by Amy Marie
“Damn it, Trent!” She sobs. “I didn’t want to cry.”
He walks over to her bringing her into an embrace, and I see tears falling down both of their faces. Nicole joins in and everyone starts to leave the room to give them some privacy. I didn’t realize I was crying just as hard as they were. Nicole turns and grabs me bringing me into the group hug. “You were as much of a daughter to him as me.”
Cindy breaks us up a few minutes later and goes to work on Erin’s eyelids. Nicole and I head to the bathroom to fix ourselves up and before we know it, it’s time to head to the ceremony site.
The entire bride side of the wedding party packs into the waiting limo. The temperature for October is crisp but the bright sun beating down has me hot and flustered, or maybe it’s because Trent is walking dangerously close behind me. Either way I feel like I’m sweating through my dress. I adjust myself before I climb in. Erin follows, with some help from Trent and somehow he ends up right next to me.
My body stiffens with his closeness. I don’t know how to act around him. I almost feel awkward. We both know we want something more, but I’m trying to give him his space, let him grieve. I fold my hands in my lap but he snatches one and entwines our fingers, placing them on his knee. Like a teenage girl, I cannot help the smile that spreads across my face. Erin eyes me from across the limo, quirking an eyebrow at our hands. I shrug and look out the window trying not to overanalyze it.
We pull up to the gardens right before the ceremony starts. The wedding guests are seated and ready to finally see the union of Erin and Walker. Her mom opens the door to the limo anxious to see her daughter again. She had left early and has been taking care of Savannah and Jason while everyone was finishing up getting ready at the hotel. I step out with Trent’s help and hug her giving her a fair warning that she better not make Erin cry.
As soon as Erin steps out her mother’s eyes go wide and you can see she is trying to hold it in. That lasts all of five seconds before she starts crying like we were all doing in the hotel room. This time though Erin keeps it under control.
I allow them their space but am immediately bombarded by Jason as he comes flying towards me. “Little J!” I yell catching him mid jump. He looks adorable in his mini tuxedo.
“Noe! Too!” His cute little voice captures my heart.
I smile at him, kissing his chunky cheeks. “I love you, Jason.”
“Down please,” he asks and then runs to Trent. “Daddy!”
He picks him up but keeps his eyes on me. “You love Noelle huh, little man?”
“Yes. Gamma!” He yells in Trent’s ear and jumps towards Mama Decker.
I can’t look at Trent so I work on smoothing out the invisible wrinkles on my dress.
“Show time!” Hadley calls out towards us and we all follow her to take our places.
All the groomsmen have already taken their places next to Walker so all the bridesmaids are walking down by themselves. Nicole and I are the last two and we walk down together. We take our places and watch as little Savannah, dressed in an adorable white frilly dress, and Jason are pulled down the aisle by Marie, the oldest of all the cousins. Mama Decker pulls them all to the side and quickly turns around to watch her daughter.
The wedding march starts and all the guests stand. I lean over to watch Erin and Trent make their way down. My eyes start to water and Nicole is all out sobbing. When they finally come into view, I see Erin’s focus is on Walker. My knees start to go weak and butterflies take off inside my stomach when I find Trent’s eyes on me. This happens every time I see him. I sway just an inch or two on my stilettos. I can feel his stare radiating through my body knowing without a doubt that I’m crumbling underneath is gaze.
The officiate asks Trent who gives this woman to this man. He replies, “Her mother and I do, as well as her dad up in Heaven.”
When he hands Erin over, Walker whispers something in her ear that makes her as bright as the sash on her dress. Trent walks next to Walker’s best friend, taking his place as a groomsman.
The ceremony isn’t long per their request and in no time Walker has Erin bent backwards giving her a kiss that has everyone cheering and whistling. They are pronounced husband and wife and Mama Decker brings Savannah to them and the entire Prescott family walks down the aisle.
