Written in the Stars – Jeannie Choe #5
“Okay,” I tell him, sorting through the notes app on my phone to go through my check list. “And Claire will be there in about an hour, and we have our reservations at eight.”
“Which means we have about”—he checks his watch—“thirty minutes to ourselves.” He saunters toward me, taking in my half-dressed appearance. While I have my makeup done, my dress is still hanging in the closet, leaving me in my bra and underwear.
“We have to leave sooner than that if we want to pick up your parents before we go to the restaurant.”
“Okay, so fifteen minutes.” He runs his hand along my waist and tugs me closer to him. “Which is plenty of time considering it’ll take about ten minutes to do what I want with you.”
My brow shoots up. “Ten whole minutes? Somebody’s ambitious.”
He smacks my bare butt and I squeal. “You and that smart mouth,” he mutters under his breath as he leans forward and kisses me.
It’s so easy to get distracted by Rhylan.
He doesn’t just kiss me like he’s doing it out of habit or it’s part of his routine.
He kisses me like it’s the first time he’s kissing me while holding me like it’ll be the last time he gets to touch me.
There’s nothing mundane about how he kisses me.
It’s driven by passion and hunger, and it’s so easy to fall into it and forget about everything else.
“Okay,” I say, coming up for air. “Maybe just a quick twenty minutes.”
Rhylan scoops me up in his arms and I let out a delighted shriek, just as we’re interrupted by the doorbell.
“Dammit,” Rhylan groans.
“Who is it?”
“Probably Carrie,” he answers, referring to his assistant. “She’s here to pick up your bags.”
“Oh.” The plan is for Carrie to take my things to the hotel where Claire is staying and for me to spend the night before our wedding with her, so hair and makeup can be done in our makeshift bridal suite while Rhylan stays the night here before we meet at the altar at 11:00 a.m. sharp.
Carrie will make sure my wedding dress and overnight bag make it to Claire’s room while we all go out to a pre-wedding celebratory dinner to welcome Rhylan’s family into town.
“I guess we’ll have to pick things up tomorrow?”
He chuckles, setting me back down on solid ground. “It’s a date.”
“Ellie!” Claire screeches as she’s bounding toward me. Her burgeoning round belly embraces me before her arms do, and my insides melt a little bit.
“Oh my God, Claire! Look at you!”
She runs a hand around her belly, showcasing the little baby girl growing inside. “Apparently I carry it all in front, according to my mom.”
Her husband, Wes, sidles up next to her, placing a protective hand at her lower back. “Wherever she’s carrying, I just hope she ditches her addiction to sauerkraut and peanut butter before she’s born.”
I grimace, and Claire explains. “It’s all I’ve been craving.”
“Like mixed together?” I ask.
Claire nods. “Mixed together, layered on toast, to dip my potato chips in. You name it.”
“Our table’s ready,” Rhylan announces. He exchanges greetings with Claire, letting us make introductions between Claire and his parents and brothers. Before we’re able to dive into more pregnancy-related changes Claire is currently going through, we’re shown to our tables.
I’ve been wanting to try this new Vietnamese fusion restaurant that opened in West Hollywood a few months ago.
While the expected crowd and paparazzi usually swarming the more popular spots of Hollywood have kept me from going, I thought with Rhylan’s family and Claire in town, it would be the perfect excuse to try out their delicious food.
Within the confines of the private room we reserved and the happy chatter that floats over our delectable dinner, I’m able to forget all the dread surrounding our wedding day.
I want to focus on the celebrations ahead of us.
But I’m finding it to be difficult. While we were able to sneak into the restaurant with minimal attention, word spreads fast around here.
I’m not looking forward to what’ll greet us after dinner, and what will most likely prey on us all day tomorrow.
“Hey.” I feel Rhylan’s comforting hand rubbing my back. He leans close to me, pressing a kiss against my temple. “You okay?”
“Just want to hurry to the hotel,” I answer, poking a fork at my baked bánh bò.
“Can’t wait to spend the night away from me?”
I nudge him with my elbow. “I just want to get out of here. Maybe teleport instead of dealing with what’s waiting for us outside.”
He nods, understanding my apprehension, though he remains silent. It seems even he doesn’t have any comforting words to offer. Just an acknowledging gesture.
While the crowd remains on the outside, it’s like their presence is omnipresent. They’re at the forefront of my thoughts, even as we say our goodbyes.
