Chapter 32
Ivy
Dizzy watches us get ready from the blanket cocoon West made for her when he brought her up earlier. She’s still not herself. She’s lethargic from the sedative and the heavy cloud she seems to be under. Her sadness makes my chest ache despite the joy of this being my wedding day.
I was really looking forward to having her as one of my bridesmaids, and I know she was excited too.
“I’m okay,” she says as though reading my mind. “You don’t have to worry about me.”
“I do.” I sit next to her. “I can’t help it.”
We lean against each other watching the queens work their magic on the rest of my bridal party. Summer’s strawberry locks have been left loose and styled with a crown braid.
Adira’s makeup is, as usual, art. High sweeping cheekbones and full, dark lashes with Swarovski crystals on the tips of each one. It’s all very dramatic but understated. He looks amazing.
Yvanna Bey Yulava approaches Adira with his wig choice for the ceremony; a wavy honey blonde number with heavy side bangs.
A heavy rap on the sitting room door startles Dizzy. She jumps and buries herself deeper into the blankets.
It’s so weird to see her so fragile.
Danica who is waiting until it’s time for me to dress, opens the door. When it’s a Maddox on the other side she steps out into the hallway. Then she calls out for Summer.
Summer leaves the room for a few minutes. When she comes back, she’s carrying a sparkly silver box.
“From your groom,” she tells me as she hands it over.
Rogue’s presents are always too much. Whatever is inside this box isn’t going to be any different. I never used to think I deserved to be treated the way he has always treated me. But now… the idea of a gift doesn’t fill me with dread. It’s one of the ways he shows me how much he loves me.
I untie the ribbon that holds the lid in place. I peel back the silver tissue paper inside to reveal the contents. My breath hitches. I reach out and stroke the satin. It’s as soft as it looks.
“What did lover man send you?” Adira asks.
Summer hovers close by.
“Shoes.” The heels are a creamy, pearlescent color with a blush undertone.
They’ve been embroidered with bunny ears.
Each stitch is insanely delicate and looks to have been done by hand.
Hundreds of tiny crystals make them twinkle in the light.
I’ve never seen a pair so pretty. I take one out and hold it up for the others to see.
“Damn, Love,” Adira whispers in awe. “Custom made just for you.”
“Gorgeous,” Summer says.
They have blue bottoms. Rogue must have commissioned Lulu Blue to make these. That’s insane.
“Those are beautiful,” Dizzy says.
A card peeks out from under the other shoe. I pull it out and open it.
To my bride,
The vows we share in front of everyone today will cement our love for the rest of time.
I know sometimes it can still be hard for you to speak in front of people, so I wanted to make sure that you are able to carry your bunny ears on you.
Even though you don’t need them anymore. I cannot wait to marry you.
Rogue x
“You’re going to wear them,” Adira says.
“Obviously.” I put both shoes on the floor, take off my slippers and slip my feet into the warm embrace of my new Lulu Blues.
“It’s time for your wedding day glow up,” Magnolia Clitterbean pats the back of the seat in front of the makeup station.
Adira sneaks more photos for Rogue while Magnolia creates my look. He has very specific instructions to stop once I’m in my dress. Hints are okay, but I want the first time Rogue sees me to be when I’m standing in front of him. I want to see the pride and emotion as I walk toward him.
West comes back to collect Dizzy. They’re going to attend the ceremony at the discreet distance of the verandah since she’s still under the influence of the sedative. And not capable of pretending to be the high energy girl everyone is used to. It could be too obvious that something isn’t right.
“I’m so happy for you.” She hugs me before she goes with West.
Summer goes behind the screen that has been set up to get into her dress. She reappears a few minutes later looking divine in the dusty blue tie up dress. The deep V neckline sits perfectly. The whole dress accentuates her curves.
“Do I look okay?” Summer twists from side to side, before settling on her profile in the mirror and placing a hand to the underside of her belly. It has the effect of tucking the material and making her baby bump obvious. She looks like a goddess. “I swear I’m even bigger. Did I get bigger?”
“Va-va-voom.” Adira touches his fingertips to his chest. “You were under specific instructions not to outshine the bride, woman. What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
“You look perfect.” She looks exactly how I imagined when we were picking the dresses.
“Your turn,” I tell Adira. I can’t wait to see him in the dark blue pencil thin dress we picked out. It has flamboyant puffy bangle sleeves.
