ℂ𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝟛𝟘
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The morning of Brody's wedding had arrived.
Dixie had made sure to wake up early for it. When I asked why she was up, she told me she wouldn't miss a wedding for the world, because she knew how stressful ours had been.
Even though she didn't like Brody.
That was kind of sweet.
Dixie stood in front of me now, fingers carefully working the knot of my tie while I tried very hard not to look down at her every three seconds.
She gave my tie one firm tug.
I smiled to myself, letting my hands fall back to my sides. I'd learned a long time ago there were certain things you simply let your wife win.
This happened to be one of them.
She loosened the knot I'd already attempted.
"It wasn't that bad." I said
She didn't even look up. "Cameron, don't start."
I rolled my eyes playfully.
Her fingers worked carefully, tightening the knot before loosening it again. She'd done this enough times to know exactly where she wanted it to sit.
"You've tied ties for me longer than I've tied them for myself."
"I think it's nice." She smiled to herself.
I looked down at her. "What is?"
"This whole thing of.." She gave the tie another small adjustment. "Getting ready together."
I hadn't expected that answer.
"My mom always used to get ready by herself." She said quietly.
"Mhm."
"My dad would already be downstairs talking on the phone before she even finished putting both earrings in."
She flattened the front of my tie with both palms.
"I used to think that's just what married people did. Separate."
The word hung there for a second.
"But...we've always kind of done everything together." She shrugged.
I smiled uncontrollably. "You saying you like hanging out with me?"
She laughed quietly. "Don't ruin the moment."
"I wasn't planning on it."
She looked up at me, sighing. "Okay, turn around."
"What?"
"I said turn around."
I obeyed. She brushed something invisible from my shoulder. Another imaginary speck from my jacket.
"Dixie, you know there's nothing there."
"I know."
"So why..."
"I don't know," She smiled to herself. "I just like making sure."
I watched her in the mirror. Sometimes I forgot how meticulous she was.
When Dixie loved something, she took care of it. That included me.
After another minute she stepped back. "Alright."
I looked in the mirror. "I look exactly the same."
"Wrong, you look like someone who knows how to tie a tie."
She grinned before disappearing toward the full-length mirror with her makeup bag. I didn't follow immediately.
Instead I watched.
She had this routine she'd probably done hundreds of times. Hair first, ten foundation, and concealer.
Something in a little silver tube, three brushes that all looked identical to me. I genuinely couldn't tell what half the products were for.
Yet she made every single one of them worth it.
"What did you end up getting Brody?" she asked.
I looked back on top of the drawer, where my little gift box sat.
"The cologne."
"You're talking about the expensive one?"
"Yeah, that."
She finally turned to me. "Cameron, are you serious? That bottle was almost, like, seven hundred dollars."
"It was six, actually."
"It was six hundred and eighty American dollars."
"He'll like it."
"He'd better spray it one molecule at a time."
I laughed. "You think it's too much?"
"I think he's your friend. I also think he'd probably love a 100-dollar bottle just as much."
"And also, we already paid for his flight. That could be his wedding gift."
I walked over until I was beside her. "Trust me, I get it."
"So why bother with the 600?"
I thought about it for a second, then my shoulders slumped.
"I don't know."
She raised an eyebrow. "You spent almost seven hundred dollars because you don't know?"
"I just...when somebody matters to me, I don't really think about the price."
She uncapped her lipstick. "Well that's stupid."
I laugh softly.
"But...it's one of the nicer things about you." She smiled faintly while looking into the mirror.
That made me smile.
"You've never complained when I buy you things."
She scoffed before turning to me.
"Are you seriously comparing your wife to a friend?"
"What? No, never." I place my hands on her shoulder, standing behind her.
Dixie turned back toward the mirror, picking up the small makeup sponge she'd set down a moment ago.
"I still don't know why Belle said yes." She murmured, concentrating on blending beneath one eye.
"To Brody?" I looked up from fixing the cuff of my sleeve.
"Yes, to Brody. Out of all the people in the world." she sighed.
She dabbed a little more concealer beneath the other eye. "I like her."
"So do I."
"I don't know, I don't really see it." She says.
"I don't think anybody does."
That earned the smallest laugh. She reached for another brush.
"He's obnoxious, loud, interrupts her, he keeps making those weird wife jokes."
"Yeah."
"You've never talked about me like that." She finally looked over at me through the mirror.
I frowned. "Like what?"
"'The old ball and chain.'"
I physically cringed. "I can assure you, I've never said those words in my life."
