12. Chapter 11
Chapter 11
Tanner
W hen I walk into Blue Vista’s Crescent Beach location, I’m impressed. I hadn’t felt the need to see it before the wedding, trusting that Vic and her crew know what they’re doing when it comes to wedding venues, and I have to say, I was right.
Wyatt walks in behind me and gives a low whistle as we take in the reception area.
“I just want to point out that your wife owns this,” he says.
It’s exactly what I’m thinking and all my insecurities about money are telling me exactly how much I don’t deserve her.
“A quarter of it,” I say. “And she’s not my wife yet.”
I’d be lying if I said a part of me isn’t nervous she’s not actually going to go through with this wedding. Vic isn’t the most outwardly emotional person, but I remember her stack of books on her bedside table years ago. All of them were romances. Of course, her reading tastes could have changed over the past seven and a half years, but I remember how much of a romantic she used to be.
People move around the space, ensuring each table is set exactly the same: white tablecloths and plates with black cloth napkins and gold cutlery. In the centre of each table is a black vase with white roses tied together with gold ribbon.
The space is big enough to hold two hundred and fifty guests—half the size of their Vancouver location—but you can walk out the glass doors, which are currently open wide, directly onto Crescent Beach. The beach itself isn’t private, so there are people out there as well, but the beach in Vancouver isn’t private either. There’s another set of glass doors on the far side of the room leading to a huge patio where the ceremony will take place. The walls are a creamy white and the hardwood floors are a golden brown that almost matches the sand outside.
“Hey, guys,” Derek says as he comes toward us. “What do you think? Looks pretty good, right?”
“It’s amazing,” I say.
“We bought two lots. There were restaurants here before. We had the one next door torn down, then blew out that wall and expanded this space. Let me show you outside.”
He leads us to the open glass doors. “These were Spencer’s idea,” he says as we pass them. “He has doors like this at his apartment that he can open so his deck can become part of his living room.”
“It’s really smart,” I say. “Kind of brings the beach inside.”
Derek nods. “Exactly. Over here is where you’ll get married.”
The deck is massive and designed to resemble a boardwalk. Lights are strung above our heads. White folding chairs have been set out in rows in front of a pergola decorated with white roses. When we stand beneath it, the ocean will be in the background of any picture.
“We’d decided on white flowers,” I say. “I didn’t realize we’d gone specifically with roses.”
“Spencer insisted,” Derek says. “He said Vic would want roses, that there was some kind of significance. He was a little cagey about what it was.”
I think about this for a moment before I remember the paper rose I’d made for Vic the morning after we slept together. How would Spencer have known about that, unless she’d shown him? Had she kept it? I’ve been to her place a few times in the last few weeks and haven’t seen it, but then, I haven’t exactly been looking for it. We’d hired a moving company and my things were all set up at her apartment as of yesterday morning. I’d spent the night at Wyatt’s last night, but tonight, Vic and I would be spending our first night as husband and wife at her place.
“Oh,” I say.
“Let me show you where we’re getting ready.”
Wyatt and I follow Derek to a room on the second floor of the building.
“There are two rooms up here, one for each side of the wedding party. There’s also a couple offices.” He opens the door, and we go in together.
It’s a comfortable space with a couch and coffee table to one side, a makeup table with a director’s chair on the other, and a privacy screen in the far corner.
“Both rooms are exactly the same,” Derek says. “You can get changed back there. Or in the middle of the room, I guess.” He shrugs. “Anyway, this one is for us. Vic will be set up in the room next door.”
Vic had wanted her friends in the bridal party, but she has three and I only wanted Wyatt. So we’d decided to ask Derek to be my second groomsman to even things out. Spencer and Adalie will stand up with Vic.
“Thanks for doing this, Derek. I really appreciate it.”
“No problem. While we’re not that close, we are friends.”
“I just really didn’t want to have to ask Keith. Mom would have insisted if I didn’t have a good excuse why he couldn’t be a groomsman.”
Wyatt hangs up our suits and we start getting ready, chatting about Blue Vista and Derek’s upcoming honeymoon.
“Where are you guys going?” Wyatt asks.
“Hawaii. Ava wants to take pictures of the…” He waves a hand. “Everything.”
“Are you and Vic going on a honeymoon?” Wyatt asks. “I know it’s a business thing, but if you want to add more legitimacy, it wouldn’t hurt.”
