“That brother of mine is such a damn charmer.”
The door swung open, revealing Mr. Davenport standing there with a look of pride over his face. Both Tanzi and I looked him over.
“Fuck, I’d love to ride him.”
The champagne I had just sipped came up and the sound of me choking filled the room. Mr. Davenport rushed towards me while Tanzi giggled beside me.
“Something inappropriate, I guess?” Mr. Davenport snickered, firing a knowing look towards Tanzi.
“I just said how handsome you are looking. I don’t know what she thought I said.”
“Yes, I am sure that’s what you said.” Mr. Davenport shot a smile at Tanzi and shook his head in amusement. “I am onto you Ms. Connors.”
“You are on me? God, Mr. Davenport, that’s a bit forward, isn’t it?”
“Onto you, Tanzi!” He huffed. “Fuck me dead, girl.”
“Seriously, Mr. Davenport. You should just shut up while you can. She will turn everything into a sexual innuendo.”
“It’s true.” Tanzi laughed before leaning up and kissing Mr. Davenport on the cheek. I was watching her like a hawk. Seriously, she cracked me up. “I am going to touch up my makeup and give you two a minute.” She smiled sweetly before walking through the apartment and leaving Mr. Davenport and I in the silence of the living room.
“You ready?”
I raised my head to take him in, my eyes instantly glazing over with emotion as I looked at him from head to toe. The crisp black three-piece suit he adorned gave him a 1950s Hollywood vibe, the single pink rose in his top pocket glowing against the black backdrop. His eyes almost broke me as they glistened with tears.
“I think so,” I choked out in response.
“You look stunning, Savannah.”
My shaking hands ran down the front of my Vera Wang wedding dress, desperately trying to smooth out the nonexistent creases. My dress was off white and fit snug to my body and swept out like a mermaid tail at the bottom. The bodice was covered with hundreds of tiny pearls, and it sat off my shoulders. It was everything I had imagined my dream wedding dress to be.
“Okay, girlie. Let’s do this. Let’s officially make you my sister,” Tanzi said, walking out of the bathroom and grabbing her flowers from the table. She hugged me tight and began walking out of the room behind Ali as the sound of music floated through the air.
This was it.
I clasped Mr. Davenport’s hand so tight that I knew my nails were digging into his flesh, but he didn’t falter once. My thoughts escaped to my parents as I was about to start the next chapter of my life without them. I often wondered what they would think of me, whether they would be proud of their ‘little ray of sunshine’ as they’d called me. All I wanted in life was to make them proud of their baby girl.
“They would be so proud of you” he whispered softly, knowing exactly that I was thinking about my parents. “I am so proud of you, my girl. I am not your dad, but you are and will always be my little girl, Sav.”
“Thank you for being the best dad a girl could ask for.” I looked at him and smiled through tears. “Please don’t let me fall.”
“Have I ever let you fall?” he asked with a smile.
He never had.
Tate
NEVER IN a billion years could I have ever imagined that I would be here, standing beside my best friend and my brother, my son holding my hand proudly while wearing his matching suit, and awaiting the arrival of my future wife.
Tate Connors getting married... It was like a fucking comedy movie, and I was sure that the knowledge of my impending nuptials had set raucous laughter to flee from many people around the world. I had been destined to be living the ultimate bachelor lifestyle, spending my days and nights with random women, and engaging in meaningless sex for the rest of my life. It was daily that I pinched myself to make sure this was reality, and I constantly asked Sav to punch me in the face to make sure it was real. She refused, stating that she didn’t want to wreck my face. Seriously, that girl does wonders for my ego.
The world as I knew it ceased to exist the moment Max’s excited voice echoed through the air, announcing Sav’s arrival. Turning eagerly to face the candle-and-lily-lined aisle with our nearest and dearest watching on with excited anticipation, I felt my breath hitch and heard gasps as the beauty of Savannah came into view. I loved this girl. I’d always known that I loved her, but right at this second, as I took her in walking towards me, her heavy eyes bursting with emotion, I knew that I was now experiencing a true love that I never could have thought would ever exist.
