chapter TWENTY-NINE
“I’m getting marrriieeedddd!”
I am having a serious case of déjà vu right now.
My mouth is dry, and I know when I speak I’ll have man-voice.
“Get up, get up, get up! I’m getting marrriieeedddd!” Leah is bouncing on my bed, and the entire thing squeaks and shakes.
“Dear, Lord, woman. As if anyone could forget.” I throw myself back under the covers and put my head back in the darkness.
Leah pulls the blanket down and off my entire body. I reach for the pillow and place it over my head. I try to hit her as if I’m hitting the snooze button on an alarm clock.
“Ten more minutes,” I mumble from under the pillow.
“Fine, I’m coming back in ten with a glass of ice water,” she threatens and the thought wakes me up. I have no doubt she’s telling the truth.
She leaves the room, and I slowly start to roll out of bed by placing one foot on the floor. I’m not used to waking up at the crack of dawn. Alexander gets up this early and then gives me soft kisses before leaving the apartment.
Ugh, Alexander Asher.
He still hasn’t called.
I haven’t called him, either for that matter.
If he isn’t done thinking soon then I’ll give him something to think about, and it won’t be pretty.
Placing another foot on the floor, I roll the pillow off my face and look up at the ceiling, adjusting my eyes to the bright light that Leah turned on.
I look at the clock and see it’s six in the morning.
Hair and makeup people are coming at eight so everyone has to be showered and in their Spanx by then.
Since mom and dad only have one full bathroom in the house, it could take a while.
The ceremony isn’t until noon but Leah wants to take pictures before then. Then of course, there are more pictures after and the reception starts at three. Leah and Adam even have an after party planned at McConaughey’s.
Man, this is going to be a long day.
I walk over to my drawer and pull out my undergarments for the day. I hear the shower running so I have to wait my turn. My dress from last night’s rehearsal dinner is resting on the rocking chair in the corner of the room. My parents hosted the party here at the house.
I spent a good portion of the evening retelling the same story.
No, I don’t play the violin anymore.
Yes, I moved to New York City.
No, it’s not just like Sex and the City” (At least for me, its not.)
Yes, I am working at a school.
Yes, I am seeing someone.
No, he is not coming to the wedding.
My grandmother was the most probing. She wanted to know about the “young man I’ve been seeing.” I assured her he’s thirty-two years old and has a full-time job. Never married, no kids . . . you know, the typical things grandmas want to know.
“Well, if he’s such a catch, why hasn’t he been snatched up yet?” she asked.
Because he has serious trust and abandonment issues.
But I didn’t tell her that.
Needless to say, last night was mentally exhausting but not unbearable.
I am gathering my toiletries from my bag when I look up to see Leah walk into my room with a glass of ice water in her hands and looks disappointed because I am up and getting ready for my shower. She turns on her heel and exits the room.
I knew she wasn’t bluffing.
Leah and Adam’s wedding is absolutely stunning and completely romantic.
Standing by her side in my crimson chiffon dress, I cried during the service because those two romantic fools wrote their own vows and if you didn’t believe in love, just watching Leah and Adam would have you writing sonnets to the first person you saw.
The look on their faces as Leah was walking down the aisle and Adam waiting impatiently for her to get to him was breathtaking.
As excited as she was all morning, Leah was nothing but calm and composed at the thought of marrying the man she loves.
Adam had tears in his eyes as she came toward him, the two wearing matching grins.
When she made it to the altar they grabbed onto each other’s hands, and I swear they’ve been glued to each other since.
Eighty guests watched them exchange “I dos” and promise forever to each other.
Everyone should be loved as much as they love each other. Have I ever been? Lord knows I have felt more loved by a man in the last few weeks than I have in my entire life. He may not have uttered the words but Alexander has shown it repeatedly.
Maybe I was wrong for not fighting for him. Alexander’s never had someone fight for him. The man has abandonment issues and I did the worst thing—I abandoned him.
As soon as pictures are over and we make it to the reception hall, I run up to the bridal suite. I have to call him. I need to tell him I was wrong.
While Leah and Adam mingle with guests at the cocktail hour, I lock myself in the bathroom of the bridal suite and take out my phone. I let it ring.
And ring.
And ring.
Until I get voice mail.
