Chapter 23
Nia
“This is absolutely beautiful, Mars,” I said, completely mesmerized as I slowly turned in a circle, taking in every inch of the ballroom.
The space felt warm, elegant, and intimate despite its size.
Long reclaimed oak tables stretched across the room instead of traditional round tables, each one dressed with flowing champagne linen runners that cascaded effortlessly over the edges.
Every place setting had been perfectly arranged with ivory china, brushed gold flatware, crystal stemware, and warm amber goblets that caught the glow of the candlelight beautifully.
Towering floral arrangements overflowing with white peonies, garden roses, burnt orange dahlias, rust-colored chrysanthemums, ranunculus, and dried golden ferns spilled down the center of every table as if they had naturally grown there.
Hundreds of candles flickered between the arrangements, creating a soft golden glow that danced across the room and reflected against the polished floors.
Above us, delicate floral installations hung from the ceiling alongside hundreds of suspended glass votives, Edison bulbs, and cascading strands of tiny white lights that made the entire ballroom feel like we were standing beneath an enchanted autumn sky.
The air smelled faintly of vanilla, cedarwood, and fresh eucalyptus mixed with whatever the chefs downstairs were preparing.
The aroma of roasted garlic, fresh herbs, butter, and slow-cooked short ribs drifted in from the kitchen, making my stomach growl before the guests had even arrived.
At the center of the ballroom sat an oversized glossy black dance floor that reflected every candle above it like glass.
The surrounding uplighting washed the room in warm amber tones, making everything feel romantic without being overly formal.
One entire wall had been transformed into a custom champagne display surrounded by floor-to-ceiling floral installations, while another featured a live jazz quartet already warming up for cocktail hour.
Everything looked exactly like Mars.
“It’s everything I imagined it would be,” I whispered.
I slowly turned toward her.
“Thank you for trusting Stormy, Becky, and me enough to help bring your vision to life, especially with how much I’ve been traveling these last couple of months.”
Mars’s eyes immediately filled with emotion.
“No,” she said, pulling me into one of her signature hugs and squeezing me tight.
“Thank you. You somehow managed to help Stormy and the entire planning team every single week while juggling work, traveling across the country, and taking care of everyone else.
I honestly couldn’t have done this without you.
I needed my sister.”
Emotion caught in my throat, and I hugged her back just as tightly.
“Well… you’ve got me. I love you, Mars.”
“I love you too.” She smiled before wiping the corner of one eye.
“Okay.
Enough crying before our makeup is even done.”
I laughed.
“I completely agree.”
She slipped her arm through mine.
“Come on. We’ve got exactly three hours before everybody starts showing up, and I fully intend on enjoying every second of today.”
We left the ballroom and made our way back upstairs.
Mars had rented out the entire executive floor for the weekend, giving everyone plenty of room to get ready without guests wandering through the hallways.
My suite connected to another executive suite where everyone had decided to turn it into our own private glam room.
The moment Mars pushed open the door, music spilled into the hallway.
A throwback R&B playlist echoed through the suite while laughter bounced off the walls.
Andre looked up first.
“There go my girls!”
He hurried across the room dramatically with his arms stretched wide before wrapping both of us in a hug.
“I swear y’all waited until I got comfortable before showing up.”
Becky laughed from across the room where she was arranging gift bags across the dining table.
“You’ve been here for twenty minutes.”
“Exactly,” Andre said.
“I’ve suffered long enough.”
Despite the chaos surrounding us, everything somehow stayed perfectly on schedule.
That was all Stormy.
She moved through the suite with an iPad tucked beneath one arm and a headset hanging around her neck.
Every few seconds her phone buzzed with another vendor update, but nothing seemed to shake her.
“Florals just arrived.”
She checked something off on her tablet.
“The string quartet is setting up.”
Another check.
“Transportation will be downstairs in exactly thirty-five minutes, ladies. If you’re not dressed, you’re riding to the bridal party looking however you look.”
Laughter erupted throughout the room.
Stormy smirked.
“I’m serious.”
She glanced toward Becky.
“Did the welcome bags make it to every suite?”
Becky nodded.
“Done.”
“The champagne tower?”
“Confirmed.”
Stormy smiled the second she saw us.
“There she is! My favorite athlete whisperer.”
I laughed.
“Don’t start.”
“Oh, I’m absolutely starting.”
She raised her champagne flute toward me.
“You’ve been impossible to get ahold of ever since basketball season started.”