The wedding party starts to make their descent. When it’s my turn I am conveniently paired with Trent. We link arms and he grabs my hand with his. His smile is as bright as the sun and it’s infectious. I can’t help but do the same.
When we exit he turns to me and kisses me chastely on the lips. “Don’t forget I have a something for you later.”
I risk a glance at him, and I’m pretty sure he can see right through my calm façade. “How could I forget?”
~~
My feet are killing me. Usually I can pull off a couple inches of heel but these are the exception. They are damn sexy but I can’t wait until I can take them off. I figure after they cut the cake and we start dancing I can slip into my more comfortable shoes.
Thankfully, we are sitting at the head table, so I can take a breather. The meal looks delicious and the venue is beautiful but I can’t look at anything except Trent’s fingers gripping his utensils. We are all sitting next to our bridal party partners and I think Erin did this on purpose. His foot keeps touching mine, his hand “accidentally” brushing against my own, his stare pinning me to my seat. Tonight I’m aware of every move, every breath he takes, and it’s going to be my undoing.
Dinner ends and I’m starving since I couldn’t eat a damn thing. The DJ starts up the music and I make my way to the dance floor. The girls and I form a circle with Erin in the middle. I’ve had a few cocktails so I’m dancing like no one is watching, which is what I’m hoping for, when someone taps me on my shoulder.
I whip around holding my hair up in a makeshift ponytail and find Jace standing behind me smiling.
“Jace?” I ask like he isn’t right in front of me.
“Hey, Noelle! You look beautiful.” He compliments me and I smile taking in his black suit clad body with a green tie that brings the color out in his eyes.
On cue a slow song starts to play, and he reaches his hand out. I look around like maybe it’s not the best idea but decide to take it anyways. We start to sway to the music, but it feels awkward.
I pull back. “So, it just dawned on me that you’re here. Did Erin and Walker invite you?”
I already know the answer. I sent out the invites. He wasn’t invited and I know for damn sure that Erin wouldn’t invite him behind my back. She is team Trent all the way.
“My brother’s girlfriend, Amber, is friends with Deliah, Walker’s sister. A.J. couldn’t make it so I told her I would go so she didn’t have to go solo. I didn’t know whose wedding it was until we were already on the way. This is the first time I could get your attention.” He brushes a hair off my sweaty forehead and pulls me tighter into him.
“Jace.” I try to draw away from him but he keeps me in place.
“I miss you, Noe.”
I shake my head and am finally able to pull away from him. “I’m sorry, Jace. I don’t miss you.”
It all happens kinda fast, just like the day I met Jace. I see Trent behind him. Jace plants his lips on me. Trent pulls him off of me and then punches him square in the jaw. Jace falls to the floor and just like in the movies the music stops with all eyes on us.
Noelle opened the door to Erin’s suite at the hotel, and my heart skipped. It literally forgot to beat for a fleeting moment. Her golden hair hung loosely around her shoulders and the sexy red dress accentuated every damn curve the woman owned.
I couldn’t help but grab her hand in the limo. I just needed to touch her, to feel her skin on my skin. Any chance I got tonight I had to take the opportunity to physically connect to her.
It’s been a long couple of weeks. Alex’s death affected my little family so much. Jason started rebelling, refusing to listen to anything I said. I found I wa
s spoiling him, giving him things he didn’t need just because I felt that I needed to make up for the fact that she was gone. Then, yesterday morning, I found another note inside Jason’s sippy cup in the back of the cabinet. I guess she figured it might take me a while to get my ass in gear and what perfect timing.
Trent:
If you’ve found this and still have yet to make Noelle a part of this family, remember one thing...you lost her once, it can happen again. Don’t let another day go by with regrets. I love you boys.
Love, Alex.
And like that, the sun rose and the darkness set. I wanted Noelle to be mine and she had to be as soon as possible. I just wanted to let Erin and Walker have their day. Now that it was coming to an end it was time to claim what has always been mine and give her my gift.
