Hell, even Preston is included in that list. He has become a close friend and I never thought I'd say that. He kept his word. He's called several times over the past few months to check on Bryce, never overstepping his boundaries. Out of respect he calls me instead of Kinzleigh. That alone established a trust that I didn't think I'd ever have considering the things that have happened, so I finally told him he has my permission to contact her occasionally to check on her as long as he doesn't break my trust.
The crazy thing is that I trust Preston as much as I trust my brothers around my wife, even knowing he loves her and he's slept with her, but he’s earned it. He's here and he volunteered to hold Bryce during the ceremony. He took a week leave to come down for the wedding. He's here for a few days to spend time with Bryce, so Kinzleigh and I agreed to let him keep Bryce while we're gone on our honeymoon if he wanted. We made the offer last night at the rehearsal dinner, and without a second to think on it he agreed. Besides the fact that he's earned my trust, I trust Kinzleigh implicitly.
I set my foot on the floor, linking my hands over my lap. "Nah, I just found a girl at a young age that turned my head, and then she inadvertently stole my heart. I just figured I better make it permanent before some other strapping lad comes along and tries to steal her away and she realizes I'm not as spectacular as she thinks I am."
Most of the time Fisher has a smile on his face. The only time I've ever seen him down was at the rodeo when Karsyn stumbled in the hotel room Saturday morning with a post-fucked look. Down might not even be the appropriate word. He actually kind of looked like he wanted to rip someone to shreds and I have never seen him with an ounce of violent anger, not even on the field.
"You still twisted up about Karsyn?"
He looks out in the distance, slightly zoning out. "Hey, if she wants to go fuck some lame cowboy that doesn't care about anything but dipping his wick all the power to her. I don't give a shit."
He's not even looking at me, so I study his face. His hands are fisted on his thighs and his jaw muscle is working overtime. His lips start to move, but no words exit. He's mumbling something silently to himself.
Shit....
I slap my hand over his shoulder and squeeze. He looks at me. "What?"
My cheeks pull back, forming a straight line out of my lips. "My man, if you want her then go get her. Like I told you before be the one that's different. Be bold. You only live once. You wanted a chase, remember? Put on your running shoes and go after her. Generally speaking, the ones that take the most work are the ones that are worth it; the ones you'll never release once you catch. Just remember...it doesn't matter where she's gone before you, but only where she refrains from going after you..."
He places the heel of his hand against his forehead, rubbing his hair from side to side. "Fuck, I don't know. It just seems like she hasn't really looked my way. It's a little hard on my ego."
"Things aren't always as they seem, buddy. Everyone knows that."
The door bursts open and in walks Ryland and Konnor. Konnor is holding a guitar case and Ryland a bottle of champagne; both fully dressed to match the rest of the groomsmen. Kinzleigh chose coral and turquoise as the wedding colors. We all are wearing beige tuxedos, but my vest and tie are white to match the bride and theirs are rotating between the two colors: three in turquoise and two in coral.
"The west coast country boy has arrived! Who missed me?" I look up at Ryland holding his arms above his head in a V, clutching the bottle of champagne by the neck. He has almost shaved his head. Those blonde curls he had...gone. Now, without the bleaching of the sun, it's the color of mine. He looks older.
He wasn't here for rehearsal, because he was at a surfing competition yesterday and couldn't get a flight until last night. All I can do is shake my head and laugh. Ryland is one of those guys you shouldn't try to explain in words. The guy is a fucking nut, but the bastard is loyal. "It's about time my best man showed up."
"Hey, watch your mouth, lover boy. I made it before the ceremony. That makes me early...and I brought the booze. You don't even have to say thank you."
"If you aren't here to crash the wedding. Your motive is yet to be determined. As far as the booze, there is a fountain full of that stuff under the gazebo. Try again..."
He looks at Braxton. "Do you think the bride would notice if I used it as a weapon instead of a gift? No one would notice he was gone. You could even stand in his place, twin."
