61. Cooper
61
Cooper
I limp off the bed and to the bathroom. Silently congratulating myself.
I made it.
I followed the doctors orders and avoided the temptation that is my wife and love of my life down to the exact minute.
It took a little help from my friends, admittedly, but I made it and now I don’t know how I’m going to stay out of her.
Trin pouts as she picks up the remaining shards of her tattered Spanish sundress.
“I’ll buy you a new one.” I remark dismissively as I wrap her up and cradle her to my chest.
“It’s not mine. You’ll have to buy Stella a new one.” She teases, tossing the dress on the bed before kissing me.
Swatting her ass we hurry into the shower. Undoubtedly late for the rehearsal dinner.
* * *
“You look beautiful, zhena.” I run a thumb down Trinia’s cheek as she beams up at me from the vanity chair. The red of her bridesmaid dress looks gorgeous against her light freckled skin and dark hair.
“And what about our lovely bride?” Stella chimes in as she finishes spraying Luna’s hair.
“You, Luna dear, are going to blow everyone away.” I take her hand and twirl her around. Her smile is so bright I couldn’t be happier for her and my brother.
“OK, now shooo.” Stella swats at me with a hairbrush as she nudges me towards the door. “I’m not a wedding person but this has to be some adjacent version of bad luck.”
The girls giggle as I raise my hands in surrender to the boss and leave them to finish getting ready.
Cracking open the door to the den downstairs Matteo and Sebastian are playing pool as Theo paces in front of the large stone fireplace. Clearly on the verge of a meltdown.
“You might want to talk to him. He looks like he’s about to crack.” Matteo whispers before he lines up to shoot.
“You’re mister husband of the year. Why don’t you tell him about the nerves you had?” I rebuttal not sure if my relationship with Trin will translate to anything he is feeling right now.
I got lucky with her. I loved her from the moment I saw her, whether I knew it or not. There was never anyone else for me. I never had to try and fail like Theo did. Trin was made for me and in some celestial way and I was made for her too.
“Olivia and I didn’t have a wedding.” I look at him dumbfounded that mister big shot fancy pants billionaire didn’t have an ostentatious wedding with his better half. “I mean we are married but Olivia was pregnant so we eloped at the same court house we had our hearing at.”
I cock a brow at the mention of a hearing and he huffs out a laugh.
“A story for another time.” He nods towards Theo who is still pacing and muttering to himself.
I walk over and he doesn’t even notice me until I stop him from moving. Placing my hands on his shoulders and pinning him in place.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?”
“Have you seen Luna? I think I need to talk to her.” He rambles, sounding panicked as he chews the inside of his cheek.
“Yes.” I answer flatly.
“And?”
“And what? I’m not telling you what her dress looks like. She wants the whole moment where you cry or freak out or whatever.”
“So she’s dressed. She’s still here.” He mutters much more to himself than he does as a question.
Noticing he is still spiraling I do the only thing I know to do. I slap him across the face to snap him out of it before gripping his shoulders.
“Look at me! Luna loves you. She is glowing with joy and happiness and is so excited to be your wife. I swear to the fucking gods if you ruin this day for her I will beat your ass and toss you into the sea. Do you hear me.” I yell and he nods.
Taking a deep breath Theo nods again letting what I just said sink in.
“OK,” He sighs as Matteo comes around with a rocks glass with a splash of something I’m unsure of.
“It’s a little bit of whiskey but mostly ginger ale.” Marco lets me know and I dip my chin, mouthing thank you .
“I thought you were going to talk to him, not hit him.” Matteo shakes his head with a slight crooked smile as he takes a seat in the chair next to Theo’s.
“It’s fine.” My brother concedes. “I needed that.”
Just then the wedding planner comes in and calls us all out to take our places.
I guide my brother out of the den and whisper in his ear as we walk up the aisle adorned with arches of fresh flowers, vintage lace and weaved greenery, “You did good baby brother. You’re a good man and you did good.”
Theo stops, right in the middle of the aisle and throws his arms around me, pulling me in for a tight hug as I hug him back.
“Thank you brother. I’m so thankful you’re here.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”