Chapter 33
Nia
The dressing room air hung heavy, thick with the chemical haze of hairspray and the suffocating sweetness of expensive perfume.
Outside the door, a muffled flurry of silk and excited whispers signaled that the bridal party was already lining up.
Inside, however, the world slowed to a crawl.
I just wanted one final look at Mars before I headed out—one quiet, private moment between us before she took her father’s arm and walked toward forever.
Looking at her, my eyes instantly welled with hot tears.
I blinked them back fiercely, forcing a tight, reassuring smile to stay composed.
Mars needed me steady today. She had been an absolute ball of raw emotion all morning.
While she’d always been a woman who wore her heart on her sleeve, lately she seemed softer, more fragile, and far more emotional than I’d ever known her to be.
Careful not to mess up her immaculate makeup or disturb the perfect structure of her hair, I brought Mars into a gentle, protective hug.
She looked undoubtedly beautiful. Her hair was loosely pinned up in an elegant, sophisticated updo, with one perfect, soft curl swooping down to frame her face.
We stood perfectly still, embracing one another in the quiet sanctuary of the room.
No words were needed. In the silence, she knew exactly how proud and happy I was for her.
As we pulled away, she grabbed my forearms, her sentimental expression suddenly vanishing as her eyes narrowed with playful intensity. "Wait. Before we go out there... you and Cal?"
A soft, permanent warmth settled in my chest. I couldn't help the massive smile that took over my face.
"We're together."
Mars literally screeched in pure excitement, her hands flying up to her mouth. "I always knew it! I always knew you were supposed to be my sister!" She started to jump with joy, the heavy, cascading layers of her wedding dress swirling wildly around her ankles.
She had just straightened up, a brilliant, glowing smile illuminating her face, when the bridal suite door burst open. Stormy rushed in, her name perfectly fitting the whirlwind of energy she brought into the room.
Stormy rushed in, her name perfectly fitting the whirlwind of energy she brought into the room.
"Ladies, it's time!" Stormy announced. Her professional coordinator veneer cracked just long enough to pull us both into a tight, fierce squeeze, breaking the spell of the room and launching us into the chaos of the day.
Then, she was right back to business, quickly escorting us out toward the rest of the wedding crew.
When I reached the front of the processional line, Cal was already waiting. As the maid of honor and best man, we were leading the party down the aisle. I stepped in beside him, and the moment my eyes brushed over him, my breath hitched.
This man never ceased to amaze me. It felt like every single time I saw him, he somehow got finer. The tailored suit hugging his shoulders, the sharp line of his freshly lined jaw, the effortlessly powerful way he carried himself—it was absolutely perfect.
Stormy gave us the cue, and we stepped out into the crisp Houston air.
The walk down the aisle was nothing short of cinematic.
The entire Bellavigna Estate vineyard was bathed in a golden, late-afternoon glow, filled to the brim with the people who loved them most. I could see the lenses of the private camera crew tracking our movements.
Entertainment Tonight had practically begged to cover the wedding live, but Jalen hadn't been having it.
This day belonged to them, not the media.
Right on cue, the music transitioned. The rich, soulful strains of Jesse Powell’s "You" began to play, reimagined into a breathtaking, sweeping violin version. The melody floated over the rolling hills, making the entire valley feel sacred.
Everyone rose to their feet.
At the back of the aisle, Mars appeared, standing proudly beside her father.
A collective breath was drawn by the crowd, but my eyes darted to the front of the altar.
Jalen stood there, fighting like hell to keep his composure.
He was smiling, but as he gazed at Mars walking toward him, the first tear escaped, leaving a glistening trail down his cheek.
I glanced over at the rest of my girls and Andre; we were all trying so desperately to keep it together, but tears were freely falling from all of our eyes.
Beside Jalen, Cal reached out, firmly rubbing his best friend's back to help him hold his ground, though I could see Cal was fighting back his own tears, too.
Then, amidst the swelling music and the crying crowd, Cal’s eyes shifted. He looked across the small distance separating us and locked his gaze onto mine. The intensity in his eyes made the rest of the vineyard fade into background noise.
Slowly, deliberately, his lips moved. I love you.
A soft, breathless warmth bloomed in my throat. I looked right back at him, letting him see every ounce of my heart, and mouthed the words right back. I love you.
When Mars finally reached the altar, her father placed her hand in Jalen’s.
The moment their fingers locked, a visible wave of relief washed over both of them.
Jalen leaned down, whispering something into her ear that made her let out a watery, beautiful laugh—and I knew, in that exact moment, he was looking at his entire world.
The ceremony was a blur of profound, heartfelt promises.
They didn't just read vows; they spoke into existence the life they had built and the future they were stepping into.
When the pastor finally pronounced them husband and wife, the vineyard erupted into a roar of cheers and applause, white flower petals raining down on them as Jalen dipped his wife for a fierce, breathless kiss.
The reception that followed was pure magic.
As the sun completely dipped below the horizon, the winter evening air grew crisp and cool, but the entire estate seemed to radiate heat.
Thousands of tiny, warm lights wrapped around the towering oak trees glowed softly, casting a gentle, romantic amber hue over the stone walkways and the massive reception tent.
It felt entirely insulated from the rest of the world.
Inside, the champagne flowed as easily as the laughter, and the atmosphere was thick with a relaxed, golden contentment.
Later in the night, the DJ’s voice boomed over the speakers, calling all the single ladies to the dance floor. Mars stood at the front, a mischievous glint in her eyes as she spun around, facing away from the crowd.
The women crowded together, giggling and pushing, completely ready to scramble for it. I stood near the back, keeping my distance and just enjoying the view, when Mars yelled a countdown and tossed the heavy bundle of white roses blindly over her head.
It was a total miss-hit. The bouquet didn't arch gracefully; it came screaming out of the air like a poorly aimed line-drive, straight toward a cluster of guests who immediately scattered.
Instinct took over. Years of playing basketball trained my eyes to track a trajectory in a split second.
Without even thinking, I read the angle, boxed out absolutely nobody, and leaped.
My fingers met the silk ribbon perfectly.
I snatched the bouquet out of the air with an effortless, textbook catch, landing cleanly on the balls of my feet without breaking a sweat.
The dance floor erupted into cheers and whistling. I held up the roses, shaking my head with a laugh, completely caught off guard by my own reflexes.
Before the laughter could even die down, a warm, heavy arm slid around my waist. Cal materialized right beside me, a massive, arrogant grin plastered across his face. He didn't hesitate. He looked out at the cheering crowd, pointed right at me, and shouted over the music, "Nia's next!"
Everyone howled with laughter, Jalen clapping Cal on the back while Mars cheered from the stage.
But as the noise rolled through the tent, Cal leaned down, his lips brushing against my temple.
The playful shout was gone, replaced by a quiet, steady weight in his voice.
I looked up into his eyes, and the warmth there told me everything I needed to know.
He wasn't joking. At that exact moment, I knew he meant every single word.
The night rolled on, filled with dancing, toasts, and the kind of joy that sticks to your ribs for a lifetime.
And as I looked out over the crowded room, feeling the steady beat of Cal’s heart against my back, I knew this wasn't just the end of a beautiful chapter.
It was the absolute perfect beginning. I had spent so long keeping my guard up, wondering if the risks were worth the reward.
But standing here, wrapped in his arms with the future stretched wide open ahead of us, I realized I didn't have to wonder anymore.