"Fuck that. I'm not getting hitched. The bride may be hot and all, but that's asking too much."
I stand and walk over to Ryland, grabbing the bottle of champagne from his long, narrow fingers and give him a man hug. "I'm just busting your balls. I'm glad you made it safely.”
He gives me a stop sign with his hand. "I bear gifts."
"I thought I was supposed to be the one giving gifts," I say. "Why didn't someone clue me in? I could've saved a ton of money on your ass."
He looks at me as if I’m the biggest idiot on the planet. "You don't come to a wedding without a wedding gift, dick. What the hell is wrong with you? Even I knew that and I stay away from weddings. The thought of clingy girls at weddings gives me hives. When you throw that garter aim away from me, that's all I'm saying. Me being here speaks volumes. Don't say I never did anything for you."
"You are a disgrace, Reeves. Just for that I hope it hits you in the face and you get attacked by single women." He forms a look of disgust on his face. If there were a phobia for commitment I would diagnose Ryland with it. "Lay it on me. Where's my present?"
He pulls two envelopes from his jacket pocket, handing me the larger of the two. It looks like a card. “This one isn’t from me. This goes with the bottle you already took. It’s from the bride. By the way, she’s smoking hot today.” He winks as I take the card from his hand. Is it bad that I’m slightly jealous he’s seen her before me?
I pull the card from the unsealed envelope it’s in, opening it. It’s a note written in Kinzleigh’s handwriting.
Breyson,
I know that we have officially already stepped into marriage together, but I still want to do this traditionally. When we were on my parents’ yacht I had an idea. Every year that we are together I want to collect a bottle of wine or champagne born that year, so that when we are looking back fifty years from now we can see how far we have come together. Each bottle will signify a year that we have been married. I love you more than I could ever explain and I will always be the luckiest girl in the world for being blessed with a husband like you. We will make it. One day we’re going to stand in the middle of our wine cellar and confirm that sometimes love is all you need. The bottle that you are holding was born in the year 2014 at a vineyard in Napa Valley, California, the state we met and also married. Since we actually married in October I got a bottle from that year. I’ll meet you at the altar.
-Kinzleigh
She continues to surprise me each and every day. She still takes my breath away and leaves me speechless after all this time. It seems like we’ve been together forever, yet it still feels new. When she took my heart she grabbed ahold of it and never let go. It reminds me of that song by Chris Young, Old Love Feels New.
I look up at Ryland and he hands me the smaller envelope. I open it and lying inside are two airline tickets to Vegas and a hotel reservation for October of 2016, the week of Kinzleigh’s twenty-first birthday as well as mine. Only Ryland...
"Twenty-first birthday in Vegas? Don't you think it's a little early for that? That's over a year away. I don't know what I'm going to be doing then."
"If you expected romantic you should know better. I missed that gene. Everyone should see Vegas. Take Kinzleigh to Vegas, get her drunk, and have your way with her. That is spice, my man. You do not plan Vegas around your life, you plan your life around Vegas." He starts tapping his temple with his index finger. "Fucking genius."
And you're a fucking nut.
I hit myself in the face with the envelope, shaking my head in shame. Where did
his parents go wrong? He's a damn idiot, but he's my best friend. I introduce the two additions to Fisher as I did with my brothers last night.
I look at Konnor and shake his hand. "What's up, man? What's with the guitar?"
"A surprise I've been planning for Kinzleigh."
I nod and the door opens again. Mom peeks her head in. "Sweetie, your brother is back from the airport. They're here."
A rush of nerves hit me full force. Maria said they couldn't get here earlier because of passport issues, but thankfully they were able to make it in time for the wedding. Briar and Dad went to pick them up this morning. Kinzleigh wanted the ceremony to be late afternoon, so the reception could be from sunset into the night. I haven't seen them since I said goodbye back at the start of fall.