“She looks stunning, man,” Jack’s emotion-laced voice said from beside me. I nodded, my ability to speak swallowed as my eyes took in the vision before me.
With nervousness in her step, she slowly made her way towards me. Her eyes spoke volumes to me and thank fuck I saw excitement floating within them. I had absolutely no second thoughts about this. I’d wanted nothing more than to whisk her away to Vegas and marry her the moment she had said yes to my proposal, but I’d known I’d needed to give her what she deserved and that was a twilight beach wedding on the sand by our home with our family around us. Everything about this day was us.
My eyes bounced from Sav’s and I took in my stunning sister. She walked in front of Sav with pride swallowing her face and grace floating around her. My twin, my other half, my constant companion. What the hell would I have done without Tanzi? Everything about today came down to her. I never would have met Sav if it weren’t for Tanzi. I wouldn’t have chased her if I hadn’t been trying to annoy the crap out of Tanzi. I wouldn’t have Sav back in my life if it weren’t for Tanzi. She’d played cupid so many times when it came to Sav and me, and I would be forever indebted to her. Tanzi and I had survived together, and now with Blake in our lives, we were stronger than I could have ever imagined and it was thanks entirely to my beautiful twin. Tanzi’s lips curved into a sweet smile and I knew she was reading me. Twintuition was on full display.
My attention fell back to Sav and my smile took over everything. She was a devastating perfection. This woman walking towards me was the savior of my fears, the healer of my heart, and the owner of my true love. How else could I possibly describe her?
Mr. Davenport stood beside her proudly, a tear brimming on the edge of his eye, begging to fall. I knew this would be a huge moment for him. Over the years, we had clashed on so many occasions. We had thrown words at each. Fuck, I’d wanted to punch him in the face numerous times. But now, as he was about to give me Savannah’s hand for the rest of her life, I couldn’t have been more thankful to him, more grateful, and more honored to call him my family.
Sav’s eyes never faltered from mine, and as she moved towards me, we connected on another level. Knowing that she would soon hold my name meant more to be than anything. We would be connected in love, name, and in the eyes of our family. She would now and forever be irrevocably mine.
“Mummy looks pretty,” Max said softly beside me, in the matching accent to that of his mom. My two little Aussies.
I grabbed his hand in mine and ran my thumb over his skin in silent agreement. All day, Max had been following me around everywhere. We’d spent the morning at the beach and then had a special Daddy and Max breakfast at his new favorite café—favorite because they had Vegemite on toast on the menu and he had the owner wrapped around his little finger. Then his excitement about wearing a matching suit to mine had been too damn cute.
The moment Mr. Davenport and Sav were standing before me and the celebrant began to speak, I lost all ability to concentrate as my entire focus was locked on her. Sav’s perfect green eyes misted with unshed tears and her perfectly red-painted lips smiled lovingly at me.
I couldn’t resist the urge to taste her. Leaning in, I let my eager lips fall to her neck and splashed her skin tenderly below the ear in her favorite place. “I feel like I’m dreaming,” I huskily spoke, my words vibrating again her flesh.
“If this is a dream, I’m glad I’m sharing i
t with you.”
As far as I was concerned, the celebrant could have been saying anything and everything and I would have agreed to it all. Hearing my name finally grabbed my attention and I reluctantly tore my eyes away from Sav to look towards the middle-aged woman with a Southern twang.
“Tate Connors, would you like to say your vows and then place your chosen wedding band on Savannah Rae’s ring finger on her left hand?”
I turned to Jack and took the ring he was offering. “Make her yours, man.” He nodded confidently.
Taking Sav’s left hand, I kissed her knuckles briefly before clearing my emotion-filled throat.
“I was moving through life without a purpose, without a future, without a reason. But then, a wish I couldn’t have imagined coming true burst into my life. A beautiful, sassy, stubborn Australian made my heart start beating again in that elevator all those years ago and it’s been beating for you ever since. Savannah Rae, I am a better person because of you. I am the man I am today because of you. You give me a reason to live, to strive to be the man you deserve. I promise no matter what happens I will always be by your side, and when we are scared, we are scared together. I will always make your favorite breakfast even though it makes me gag. I will always encourage your Aussieisms and I will protect you from every hurt that may come to you. Savannah, you are my breath, my heartbeat, and my one and only. I am in love with you, more than I could ever show.”
