by Rachel Real
Elsa snatched away the wine. "Well, I'd appreciate it Caroline, if you wouldn't be totally smashed while standing on the altar..."
Caroline frowned and reclined back in her seat.
"Why can't you just admit you like that hot stripper and put this whole dog and pony show behind you?" Caroline asked.
The other bridesmaids veered around, listening intently.
Elsa laughed uncomfortably. "What Caroline means to say, is that we had a good time on the island and now she's sad that we have to leave."
Caroline flipped her hand..."Yeah, whatever..."
Elsa stood upright as the tailor finished fitting her in her dress. The flowing sugary white dress couldn't have been more perfect. So, why didn't she feel perfect wearing it? Elsa and James came to Bayside to have a beach wedding at sunset. All the women stood under a flowy white tarp, waiting to be called.
Caroline stood next to Elsa.
"Elsa, you're my best friend. And I'm just saying, before I got married—and eventually divorced—there was a man I who I loved. But I didn't go through with it because I thought I couldn't just back out of my wedding at the very last minute. But do you want to know what I learned many years later...?" Caroline expressed, leaning against Elsa's shoulder.
Elsa peered over at Caroline.
"What did you learn?"
"I learned the only thing that matters, is what you want. Nothing else. What do you want, Elsa?" Caroline asked her seriously. She then pat Elsa on her side and passed out drunk on the couch.
Shit! Elsa cursed herself.
The wedding music started, beckoning all of the women to start marching on the beach. Elsa watched all of her brides maids slip through the white tarp and down the aisle made entirely out of pink rose petals.
"Aaah!" Elsa jumped when she felt a hand drop on her bare shoulder.
"Micah!" Elsa squealed, she was both elated and overwhelmed when she saw her handsome were-tiger standing vulnerably before her. He wore a tuxedo, and looked nice and dapper.
"What are you doing here?" Elsa cried.
"I'm drawing the wedding portraits...remember?" Micah snarled. "Don't think I like standing here and watching you walk down that aisle. But the money is too good. And every dime counts if I ever want to open my gallery," he growled pulling out his charcoal and his sketchbook.
Elsa sniffled.
"...You look beautiful by the way," Micah grunted.
Loud bridal music played and one of the flower girls popped in.
"It's time, Elsa." she chirped, fiddling with the garland in her braided hair.
Elsa strolled out of the tarp holding the bouquet in her hands. Her eyes glanced off to her family sitting on the right and James' family sitting very distinctly on the left. Elsa just tried to focus on the moment and move forward.
You're making a big mistake, Elsa. You need to stop thinking with your head and start thinking with your heart. Her inner voice scolded her. James grinned from ear to ear, Elsa almost wanted to smack him across his cheek. She spotted Micah still sketching his pictures from the sidelines.
The priest spoke up.
"We are gathered here today...in holy matrimony, to join a young couple in the most sacred bond of love."
Elsa started lightly trembling, almost feeling like any second now she'd faint. James couldn't be more oblivious to her dreading the moment when he'd hand her the ring.
"Before we start, I must ask... does anyone in the crowd care to speak their peace before these two are joined for all eternity..."
Elsa surveyed the crowd, Micah didn't even look up from his sketchpad. He was really going to let it happen. He was going to let Elsa get married, knowing it would only cause her misery.
That's when a single hand raised in the air, and before she knew it—Elsa, realized it was her own.
James arched an eyebrow confused. "Elsa, darling? Why are you trying embarrass me?" he hissed speaking from the corner of his mouth.
Elsa inhaled a deep breath and spoke. "James, I don't love you."
A loud gasp erupted from the crowd.
James shook his head, not even able to form a sentence.
"I thought I loved you, because what I really was doing was hating myself. I fell in love with a man who likes all of me—even the less than perfect parts," Elsa confessed looking upon Micah in the crowd.
"Some people say you can't fall in love with a stripper, but today. I guess I proved them wrong...." Elsa hiked up the hem of her wedding dress and booked it in Micah's direction. A grin spread across Micah's cheek as he widely opened his arms. Elsa stared into his blue-golden eyes, proud of how she practically made a fool of herself in front of everyone she knows and loves.
"You know this is crazy, right?" Micah laughed hearing the chaos of the two families at each other's throats. He grabbed tightly on to her hips.
A smile spread across Elsa's face. "A certain someone told me that sometimes...you've got to go a bit crazy..."
As they both kissed, Elsa didn't feel one single ounce of worry. Nor, one single second of doubt. For the first time in her life, she felt perfectly fine.
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Thank you, dear reader, for making it all the way through 'till the end! I hope you enjoyed the story. If you did, please consider writing a review. Without reviews, an independently published author's books are virtually invisible on the retail sites. Let other readers know what you thought!
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More Books by Rachel Real
Bayside Tigers Series
Surf n’ Turf (1)
Furry Fling (2)
Wet N’ Wild (3)
Purrfect Paradise (4)
Roaring Waves (5)
Jungle Fever (6)
California Bears Series
Heat Wave (1)
Bear Mates (2)
Bear Bound (3)
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Also, I want to thank Lord F and Nattu for the cover photo! The creative commons is so important for the creation of art.