I walk to the door and follow Mom outside where Dad is pulling up in Moms vehicle. All four doors open and they step out. My emotions hit me like a freight train as I see them exit the vehicle. Antonio, Maria, Marcus, and Dr. Rodriguez are all setting foot on American soil...for me.
My eyes begin to fill. Marcus comes running at me first. "Breyson, Breyson, we're here!" It's crazy how much he's grown since I last saw him.
I squat down at his level and hold out my arms as the amazing kid that is like a brother to me runs into them, closing them around him. "It's about time, buddy."
I squeeze him tight, not realizing how much I missed the kid. I release him to look him in the face and ruffle his hair like I always did. He narrows his eyes at me and swats my hand away. "Hey, don't mess up the do. There might be girls here. I have to look my best." He leans in and puts his hand in a line beside his mouth, the back facing his lips as if he's telling a secret away from someone's line of vision. "Mom's words not mine."
I laugh. "I've missed you, kiddo."
He never even acknowledges my comment. He just continues as if I didn't even say anything. "Where is she? When do I get to meet her? I have something for her."
"You do? I can take you to her if you want to meet her. We still have time." I have never cared about rules, so there is no reason to start now. This is more important than not seeing the bride before the ceremony. Nothing about our life is traditional.
His eyes light up and he looks back at the rest of them. "We're going to see the pretty bride, Mom. See you later."
"Hold up, buddy. I think they should come too. Don't you?"
He pulls up one side of his face in a crinkled scrunch, as if he's too cool to hang out his parents. Oh boy... "Ugh...I guess they can come."
I stand and place my hand on his outer shoulder, walking towards them with him to my side. Maria starts to step forward before anyone else. She throws her arms around me and hugs me hard. "Te he echado de menos, Hijo (I've missed you, Son.)"
"I've missed you too, Mom." I don't attempt to let go of the hold I have around her waist. I don’t speak Spanish fluently, but being around it so long I learned enough to recognize certain phrases.
I owe these people so much. They are the reason I had a place to go, they are the reason I kept my chin up when I had no hope, and they are the reason I found my way back home. She whispers in my ear. "I want to meet my daughter in law and my grandson. I want to meet everyone important to you."
A family is the best thing that we are given in life. A family is what molds you. Not only was I gifted one family, but two. In a twisted way what happened was good for me, because in the end I got back out of it ten fold what I went in with, and maybe that is what Fate was trying to show me. There is always an unexpected surprise around every corner, whether good or bad. "That can definitely be arranged."
I move down the line greeting the other two. Antonio grabs me behind the neck and pulls me in for a hug, patting me on the back with the other hand. "Congratulations, Son."
Dr. Rodriguez hugs me as well. "Looks like you found your way home just fine."
"Thanks to all of you," I say.
I turn around and my mom is a blubbering mess standing in my dad's arms. Briar must have gone inside to get ready. "Mom, Dad, for all intents and purposes this is my adoptive family. These are the people that took me in, provided for me, and helped me get better, both mentally and physically. They are also the same people that helped me find my way back home."
My mom doesn't waste anytime before she all but runs in the direction of Maria, pulling her into a hug. She whispers something in her ear that no one else can hear. Maria looks at me with tears in her eyes and a smile on her face. This is my family...
Kinzleigh
I stand in the full-length mirror I have hung on my bedroom closet, looking at myself. I have no idea why I'm nervous. I'm already married for Heaven's sake. It could be the fact that everyone we know is here and I'll be at the center of all the staring eyes. "Looking divine, peaches. beau-ti-ful...."
Karsyn places her hands on my bare shoulders. Thank goodness it's warm out today. I smile at her. When getting a compliment from Karsyn you actually believe it, because she's not the kind of person to just throw them out there.
"Did I get my vision right?"
"Sweetie pie, sugar drop, and honey bun, this looks awesome. I love your mind. The two of us put it together beautifully. You're going to knock his socks off. The boots are the best part." She winks and kisses my cheek.