“I hadn’t thought about it,” I say as I tie my tie. “Getting ready for the wedding has taken up most of our time these last few weeks. There’s a lot we need to figure out still. I’m also not much of a traveller, so I don’t even really know where we’d go.” I straighten my tie then look at Wyatt, who is struggling with his. “Let me. You never can get them straight.”
He grins. “What do I need to get a tie straight for? I work from home.”
Derek laughs. “I’m not sure I could do that. I’d probably completely neglect my house chores and never stop working.”
“Yeah, but you wear whatever you want to work, anyway,” I say as I finish with Wyatt’s tie, tightening it too much so he has to loosen it.
“Only on days when I don’t have to deal with clients.” He considers for a moment. “Which, admittedly, is most days. I have to say, owning my own business does come with some perks.”
“I’d like to start my own,” Wyatt says. “It just takes more capital than I have at the moment.”
“You’re in tech, aren’t you?” Derek says, pulling on his suit jacket and ensuring it’s straight. “You should talk to Spencer. He’s looking to invest in something, but he wants to be a silent partner. Plus, his dad is in tech, so I could see him being interested.”
“Doesn’t he hate his dad?” I ask.
“No. They’re just… estranged.”
Someone knocks on the door and a young woman peeks her head in when we tell her she can. I recognize her as the woman who I’d assumed was the receptionist at the Vancouver Blue Vista location. “They’re ready for you,” she says, speaking more to Derek than to me.
“Thanks, Denise. But I’m not your boss today. Tell the groom. Always remember, on the day of the wedding, your boss is the bride and groom.”
She straightens and nods, turning to me. “They’re ready for you, Mr. Marcus.”
“Lead the way,” I say, my voice steady despite the jumble of nerves.
“Just a second,” Derek says, going to a mini fridge I hadn’t paid attention to in the corner. “We weren’t sure what you liked to drink, so we put a few things in here.” He takes out a bottle of champagne and motions to a couple bottles on a tray on top of the fridge. One is scotch, one is rum, one is vodka. “We need to toast.”
I glance at the bottles he’s mentioned. All of them look expensive. I’m about to shake my head, decline opening any of them, when Wyatt puts a hand on my shoulder.
“We’re more of a beer family than any of those, but maybe we can make an exception and have some champagne? As long as we bring the rest of the bottle down after the ceremony.”
I release a breath and nod. “Yeah. That sounds good.”
Derek pours the glasses and hands them out.
I stare into the golden depths of the glass. “I don’t know what to say.”
“May I?” Derek asks.
I nod, adjusting my glasses that have slipped down my nose.
“To new friends and new beginnings. And to business arrangements that benefit everyone involved.”
“Except for the dicks,” Wyatt includes, and Derek and I laugh.
We tap our glasses together and drink the champagne. It’s fresh and citrusy and I swallow with more than a few nerves still clanging around inside me.
Derek claps me on the back. “Let’s get you married.”
We follow Denise, who had waited for us while we toasted, down the stairs and back outside where the chairs are now filled with people. My family takes up a bunch of them. We’d discussed including some of my nieces and nephews in the wedding party, but there are so many. Ultimately, we decided Wyatt’s two kids would be flower girl and ring bearer and left it at that. After stopping to kiss my mother’s cheek, then going to shake Richard’s hand and saying a polite hello to Karen, I stand at the altar with the officiant, Wyatt, and Derek.
We’re not waiting long before the music begins, and Spencer comes down the aisle first with Riley, Wyatt’s seven-year-old daughter and our flower girl. She’s in a pretty white dress with gold trim, while Spencer wears a white suit that matches my groomsmen’s suits. They’re also wearing matching gold ties. Riley walks down the black aisle runner, sprinkling white rose petals as she goes. When they reach the altar, Spencer kisses the back of her hand, making her grin before she skips off to sit with her mom.
Next down the aisle is Adalie with Hunter. He’s in a suit that matches Spencer’s while Adalie’s dress matches Riley’s: white with gold trim. I was surprised when Vic chose these dresses, remarking that the bride is usually the only one in white. Her response had been to shrug and say, “I’m not wearing white.”
Hunter carries the little pillow with the rings tied to it. When they reach the altar, Adalie gives him a hug, and he sits with Addison as well. Addison takes the pillow, which is smart since he’s four and we don’t want him to drop it before it’s time to give the rings to us.