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I tell Rhylan, wrapping my arms around his neck.
“Yup,” he answers. “I’ll be the one in the tux.”
I laugh. “I’m going to miss you.”
“You’re going to be having too much fun catching up with Claire to miss me,” he argues.
“True, but still.”
“Come on, El.” Claire signals her exit, preparing for the swarm already waiting. We can see the figures through the murky glass, giving us a sliver of privacy before we walk outside. I grip her hand in mine, following her to her car, with Rhylan close behind.
We ignore the barrage of questions and demands, leaving behind unanswered requests to tell them when our wedding is, who’s invited, where it’ll be. But there’s one question that blasts through the air that I can’t seem to ignore.
“Rhylan! Are you guys still getting married after Ellie cheated on you?”
I peer over my head, glancing at Rhylan before he helps me into Claire’s car. We don’t have more than a few seconds before he gives me a solemn smile and closes the door behind me.
I peer at Claire in the driver’s seat. “Did you hear that?”
She nods, starting her car. “Yeah.”
I lean my head against the headrest with a defeated sigh. She drives off, leaving behind the swarm, and I look behind me, realizing it’s just us. “Where’s Wes?”
“He’s staying at his parents’ place for the night,” she explains. “He wanted me and you to have our own girl time.”
I finally smile. “Thank you.”
“Of course.”
We get to the hotel and quickly settle into our pajamas, nibbling on the array of snacks Claire thought ahead to prepare, and it feels like the most relaxed I’ve been in a long time.
“How are you dealing with all this?” Claire asks after I’ve filled her in on all the nitty-gritty I didn’t want to dive into over the phone.
“I honestly don’t even know. One day at a time?”
“Well, hopefully you’ll have some normalcy once the wedding passes.”
I pop a chip in my mouth. “I hope so.”
We talk for a few more hours, watching Claire grow sleepy with heavy-lidded eyes and suppressed yawns. Before I know it, I’m sitting in the dark, tossing and turning in an attempt to claim my sleep. Every time I feel like I’m dozing off, I’m startled awake with a dream that feels too real.
Images of our ceremony being interrupted by a buzzing flock of cameras.
Intimate moments of our first kiss as husband and wife being splayed across the internet before we even have a chance to enjoy the post-wedding bliss.
When I look over at the clock, I see that it’s past midnight. I sit up with a huff, finding Claire sound asleep in her own bed next to mine. I can think of only one thing that can calm me down.
RHYLAN
... after Ellie cheated on you.
The words keep ringing in my head. My trust in Ellie has never wavered, but when someone dangles such arrogantly spoken words over my head, it’s hard to ignore them.
I can’t imagine what Ellie’s going through right now.
To have someone invade her privacy and create a narrative that’s so far from the truth while damaging her character without batting an eye.
I used to wish I could sweep Ellie off to a private island. Take her away from this absurd world so we can exist in our own bubble. It seems we need to protect our bubble even more now.
I lie in my bed, feeling empty without Ellie beside me, and I toss and turn.
It’s hard to fall into a deep enough sleep, knowing Ellie’s probably doing the same across town.
I imagine her, shifting her pillows and rearranging her comforter, hoping to find a position that she can sleep comfortably in.
I miss her. I know it’s been only a few hours since I’ve seen her, and it’ll only be a short time until I see her again, but I can’t help the pang in my chest without her in the same bed with me.
Just as images of her soft smile lying next to me in our bed fill my dreams, I am awoken by the gentlest of touches.
“Rhy?”
I stir, opening my eyes, and see Ellie lying next to me. I can’t tell if it’s a dream. “Ellie?”
“Hi.”
The fog in my brain clears, and I see her beautiful face resting on the pillow, her hair fanned around her. “What are you doing here?”
“I missed you,” she confesses.
I let out a sigh and reach for her in the darkness. “I missed you too.”
She moves her body so she’s flush against me, her knee hooking over my hip. She starts to kiss me, her fingertips traveling over my bare stomach. She reaches into my briefs, feeling me and letting me grow hard against her sure hands.
“Is this why you came here?” I tease. She smiles against my lips and sighs when I start lifting her shirt up the length of her spine.
“Maybe,” she mumbles. “I think we’ve run out of interruptions.”