The music started, and I ran to get a drink and take Jason to the bathroom. I had the perfect plan to have him lead her to the surprise. We walked back into the reception, and the entire room comes to a halt. My happiness shatters and anger rises like the bile in my throat. Jace’s hands are on Noelle, and his lips are nearing her face.
I race to keep it from happening but am too late. Without thinking I whip him around and hit him harder than the first time, making sure neither Jason nor Noelle was in the way.
The room grows quiet, and I hear Noelle scream my name. My mom rushes over and grabs Jason, shielding him from what is sure to be a blood bath. I’m still seeing red when I notice he isn’t going to fight me. He just stands up and backs away like the pussy that he is.
I can’t take it. I stalk to the exit, hearing Noelle’s heels click behind me. I speed up and with every step I feel like more and more of an asshole.
“Trent, stop!” she yells from behind me. My body complies like it doesn’t have a choice. I stop where I am.
I don’t turn around. “What?” I ask.
I can hear the defeat when she asks, “Where are you going?”
Not being able to help it any longer, I look at her. “I need to go.”
My feet move me forward towards the doors, but her voice stops me again.
“You can’t leave, Trent!” she screams. “You always leave when things gets rough. I’m sick of it. Do you know how hard it is to be in love with someone that keeps walking away? I’m tired of seeing the back of your head.”
Holy.
Fucking.
Shit.
The hairs on my body stand at attention as her words seep into my skin. She’s in love with me?
I don’t hesitate. I dash her way picking her completely shocked and confused body up.
“What the hell, Trent?” She asks squirming her way out of my hold.
I slide her down making sure every inch of her touches mine on the way. “Do you know what you just said?”
The blue of her eyes remind me of a daytime storm. Clouded and full of desire. Her gaze darts from one side of my face to the other to what I assume is figure out what she said. “That I’m tired of seeing the back of your head.”
I lower my mouth to hers quickly. “Before that.”
A light switch flicks on and I know she remembers. “You always leave when things get rough.”
“After that, Sunshine,” I whisper against her lips. When she doesn’t respond I remind her. “You’re in love with me,” I state.
She blows a breath out like she can finally breathe again. “I might have said that.”
I nip at her lip. “You might need to say it again, you know, just to make sure I heard you correctly.”
Her body melts into mine. I take her to the cushioned seat that sits just inside the door and pull her to straddle my lap, not giving a shit who walks by.
“Tell me, Noelle,” I command my hands rubbing over her hips. “I am desperate to hear those words again.’
She leans back and looks directly at me. “I’m in love with you, Trent. Madly.”
I grab the back of her neck and smash our lips together. “Too,” I whisper.
~~
“Where are we going?” She pulls on my hand making it harder to take her to my surprise.
“Noelle, quit it!” I tug on her. “It’s a surprise.”
“I don’t like surprises,” she says tugging on my hand again.
“Surprise.” Jason repeats me.
She relents as he grabs her hand. “Okay, but only because Jason is going.”
“I see how it is,” I joke as we walk to our destination.
I can still hear the music from the wedding filtering through the air. I spoke with Erin and she was okay with us leaving for a while as long as all the big wedding things were done before we left.
Just before we get there I turn to her. “Before we get there I just want you to know that this is only the start of the acquisition we negotiated at your office. Not a full blown takeover.”
Her eyebrow quirks up. “Merger.” She corrects.
“Okay, merger, then. It’s just the start...we’re still in negotiations.”
“So,” she starts. “Not a proposal of marriage?” She jokes.
I laugh knowing that what I’m about to ask might freak her out just as much as a proposal. “No, not yet.” I halfway joke because I plan to acquire her as soon as possible.
I know when she sees it because her free hand flies up to her chest and a loud gasp escapes her lips. “Trent. Oh my God, it’s beautiful.” She gushes.
I look at the handiwork that Hadley did for me in just a few short minutes.