He didn’t pick up. He always picks up the phone when I call him. Am I too late? Has he given up on us?
This isn’t something I was planning on saying to his voice mail but I am so inspired right now by Leah and Adam’s love and the complete feelings of forever I have for Alexander I can’t hold back. When the beep comes on the other line I start to talk.
“Alex. I . . . I’m so sorry. I should have brought you with me.
I should have fought for you. I have been blaming you for leaving me in Italy, but I did worse to you.
It’s so much worse because . . . I love you.
This is probably the least romantic way to tell you, but I am in love with you, and I wish you were here.
I’m miserable. I need you, and I want you.
You should be here with me. I just—call me back.
I need to hear your voice.” I am about to hit the red end button when I throw in, “It’s Emma by the way.
Okay . . . bye.” I hang up and then feel like a total fool.
So much for the controlled Emma. I am seriously losing it.
I make my way to the banquet room and stand in line outside the doors with the rest of the bridal party getting ready to be introduced.
I am paired with Adam’s brother, Landon, and when our names are called we walk in with our arms raised, dancing to the music and the crowd cheers.
We take a spot on the dance floor and clap along to the song playing as the DJ introduces “for the first time, Mr. And Mrs. Adam Reingold.”
The room erupts in louder applause as the bride and groom come in arm-in-arm with foolish grins, fist pumping in the air. The music goes from a fast-paced dance beat to a slow country love song they chose for their first dance.
My mind keeps on wandering to thoughts of Alexander.
I wish I had my cell phone with me. I left it upstairs in the bridal suite and now I can’t stand the thought of possibly missing his call.
My arm is pulled and I look over to see Landon motioning for me to join him on the dance floor.
Apparently the bridal party was called to dance.
I am so lost in thought I didn’t even hear the DJ make the announcement.
I take his hands and start to dance. Around us the dance floor starts to fill with more people and soon almost all the guests of the wedding are on the dance floor.
I feel so awkward dancing with Landon. His height is too short and his hands are too rough. His hand on my back feels tense, and he has these light eyes that are so far from the beautiful golden ones I fell in-love with.
Golden eyes that are staring back into mine and tapping Landon on the shoulder.
“May I cut in?” Alexander asks from behind Landon who turns around and has to look up to answer him.
Without saying a word, Landon lets me go and backs away from the dance floor.
My mouth is wide open.
Alexander Asher.
He’s here.
He is standing right in front of me on the dance floor of my sister’s wedding.
Wearing a black suit that showcases his perfect frame, hugging his broad shoulders and coming in at a tapered waist. A crisp white shirt offsets his gorgeous bronzed skin and a silver tie polishes off his extraordinary look.
He is magnificent and powerful, commanding and exotic.
It is too much to take in.
He takes my limp hands that have fallen to my side and raises them, resting on his shoulder and cradles the other close to his heart as his other arm snakes around my waist and pulls me in.
I feel him sigh in relief as our bodies join.
I look up at him, still in disbelief that he’s really here. Maybe I’m dreaming. I move my left hand from Alexander’s shoulder to my neck and give my skin a squeeze.
The action causes him to laugh as if he knows what I’m doing.
I look back at him, tingles running up my back at what this all means.
“You’re here.”
“I’m here,” he agrees. His voice is in that smooth, deep baritone that makes me melt.
I swallow and continue to stare, now at his beautiful square jaw and full lips. “How?”
“There is this thing called an airplane—” he says in a sarcastic tone, but I cut him off by hitting his shoulder.
“I know all about that airplane. It’s beautiful by the way. I should be mad at you.”
“But you’re not.” His lip turns up in a smirk.
I smile back. “No. I’m not.” My arm moves around his neck as I pull him into my body so tight until we can’t get any closer. “God, I missed you.”
Alexander releases our hands and puts his other hand around my waist, holding me tightly. I bring my other arm around his neck, resting my cheek on his broad chest.
He kisses the top of my head and whispers, “I’ve missed you more.”
Leah and Adam’s first dance song ends and then a faster song plays.
I am temporarily broken from the spell that is Alexander Asher and then realize where we are.
We are at Leah’s wedding. She didn’t want him here yet here he is anyway.
I have to approach her. I have to tell her that I am in love with him and if she loves me, she has to love him too.