Chapter Twenty-Five
Piper
The night before my wedding, I’m nice and cozy in my home. Poor Magnus has been booted for the evening. He pouted a bit about it, but was a good sport. His last words were to tell me he couldn’t wait to see me at the end of the aisle. I was barely able to let him go.
Right now, though I’m with my best friend Livie, and my new sister, Bianca, as we sit on the couch with baby Julie in her cradle sound asleep near us. I’ve been glowing for days as the countdown has run down until I marry Magnus Carter.
We’re all holding a glass of wine as we sit here comfortably, not needing a wild party the night before my wedding day. Of course the event has become huge, but I don’t mind. It’s all being taken care of, and it makes all of the people I love happy to do it. I can’t help but marvel at how much my life has changed in such a short amount of time.
“I’m getting married tomorrow,” I say again, my voice filled with awe.
Livie, the more practical of the two of us, is still a dreamer. “You’re going to be Mrs. Magnus Carter tomorrow. How does it feel?”
“I’ve always found it odd that they say Mr. and Mrs, insert man’s name. I love that I’ll be Mrs. Carter, though. I have zero attachment to my last name. I do like my brother, but we aren’t close. We can go months, even years without seeing each other. Being a part of Magnus’s family is a dream come true.” I look at Bianca. “I can’t say it enough times how much it means to me that you and your mother have opened your arms to me.”
She jumps up and gives me a hug. “You’re the blessing for us. I absolutely love you,” she assures me.
“I never thought I’d find a man like Magnus, a man I love and trust so much. After my initial fears, I haven’t been scared again. He wears his heart on his sleeve, and it feels so good.”
Bianca, full of her usual spirit, laughs. “You and my brother are perfect together. He absolutely adores you. I’ve seen him shine since he’s met you. Don’t ever think you’re the lucky one. He’s the one who won the lottery.”
I beam at her, appreciating her words. This family has zero problem speaking their mind, so if she didn’t mean what she was saying, she wouldn’t say it. That’s why it means that much more to me.
Livie leans back, her eyes twinkling with memories. “Remember how we used to talk about the kind of men we wanted when we were in our early twenties. It’s crazy what we thought we wanted, versus what we need.”
I laugh, nodding at her. “Those conversations would last well into the night. We had very unreal expectations. Maybe that’s why we didn’t normally last past a date or two with the men we’d go out with. No one measured up.”
“Until I found Tyler, and you found Magnus. They’re both everything we ever dreamed about, and so much more,” Livie says.
“Now, you guys are making me a little jealous. You both hit the jackpot,” Bianca says with a pout as she leans over to refill her wine glass.
This makes us both chuckle as we turn her way. “What kind of man are you looking for, Bianca? You’re stunning, spunky, successful, and men are always panting at your feet. What will it take for one of them to interest you?” I ask.
Bianca laughs as she rolls her eyes, a playful smile tugging at her lips. “For one, I’d love to find a man who isn’t intimidated by me in exactly five minutes. The moment they realize I’m not some shrinking violet, that I run my own business, and that my confidence is real, they slink away. I don’t get it. I’m never going to be a quiet, meek girl, but you’d think there were at least some men out there who’d appreciate that.”
Livie leans forward and pats her leg. “You should never have to change anything about yourself to impress anyone. You’re phenomenal and it’s their loss if they don’t appreciate you. I hate it when women tell other women they have to suppress themselves. If the men you’re around don’t like it, then we’ll just have to go somewhere else. Maybe Texas. There are some real men there,” Livie says, making all of us laugh.
“There’s a real difference in confidence and being a jerk. I certainly want a man who knows who he is, but I also want him to worship me without letting me walk all over him,” Bianca says.
“That’s not much to ask for,” I tell her. I’m going to be laughing all night long with these two ladies.
“Exactly,” Bianca agrees. “There has to be at least one man out there who can handle me, who can match my fire with his own.”
“I want to sit back with some popcorn when it happens. You guys will go up in smoke together,” Livie says.
“I sure hope so. Otherwise I’m going to adopt twenty cats and scare children. It’s always good to have a backup plan,” Bianca says.
“I thought your brother was a playboy and wanted nothing to do with him when I first met him, but the second I saw his tender side, I was a goner. Sometimes we have to get past the hard outer shell to find the gooey marshmallow inside,” I tell her. “When you find the one you can’t live without the wait will be well worth it.”