He reappears looking stately.
“Are you ready?” Danica asks.
Suddenly I’m all nerves. My hands are clammy around my phone, which chimes with a notification. My stomach is full of butterflies. My pulse is racing.
I open the message from Rebel. He’s sending me a hint like Adira has been sending Rogue all morning. My man in his Tuxedo jacket as he adjusts the knot in his tie. His jaw and the smile he’s wearing.
All those nerves turn calm again.
I’m marrying the man I love. Spending the rest of my life with him.
There is nothing to be nervous about. I smile at my girls. At the queens who are helping. And Danica. “Let’s get me ready to walk down the aisle.”
“Wow!” Summer covers her mouth when I’m finally ready. Her gaze grows shiny. “You really are the princess he told us about when he first met you.”
I sniffle and wave my hands in front of my face as the other queens and Danica leave the room to give us a few minutes alone before I walk into my future. “Don’t cry. You’ll make me cry.”
“No, Love.” Adira sashays toward me. “It’ll ruin your make up and there’s no time to fix it. We’re running the appropriate amount of late as it is.”
“I know.” I smile. These are tears of joy and love.
“You’re getting married,” he says softly, taking my hands and squeezing them affectionately. His gaze shines, but I can barely tell through the emotions clouding mine. He takes in my form fitting dress.
It’s a replica of the Elsa princess dress I was wearing the day Rogue ran in front of my car and I drove him to the hospital. Only instead of icy blue it’s in soft ivory and hand beaded.
That day… in that dress was the beginning of everything.
Without that dress I would never have spoken to him.
I would have remained a frightened little mouse.
Instead, it was the first day of the rest of my life with him.
This wedding; it’s a celebration of that day, every day since, and every day to come.
It seemed fitting that I should go into it the same way it all started. But with less blood stains.
The dress glitters with hundreds of crystals and flares at the bottom. A caped train is attached at the off the shoulder neckline and long opaque sleeves.
The custom Lulu Blues are hidden by the dress but knowing I’m wearing my bunny ears makes me smile. Outside on the lawn, everyone has gathered. They have been mingling but more and more they settle into their seats.
Somewhere overhead a couple of drones buzz ecstatically.
Summer makes a frustrated sound. “The last thing you wanted.”
“It’s okay.” Sure, we wanted to keep the media away when we didn’t want Nicole to find out. Now she’s not a problem. She will never be a problem again. It doesn’t seem like such a big deal.
Bang.
I’m not the only one that jumps. Summer and half the people on the lawn do too. Rogue shields his eyes and looks up.
A drone falls out of the sky.
Summer groans. “Damn it, Owen.”
A snort escapes me before I can stop it. These Heart boys have a way of handling things that’s for sure.
My focus drifts back to the man waiting for me. He is so sexy in his navy Tuxedo. My heart seems to leave my chest and go to him. The pull of him waiting for me at the top of the aisle is magnetic.
I am so full of love. Bursting with it.
Summer hands me my bouquet—a stunning tear drops arrangement of white and galaxy lilies, greenery, and hydrangea that trails to my knees—before she collects her own smaller version.
Adira plucks a couple of galaxy lilies from unnoticeable spots on the bouquets and uses a couple of hairpins to secure them to my mermaid braid. Surveying his handiwork, he smiles smugly and gathers the back of my dress. “Shall we?”
We head out through the sliding glass door of the sitting room onto the verandah. Dizzy is there with West. He holds her tightly when she starts to weep.
“So beautiful,” she tells me with her hand on her heart.
“I love you,” I mouth back at her.
We reach the top of the stairs and pause there. Adira has handed over control to Kia for the ceremony. And Rogue’s assistant cue’s Riot to sing Etta James ‘At Last’. His voice is thick with emotion when he steps in close to the microphone.
“That’s our cue.” Adira offers me his arm.
I don’t know how I make it down the stairs without tripping once Rogue’s gaze locks on me. I’m barely aware of what my feet are doing. It feels like I’m floating as Adira walks me toward him.
Thank God, Adira vetoed the horse when I mentioned riding it to the altar. How would I have kept my seat when I’m floating on air like I am?
Guests on both sides of the aisle whisper nice things, but I barely hear them because my heart is beating its love so loudly for the man in front of me.