“Guilty.”
After graduating college, Stormy had built one of the most sought-after luxury event planning companies in Texas completely from the ground up.
Professional athletes, celebrities, charity galas, black-tie fundraisers... if it was an event people wouldn’t stop talking about, chances were Stormy had planned it.
When Mars got engaged, there wasn’t a single discussion about hiring anyone else.
There wasn’t another person on earth she’d trust with one of the biggest days of her life.
The suite had completely transformed into a celebration.
Garment bags lined one entire wall, each one labeled with a name in elegant gold lettering.
Steamers hissed quietly in the background while makeup artists spread palettes, brushes, and products across oversized marble countertops.
A full mimosa and espresso bar had been set up beside the kitchen island, complete with fresh pastries, fruit, charcuterie boards, and warm cinnamon rolls that somehow smelled even better than the food downstairs.
Everywhere I looked, someone was laughing.
Someone was pouring another drink.
Someone was dancing.
The playlist shifted into an early 2000s Beyoncé song, and Andre immediately grabbed a makeup brush like it was a microphone before performing for the entire room.
Becky doubled over laughing.
Stormy joined in without hesitation.
Mars threw her head back, laughing harder than I’d seen in months.
I smiled as I watched all of them.
For just a little while… everything felt exactly the way it was supposed to.
It was finally my turn.
I settled into the chair while the makeup artist spun me toward the mirror, and the hairstylist smiled as she carefully separated sections of my curls.
“I’ve been waiting for this one,” she said excitedly.
I laughed.
“I hope that’s a good thing.”
“Oh, trust me. It definitely is.”
For the next hour, the room buzzed with curling irons, makeup brushes, laughter, and the occasional off-key singing whenever somebody’s favorite song came on.
Becky and Stormy danced around the suite with champagne flutes in their hands while the photographers quietly captured candid moments none of us even realized were happening.
I watched my curls slowly transform beneath the stylist’s hands.
She somehow managed to shape them into the most beautiful wolf cut I’d ever seen.
Every curl fell perfectly around my face, creating soft layers that framed my cheekbones and made my eyes stand out even more than they usually did.
It looked effortless.
The makeup artist kept everything soft and timeless.
She warmed my skin with a bronzed glow, added the slightest hint of peach to my cheeks, and finished everything with a glossy nude lip that somehow made me look like the best version of myself instead of someone covered in makeup.
I couldn’t stop smiling at my reflection.
Once I was finished, I immediately walked over to Mars’s chair just in time to watch the stylist finish the last few details.
She had chosen a sleek, sculpted ponytail that sat high enough to elongate her neck while allowing every beautiful feature on her face to shine.
Not a single strand had been left out of place.
It was elegant, powerful, and absolutely flawless.
The soft glam makeup complemented everything perfectly.
Warm bronze eyes.
Feathery lashes.
A subtle champagne shimmer across her lids.
Glossy lips.
She looked... radiant.
The stylist slowly turned her toward the mirror.
Mars stared at herself for several long seconds before her eyes immediately found mine.
"Well?" she asked nervously.
I smiled.
"You look like you're about to marry the love of your life."
Tears instantly filled her eyes.
"Oh my God."
"No," I laughed.
"We are not crying before pictures."
Andre immediately pointed his finger toward both of us.
"Absolutely not."
Everyone burst into laughter, and the room somehow became even louder after that.
Music filled every corner of the suite while garment bags slowly began disappearing one by one as everyone began slipping into their dresses.
The warm autumn colors tied everything together perfectly while still allowing each bridesmaid's personality to shine through.
Andre, already dressed, stood back dramatically with both hands over his mouth.
His rich copper suit featured sharp peak lapels and gold buttons that gave it an elevated, timeless feel.
A matching waistcoat sat perfectly beneath the jacket, paired with a crisp white dress shirt and a burnt orange and chocolate polka-dot silk tie that somehow tied the entire look together without feeling overdone.
"We did not come to play!"
"My girls are eating!" he yelled.
"No, you are eating!" Stormy said, examining his suit.
Although every bridesmaid wore the same rich burnt orange satin, no two dresses looked alike.
Some featured cowl necklines.
Others had delicate draping across the bodice.
One showcased an open back with elegant satin ties.
Another featured a thigh-high slit balanced perfectly with long flowing sleeves.
Each dress reflected the woman wearing it while still creating one beautiful, cohesive vision.