A large, soft blanket is spread out on the ground next to the water. A small speaker is playing music through a wireless Bluetooth speaker and “no flame” candles hold the sides of the blanket down. Jason tries to run to the water but Noe and I both tighten our grip on him and he comes flying back, creating a lot of giggles from all around.
His fascination with the water is short lived when he sees what else is there...cake.
I know having him here isn’t romantic but in order to build this relationship we all need to be here at the start of it.
Jason lets go of my hand but continues to latch onto Noelle’s and pull her to the dessert. She picks him up so that she can carefully place him in the middle. Setting him down, she takes her place next to him and pats the seat on his other side.
I can’t help but smile at another vision of Noelle taking care of Jason like he is her own. She’s kissing his cheeks and tickling him. He loves it. He loves her. I love her. She loves me.
I take the spot she graciously offered and pull the saran wrap off of the wedding cake. Hadley brought some pieces out after Erin and Walker cut it. I reach back to grab the mini bottles of wine and twist hers open handing it over to Noelle.
She starts laughing. “What’s this? It looks like an airplane bottle of wine.”
I take the top off mine and turn it in my hand, looking at it. “They do, don’t they. Well, I didn’t want to waste an entire bottle and I found these at the liquor store.’
“Okay, then,” she says as I pass Jason a juice box.
“So,” she starts. “When did you plan this?”
I look out towards the water thinking of the first time I realized it was time to stop screwing around and make Noelle officially mine. “I planned this last night, but the end result has been a long time coming.”
Stopping just as her first bite of cake hits her lips; she tilts her head in confusion. “End result?”
“Yes, the merger.” I take a sip of my wine and reach into my pocket for the gift. I pat Jason on the shoulder telling him it’s time and he looks up at me, white frosting all over his face. I wipe it with a napkin and lift him up to his feet. “Ready, buddy? Do you have something to ask Noelle?”
He takes the long rectangle box from my hand and gives it to Noelle, wrapping her up into a hug and loudly whispering into her ear. She starts laughing and then looks over his shoulder at me.
“Grilled cheese?” She asks shaking the box back and forth.
“Jay,” I call him attempting to pul
l him off of her. “You trying to steal my woman?”
“My grilled cheese!” He claims.
“Come here, buddy. If you want her to be your grilled cheese you need to say it the right way.”
He swings his arm at my outreached hand and continues his strong embrace on Noelle. She loves every minute of it. I haven’t seen her smile like this in a long time and I’m sad to know that it’s because of the craziness that is my life.
“It’ll be a secret. I’ll tell you in your ear.” I try to intrigue him. He loves secrets.
He immediately lets her go and runs to me, stomping on his cake. Erin is going to be pissed when I return his little tux like this, but it’s so worth it. I whisper the right words in his ear and he nods, looking back to Noe.
His words come out crystal clear this time. “Girlfriend, Sunshine.”
I know that she isn’t a fan of labels, and I haven’t had a steady girlfriend since Jason was born, but I won’t go another day without asking her to be mine. I’m fighting for what I want with no regrets.
We all sit there for a moment, except Jason who slurps his straw, before she looks down at the box in her hand. When she brings her gaze back up she is smiling like she won the lotto. “You want me to be your girlfriend?”
“For now.” I correct.
A chuckle escapes her perfectly plump lips. “For now?”
“Until I can make you more.” I wink.
She lifts my gift up. “Can I open this now?”
“That depends.”
Jason walks over and sits in her lap taking it from her. “On what?”
I crawl over and sit beside her. She looks over her shoulder at me and I kiss her quickly. I look down at Jason whose blinks are getting longer. “On your answer, Noe. I want us to be exclusive. For you to be off the market and mine. Only mine.”
She reaches over, grabbing the nape of my neck with one hand and brings our lips together, then slipping her tongue into my mouth. My dick twitches with excitement for the first time in a month. “Abso-fucking-lutely,” she whispers.