Finally, the music changes and Vic steps onto the aisle, her eyes finding mine. My breath lodges in my chest as I take her in. The black and white dress suits her, hugging her curves expertly, showing them off in a subtle way. Sexy elegance. Her hair is pinned up and I notice a sparkle as the sun reflects off some jewels. She hadn’t wanted Richard to walk her down the aisle stating that he’s not giving her to anyone.
She walks toward me on her own, coming down the aisle like this is where she wants to be. Everything else fades away as she gets closer and closer. I take her hand when I can reach her, and she grips my fingers.
“Hi,” I say.
“Hi,” she responds.
“Your dress is perfect.”
She smiles. “Thank you.”
The officiant begins, reciting the words of the ceremony, but I tune him out as I take in the woman about to become my wife. The jewels in her hair are a couple of pins on one side and a comb on the other. She’s chosen not to wear any other jewellery except the ring I gave her, which I run my finger over now, hardly believing it’s there. This is really happening.
This is temporary , I remind myself. But it’s hard to remember that when she looks so beautiful and is staring at me as though I’m the only one she wants to see. She’s wearing black three-inch heels, bringing her eyes almost to a level with mine, and I find myself getting completely lost in that bright blue gaze.
Lost enough that the officiant has to clear his throat to get my attention. I turn to him and everyone chuckles.
“Your vows,” he says.
“Right.” I turn back to my almost-wife. “Vic. The first time I saw you, I thought you were the most beautiful woman I’d ever seen. It’s been almost ten years since then and I still think that. Now, I’ve also gotten to know you. You’re smart and strong, you don’t take shit from people, and you stand up for your friends. It was easy to fall in love with you back then and it’s even easier to stay there now. Anyone would be lucky to be with you, and I’m honoured that you chose me. Even if it did take a long time for you to get here.”
Vic snorts and rolls her eyes.
“Now that we are here,” I continue, “I promise to show up for you, to have your back in all things. I promise to try to make you smile, even when you don’t want to.” I pull a folded piece of paper from my inside suit pocket. It’s white with gold trim and in the shape of a heart. “And I promise to give you random pieces of origami that you’re not allowed to throw away.”
She takes the heart. “Because you made them for me.”
“That’s right.” I wink.
The guests laugh and Vic takes a breath because it’s her turn. We said we’d write our vows and keep them as close to the truth as possible while also making it sound like we’re hopelessly in love with each other. Of course, I am hopelessly in love with her, so my vows weren’t difficult, but I’m curious to know what she’s about to say.
“Tanner. You are charming and over the top.” She holds up the heart as though that’s proof of what she’s said. “There was a time when those traits annoyed me. But, I admit, you sort of grow on a person, until after a while, I realized I actually look forward to your antics. A few weeks ago, you came and asked me out and I realized something else. I haven’t trusted love in a long time, but I trust you, Tanner, which isn’t something I do lightly. When you asked me to marry you, I knew there was nothing I wanted to do more.” She pauses and I squeeze her hand. She squeezes back. “I also promise to have your back, no matter what, to laugh at your jokes, even when they’re not funny.”
“I’m always funny.”
She rolls her eyes again. “Whatever you need to tell yourself. And I promise to keep trusting you because you deserve it.”
The officiant begins the next section of the ceremony and suddenly we’ve both said, “I do,” and exchanged rings. The one Vic bought for me is perfect as well. It’s black tungsten with two thin bands of rose gold twisted in the centre. I stare at it on my left ring finger until the officiant says, “You may kiss your bride.”
My heart pounds in my chest. We’d talked about this as well. How it’s expected. How it will be fine and doesn’t have to be more than a quick brush of lips. Vic isn’t a big PDA person anyway, so it makes sense that we wouldn’t share a huge, passionate kiss in front of a hundred of our closest friends and family. But this is also the first time I’ve kissed Vic since that morning when everything had been so hopeful.
I cup her jaw, tilting her face up, keeping my eyes open so I can see the moment hers flutter closed. Then I press my lips to hers, softly, gently, lost again, this time in the feeling of her lips. Her hands slide along my jacket lapels, holding them and tugging me a little closer. I lift my head, breaking the kiss, watching as she comes back to herself. The hazy look in her eyes makes me want to kiss her again, but I refrain, because that would be too much.
The officiant leads us to the table on the side where we sign the papers. They’re witnessed, and it’s done. We are officially married. Victoria Sterling is my wife. Now, if only I can keep her.