"I know."
"I don't think I ever could." I pinch the tip of my nose.
She smiled to herself before going back to her mascara. "I figured."
A few quiet seconds passed.
Then I asked, "Can I tell you something?"
"What?"
"I don't think Brody means anything by it." I shook my head.
"I think that's just... how he jokes."
"And that's okay?" Dixie suddenly frowned at me.
"I didn't say it was."
I watched her reflection. "I just think people love differently."
Sure, Brody wasn't exactly marriage material, but I think he would learn over time, and if he didn't, shame on him.
I mean, that was my friend we were talking about. Friends pay for each other's stuff. Right?
She was quiet for a second, then reached for her lip liner.
I watched as she applied it carefully to her lips, then my eyes drifted to her back. Her zipper was on halfway.
"Dixie, your zipper."
She glances at me through the mirror before reaching out to touch her back.
"Oh, right. I forgot. Mind helping?"
"No, of course."
I stepped behind her. "Hair."
She immediately swept her curls over one shoulder. The back of her neck came into view.
I don't think she'd ever realize how much I loved little moments like this. Being able to take care of her was one of my favorite things. I wouldn't have it any other way.
My fingers found the zipper. "You ready?"
"Go."
Slowly, I pulled it upward. The fabric hugged her waist perfectly before settling against the curve of her back.
"Done."
Instead of stepping away, my hands stayed there, resting lightly against either side of her waist.
She caught my eyes in the mirror. "What now?"
"Nothing."
"You've been looking at me a lot lately."
"Can you believe I'm still not over you?" I replied.
She laughed quietly. "You are such a sap."
Without really thinking, I leaned down. She turned her head slightly just enough for me to kiss her cheek. Then another on the side of her head.
She smiled. "You'll make me smudge my lipstick."
I ignored her, kissing the corner of her mouth. She turned instinctively. The kiss landed properly this time. It deepened as she dug her hands in my hair, pulling me closer.
When we finally separated, she slowly looked back at the mirror.
"For Heaven's sake, Cameron."
"What?"
"My lipstick."
I followed her gaze. A perfect deep red streak now decorated the corner of my mouth. Her own lipstick had smudged just enough that she'd have to redo it.
"...Oops." I whispered.
She glared at me. "You couldn't wait five minutes? Or at least until I put my spray on?"
"I'm sorry. Couldn't help it."
She sighed the sigh of a woman who'd already decided she couldn't stay annoyed.
"Come here."
I leaned closer. She grabbed a makeup wipe, cleaning my mouth.
"Okay." She tossed the wipe into the trash.
"Now sit over there." She pointed to the bed.
I gave her a silly expression. "Time out for kissing my wife?"
"For ruining twenty minutes of work."
"Don't be like that." I smiled.
~
I never knew Bordy had such beautiful taste in wedding venues. California was the perfect place to have a wedding in.
Even the parking lot was decorated,
Strings of tiny white lights were woven through rows of olive trees lining the entrance, despite the fact the sun hadn't even started setting yet.
Fresh white roses and eucalyptus wrapped around wooden signs pointing guests toward the ceremony. Somewhere nearby I could hear a violin warming up, the soft notes floating across the afternoon breeze.
This definitely wasn't Brody's doing.
Belle. This screamed Belle.
I climbed out of the driver's seat before walking around to Dixie's side. She was already halfway out by the time I opened the door.
"Thank you." She said mockingly.
"I was trying to be a gentleman."
"Too bad you were late." She smiled to herself before smoothing invisible wrinkles from the front of her navy dress.
She looked...
Good grief. Not even words could describe her at this point.
Every time I thought I'd gotten used to how beautiful my wife was, she'd somehow prove me wrong.
The sunlight caught the tiny shimmer woven into her dress, making it sparkle every time she moved.
Her curls were pinned back just enough to show the expensive gold earrings she'd picked that morning, and somehow she'd managed to make navy blue look like it had been invented specifically for her.
She caught me staring. "...What?"
I gave her a wide grin.
"You're beautiful, Dix." I say softly.
Before I could say anymore, a young valet hurried toward us with an easy smile.
"Good afternoon, sir."
I handed him the keys. "Take good care of her."
"The car?" he said.
I looked over at Dixie. "Actually, both. "
"I'll make sure the car's safe, sir." The valet laughed.
Dixie leaned closer as we started walking away. "You flirt with everybody."
Was I flirting?
"What? I wasn't flirting."
"Yeah, right."