Bianca nods, her eyes thoughtful. “I certainly hope so. I do agree with you that Magnus could be an ass to women. I’ve never, and I mean never, seen him treat a woman the way he treats you. This gives me hope. If my brother can be a strong, amazing man, then maybe I’ll find one who will adapt with me, too. I don’t want to go into a relationship wanting a man to change, but I do want to go into a relationship where we both bring out the best in each other.”
“And a man who thinks of our flaws as beautiful and doesn’t bow to us, but appreciates us for who we are,” Livie adds.
“Amen to that,” Bianca says as she sips her drink again.
We fall into a comfortable silence, each of us lost in our own thoughts for a moment. The room feels warm, safe, and cozy, a cocoon of love and friendship.
It doesn’t take long before Livie stands up and moves to the kitchen. She comes back with three pints of ice-cream, all with spoons in them. Bianca and I laugh as we each grab one and start taking bites. We trade them back and forth, all of the flavors equally good.
“Dating was a rollercoaster, and I’m so glad those days have come and gone,” Livie says.
I laugh. “Me too! It was all a part of our journey though, and I have no regrets. Every heartbreak, every misstep all led me to Magnus. If reaching him at the end of my journey led me right here it was a well-traveled path.”
Bianca grins. “And Livie is now married, and you’re about to walk down the aisle tomorrow. I’d say that’s an incredible journey.”
“I think the one thing about each of us is that even if we’ve all had bumps in the road, we never gave up on ourselves and stuck to what we believed in. I agree that the wait was worth it,” Livie says.
Bianca nods. “Confidence is everything. I have days I don’t feel as confident, but then I remember who I am. My parents raised me to be strong. Knowing who you are is important. Magnus always enforced this with me as well.”
I’m full and happy, and couldn’t be more grateful for being where I am. “I sometimes feel guilty about how great my life is. I love that I have you both, and love that you’re here with me now on this beautiful night.”
Livie stands again, a mischievous grin spreading across her lips. “Speaking about tonight which leads to tomorrow, Bianca and I have a few gifts for you.”
Bianca reaches behind the couch and pulls out a beautifully wrapped box, handing it to me. “You have to open mine first,” she insists, her eyes sparkling with anticipation.
“I love presents,” I tell her. I don’t point out that I didn’t get them much as a child. I don’t want to bring anything up that might bring down the mood of this incredible night.
I tear off the wrapping paper and lift the lid to find a delicate necklace inside. It’s stunning, the kind of jewelry that holds love and a story with it.
“This is a family heirloom that my mother brought with her from Italy,” Bianca says, her voice filled with emotion. “It’s been passed down from generation to generation and my mother and I am very proud to give it to you. I really am happy that as of tomorrow at five in the evening, you’ll be my official sister, Piper.”
Tears spring to my eyes as I lean over and hug her tightly. “Thank you, Bianca. I’ll call your mother and thank her as well. I’ll cherish this forever. It means the world to me. I know what I’m wearing tomorrow.”
“I love you,” Bianca says.
“I love you, too,” I tell her before setting the antique box down on the table. The necklace glows beneath the soft lighting. It’s the most precious gift I’ve ever been giving.
“Okay, mine isn’t nearly as wonderful, but I think you’ll like it,” Livie says with a laugh as she hands me an elegantly dressed bag. “Now for something more . . . playful.”
I’m scared as I take the bag from her. They’re both staring at me as I open it up. Inside is an ultra-sexy, and skimpy piece of red lingerie. My cheeks instantly flush as Livie and Bianca laugh.
“Make that man of yours scream on your wedding night. Who knows, maybe Julie will have a little cousin to play with for her first birthday,” Livie says with a wink.
I start to giggle and then we all erupt in laughter which wakes up Julie. Livie jumps up to collect her, then sits back and starts feeding her while I tuck the lingerie away. I know she’s far too young to remember seeing it, but it seems far too racy to have out with the baby in the room.
Livie laughs as she sees me do this. “How do you think this child of mine was made?” she says. “I guarantee you I was wearing something just as hot the night she was created. Tyler loves some sexy lingerie.”
I don’t even know what to say to this. I haven’t worn any lingerie with Magnus yet. We’re too busy ripping each other’s clothes off to worry about what to wear before sex. Maybe I will wear this tomorrow night and surprise him.
“I hope the man I end up with wants me to dress up. I find it so hot,” Bianca says. “I’m wearing a sexy bra and panties right now just because I like to.”
We all laugh again. We then settle back as we finish our ice-cream. We call it an earlier night than normal as I don’t want to have dark circles beneath my eyes on my wedding day. Tomorrow has to be perfect, and I know it will be. Any day I’m with Magnus is amazing. Our wedding day will seal our love together.