Sav’s breath hitched as I slid the white-gold band onto her ring finger, a symbol that would bind us together.
“Savannah Rae, would you like to say your vows and then place your chosen wedding band on Tate Connors ring finger on his left hand?”
With shaking hands, Sav removed the ring from Jack’s hand and gently took my hand.
“A letter my dad wrote to me on my very first day of my life has stuck with me forever. He encouraged me to breathe during my darkest days. In the darkness of a life I was living, a gorgeous, stubborn and determined man barreled into my life with a force that knocked me into reality. Tate Connors, to this day, you still make me lose my breath, but in the best kind of way. Four years on and you still have the ability to make me blush and constantly make me fall at your feet. I’m not afraid of smiling anymore and it’s because of you. I’m not afraid to love endlessly anymore and it’s because of you. I will love you for every day that I am breathing, I will stand beside you in our darkest days and I will stand beside you in our brightest days. I love you so much. Thank you for allowing me to finally breathe again.”
In a blur of hollers and cheers that rang through the guests, the celebrant announced the words I had been waiting so long to hear. It was official. Sav and I would forever be known as Mr. and Mrs. Tate Connors. My lips crushed to hers without concern or invitation. I was kissing my wife and I couldn’t have cared that I was devouring her in front of our family and friends. Kissing her had always been my favorite. Our sex life was incredible, earth shattering, and unbelievable, but kissing her, tasting her, and connecting with her on a level of pure and unadulterated intimacy was unexplainable. Her arms wrapped around my neck, pulling me closer as her fingers threaded through my hair and she fell into the kiss.
“Jesus Christ, you two. Save it for the bedroom!” Blake’s amused tone fired beside us and I reluctantly pulled away, shooting him an evil grin.
“Jealously is a curse, little brother.”
I turned back to Sav, brushing her lips softly with mine before grabbing her hand and turning towards our family. With our fingers entwined and smiles taking over our faces, we weaved our way through the crowd of people, being congratulated and hugged at every opportunity. My eyes searched the crowd. Mr. Davenport stood, holding Max with a look of pride swamping his face. Max jumped out of Mr. Davenport’s arms and into Sav’s while I shook his hand when we reached him.
“You finally got the girl,” he said with a confident smile. “I couldn’t be happier for the both of you.”
“Hearing that from you means a lot.”
“I may have busted your balls but it was only because I wanted the best for my girl, and now I realize she has the best. Promise me that you will take care of her.”
“That’s one promise I will never break. You have my word.”
“Look,” he said shifting, his eyes around the beach anxiously. “I don’t want to make a scene, but I have something that I’d like you and Sav to read when you have a chance.” Pulling an envelope from his back pocket, he handed it to me with a smile. On the envelope, ‘Mr. and Mrs. Connors’ was written in perfect scripted handwriting. Mr. Davenport moved away from me and tapped Savannah on the shoulder, grabbing her attention from Ali and Tanzi. I stood in silence, allowing the excitement to flow through me. I finally had the girl.
Savannah fell into Mr. Davenport’s arms as he whispered to her. I saw the tears flood her eyes at the sound of his quiet words. My attention focused on the other guests, allowing Sav and Mr. Davenport to have their moment.
Ali and Lucas stood together, huddled so closely, his arms around her waist, holding her to his body. It was only a matter of time before they would have an engagement announcement.
Turning towards the water, I found Tanzi and Jack walking with Max towards the water, their hands encased in each other’s, looking like the loved-up couple they were. We would be celebrating their wedding in a matter of months, and my heart still swelled with pride at the memory of Tanzi asking me to give her away. It was a moment that I knew had haunted her—the fact that our father wouldn’t be there—but I had seen the happiness overtake her the moment I’d told her that I would be honored to give her away to my best friend.