When I started thinking about my dress I had this idea. It was a stretch and a little eccentric, but I went with it. I wanted princess versus cowgirl, the mix that makes up me since I met Breyson. I tossed out the idea to Karsyn and Mom over lunch one day to see how crazy I was and they actually liked it, so we had it custom made.
My dress is strapless and made of a sweetheart, corset top in white with a lace overlay. At my hips it blossoms out like a ball gown, making my waist look tiny. This is where I mixed it up. In the front it stops just above my knees, but continues to get longer as the bottom hem rounds my legs and cascades into a short train in the back. I wanted the front to be short enough to show off my cowgirl boots, but I didn't want a tea length dress like the bridesmaids dresses. I wanted the Cinderella look, but altered to fit our country backdrop.
My hair is in a messy ball of curls to the side, behind my right ear. Rhinestone studded bobby pins were dispersed to shine when catching light. I chose to omit a veil altogether. I let Karsyn do my makeup and she didn't disappoint me. She left it in neutral shades for my eyes, but bold, making my green eyes stand out. The most dramatic point is my bright red lips stained with smudge-proof lipstick and the sapphire earrings that Breyson got me for Christmas.
Karsyn grabs my left hand, removing my engagement ring, and then moves it to my right ring finger. The rest of the girls are still getting ready in the other room, leaving just the two of us.
She starts to look me over like a painter admiring his masterpiece, checking for any finishing touches needing to be made. It seems like she's trying to process something, because she never looks me in the eyes.
"I have something I need to tell you..."
"Okay..."
"You're my only friend."
"No I'm not." Where on earth did that come from? She is the single most random person I know.
She rolls her eyes. "Must I explain everything, peaches? That phrase is starting to sound like a broken record."
She begins brushing her hands over my shoulders as if she's removing dust or lint, clearly to distract her. "I have several people that associate with me, but they are not my friends. I was taught to always be nice to everyone without letting people trample all over you. They are only people that coincide next to me on a daily basis, occasionally needing an ear to listen while they practice speaking. I don't generally get along with girls. I'm just different that way I guess. Maybe it was growing up without a mother. I befriend well with guys, leaving out bullshit that comes with females. My one girl friend burned me and I swore I would never trust another. You walked into the store and there was just something about you that told me I should be your friend, that I needed you in my life. I know I am a pain
in the ass ninety percent of the time, but you deal with it. I don't verbalize my feelings. Most of the time I don't even evaluate them myself, because they scare me. I missed out on the part in life where a girl gets nurtured by her mother. Most girls learn at an early age how to decipher feelings and what actions they go with. Emotions confuse me. I don’t know how to sort them out. Mine just kind of get tangled up in each other. My dad is a farmer. He did the best he could to raise me alone."
I have a feeling she's going to be fixing makeup soon. She starts tapping her index finger over her lips precisely choosing what words will come next.
"What I'm trying to say is, I may not always be the best friend when you need me to be, but I will try. If I do something wrong like laugh at you when I'm supposed to cry with you, I may need you to give me a little love slap and teach me what I'm supposed to do. You're my only and best friend. I think I love you, peaches. Like for real hearts and candy kind of love. I want this womance to work between us. Sisters from another mother, right?"
I start laughing and crying simultaneously. I'm not sure how. I didn't even know that was possible. When in need of a word Karsyn will make up her own. She is the perfect swirled product of sweet and sour, never too much of either. Only Karsyn could come up with some of the things she does. I throw my arms around her bare shoulders. "That was the greatest best friend love pledge I've ever heard. We will carry on this womance forever. I promise."
"Oh, I have something for you; two things actually. I’m going to give you mine first."
She walks over to her bag and grabs a black velvet box. "Breyson gave you your something new and something blue, so I wanted to give you something borrowed."
Lasting Fate Page 35
