your eyes," he demanded.
A dark navy blindfold covered his eyes.
"They're closed," I lied, trying not to burst into laughter as Catch stumbled towards me.
His arms reached out blindly as he made his way to the large glass shower door. I bit my lip to keep from laughing and wished I could capture this moment on video.
"Did you forget what I promised to do this morning?" He fumbled until his hand found the door handle.
“No, I didn’t forget. I guess I didn’t think you were serious.”
“I’m always serious,” he said as he pushed his boxers down his sculpted thighs.