Finally, my eyes landed on Blake. My little brother—fuck, what a whirlwind we’d had. Now that he was touring the country with The Fallen, he was barely in Los Angeles, but when he was, I made sure that he always stayed with Sav, Max, and me. For an outsider, I was sure that it looked like some weird-ass scenario, but to us, he was and would always be family. To be honest, I think Sav loved living the rock-star lifestyle through him. She loved the talk of groupies even though I knew for a fact that Blake had eyes for one girl on tour.
“Hi, Mr. Connors.” Sav’s voice pierced from behind me. I shot around and grinned at her like the fool in love I was. I had lost all manly instincts today and was a gushing river of emotions. I didn’t give a flying fuck.
“Hi, Mrs. Connors.” Her eyes sparkled at my words. “You look absolutely edible.”
“Well you look divine in that suit, and I love that you kept the stubble for me.” She ran her fingertips over my chin as her eyes darkened with mischief.
“Happy wife means happy life,” I said with a smile. I knew how much she loved when I had stubble. She never hid her affection for it and it had served me well many times.
“Happy wife means husband gets laid—a lot!”
“Why else did you think I married you?” I smirked before grabbing her around the waist and pulling her towards me.
“You are still an arsehole, you know. Even after all these years.”
“Well I probably should have told you this before I put a ring on it, but I’ll probably always be an asshole.”
“Arrrrrrsehole, Tate. You really need to learn how to say it properly. God, I hope Max keeps his accent.”
“He is going to be a future heartbreaker, that son of ours. I swear he was making eyes at the celebrant. He is three years old and he is pulling the moves.”
“We have taught him well.”
Our laughter meshed together as we stood in each other’s arms, looking over what would always be the changing day of our lives. What I was quickly learning about Savannah and me was that our pasts would always be there. They would always haunt and hinder when we were at our weakest, but as we stood here on the beach in Santa Monica, I felt the strongest I had ever been. We had lost so much, but to me I had gained the world in the form of a beautiful Australian and a gorgeous little boy who was the light of our lives.
&nbs
p; “Mr. Davenport wrote us a letter,” I said softly, moving so I was standing behind her, my arms wrapped around her waist
“Are we going to read it?”
“Do you want to read it now or when we get home?”
“I’m not a very patient person, Tate.” She laughed and I got my answer.
“Let’s go down the beach and read it.”
Holding hands, we walked quietly down towards the far end of the beach, away from the chatter of guests and flash of cameras. Taking a seat on the cool evening sand under the sunset of California, I removed the letter from my pocket before pulling Sav onto my lap.
“You ready?” I asked as I opened the letter and held it in front of us. She nodded and we sat still as both read the letter in silence.
Dear Mr and Mrs Connors,
Wow. I never thought in my wildest dreams that I would be writing this letter.
To be honest, I don’t know where to start. You two have caused me to go grey before my time and to age years before I should, but what I see when I look at you two is something I never could have imagined.
My Savannah, words are always lost when I try and say what you mean to me, what you have done for me and who you are to me. You are the daughter I was never gifted but you are the only one daughter I would ever want. I remember the day you were born like it was yesterday. Your father was beside himself. He had a beautiful blond-haired, green-eyed daughter who was the calmest baby I had ever seen. I remember holding you in my arms that very first day and I remember you looking at me and I felt protective of you from that very first day. We were thrown together in a turbulent array of heartache and sadness when we lost your parents. If it weren’t for you, my girl, I don’t think I would be here, I actually know I wouldn’t be here. Your father was my best friend and was like my brother, and if I didn’t have you to care for, to protect, to love, and to cherish, I wouldn’t be here. It’s as simple as that.
You kept me on my toes, you gave me every experience a father would want, and I thank you for that. I thank you for the late night chats, the Sunday morning pancakes, the Wednesday night footy and pizza nights, and the constant look of contentment you always showed to me. I also thank you for the headaches, the worry, the stress, and the heartache you enjoyed giving me. It meant we were real, it meant we fought, and it meant I could watch you become the most amazing woman I know. You have suffered, my girl. You have seen the worst the world could offer and you have experienced tragedy I would never wish on anyone, but you came through. You are the epitome of strength and determination. You are my hero.
Breathe Again Page 28