I shift so that I’m on top, hovering over her lips. She helps me undress her, slipping her underwear past her thighs, and I work on the rest of her body, helping her with the clasp of her bra. I kiss her, watching her become pliant under me, letting me guide her and pin her arms over her head.
“God, I missed you,” I whisper against her skin. Her knees fall open, letting me mold to the hollow space between her thighs. She lets out a soft moan as I push myself into her, slipping inside with ease. “You were ready for me, weren’t you?” I taunt.
She nods, her face twisting with pleasure. She hums, pressing her palm into my back. “Rhy, please .”
“What is it, baby? What do you need?”
Her answer is a stretched-out, raspy moan. I grip her hips, pressing my fingertips into her warm, silky skin, and my body starts to go into a frenzy. I don’t think I’ll ever get enough of this woman. She drives me mad, and she somehow levels me.
I pick up my pace, and I feel her grow tense under me. Her hands claw at my back, pushing me closer to her. Just as I smother down my own orgasm, she comes, making me lose what little restraint I had left.
I bury my face into her neck, inhaling the sweet scent of vanilla and sweat dampening her skin. I groan, loudly, and feel her clench me, making my entire body jerk. We come down from the high, relishing in the heat of the moment and how our bodies knew exactly what we needed.
“I love you,” I whisper into her collarbone, trailing a line of kisses to her shoulder.
“I love you too.” I take in the way she watches me, a sadness making her eyes glisten. She sweeps my hair out of my face and strokes her palm down my jawline.
“What’s wrong?”
She shakes her head, and I notice a tear trickle out of the corner of her eye and disappear into the plush waves of her hair. “Nothing.”
“El, tell me. What’s wrong?”
“I just ...” She pauses, searching for her words. She tilts her head up, kissing me lightly. “I wish it could always be like this. I wish we could be a small tiny speck instead of this big blob no one can ignore.”
“I know,” I tell her, brushing her hair off her forehead. “I’m so sorry.”
“It’s not your fault,” she assures me. “I love who you are and what you do. You’re so talented, and you should be recognized for it. It just gets hard sometimes.”
I kiss her, letting my lips linger. “Maybe we should’ve taken Chuck’s advice and gone to Vegas when we had the chance, huh?”
She laughs. “Doesn’t sound like such a bad idea now.”
I pull away, searching her face to see how serious she is. Just as an idea hits me.
“What?” she asks, taking in the sudden shift. The invisible light bulb flickering over my head. The wide, mischievous grin I’m wearing.
“I have an idea.”
“Shit, Rhy,” Charles grumbles. “I think even the chickens are still asleep.”
I peer at the clock hanging over the fireplace in our living room, watching the little hand point toward the large Roman numeral IV. “We don’t have much time.”
“This is what you guys want?”
I nod, straighten my back, and smooth a hand over the dress shirt I threw on. “It’s what we want.”
“Okay then,” Charles agrees.
As if on cue, Ellie enters the room with Amelia trailing close behind her.
She isn’t wearing a big fancy wedding dress.
She’s wearing something simple. It’s white, but with small floral prints and little lacelike details at the hem that stops just below her knees.
She’s not overdone with makeup and an updo.
She’s just Ellie. Her face bare and her hair pinned back with a clip encrusted in large pearls.
“You two ready?” Charles asks.
Ellie nods, holding back a laugh, and we take our places. With Charles standing where our couch sat, now pushed aside to make room for this impromptu ceremony, and me and Ellie with our hands joined in front of him.
“Okay,” he says, giving Amelia a little wink. “I’d like to begin by welcoming everyone, or, Amelia, today as Eleanor and Rhylan choose to commit their lives to one another ...”
ELLIE
We had our wedding as planned. We assumed the roles as a betrothed couple, not an already married one.
Charles officiated. Again. This time I wore my elegant Vera Wang and six-foot-long veil.
I spent two hours having my hair and makeup done.
All while holding our little secret: We were already husband and wife.
When photos of our wedding leaked to the press, I didn’t care. Because it wasn’t the wedding that they wanted. The intimate one that was meant for us. They got the one that was there for show.
Even though Rhylan and I planned this beautiful wedding with the lively band and amazing four-course meal, all I cared about was the true moment we became husband and wife.
Rhylan gave me that. The memory of us in our barest form.
He protected our bubble at all costs. And it was then I knew how this ending, the one where we still held on to our true selves, was written in the stars.