Page 50

CHAPTER 50

Cami

Me

one attachment

Bestie Friend

OMG you look hot!

Bestie Friend

Has my brother seen you?

Me

LOL, not yet

Bestie Friend

Good luck getting him to separate from you once he does!

Bestie Friend

Have so much fun!

“1…2…3,” the photographer counts down as the bridesmaids and I prepare to turn around and see my sister in her wedding dress. We all spin on three and cheers break out in the room, all of the girls going crazy at how beautiful she looks.

They all swarm her with hugs and words of encouragement, but I hang back. My eyes water as I take her in. My little sister is standing in front of me looking like every bit of the woman that she is. Her dress looks even more beautiful on her now than it did a few months ago in the bridal shop, and the added details of her veil and hair style make it even more magical.

Once the girls have had their moment, they split apart and she walks towards me, holding out her arms.

“You look absolutely radiant, Coco,” I say as she embraces me. I squeeze her tight and we stay like that for a few moments. It all hits me then, my sister is about to get married.

I’m suddenly overtaken by strange feelings of excitement but also deep sadness. It’s always just been my sister and I. We don’t have any other siblings, and from a young age we were inseparable. I was so excited for her when she got engaged, but I don’t think it clicked for me that she’d belong to someone else now.

Not in a weird way of ownership, but her small moments and silly inside jokes would be shared with someone else and that person isn’t me. She will share a bedroom with someone who isn’t me, and they’ll likely have a laughing fit at one in the morning when neither of them can sleep. I won’t be a part of that any more, and that transition is a strange one.

While I am more than excited for her and she deserves every bit of love Derrick is going to offer her, it feels a little bit like I’m being replaced. Someone else gets to be her person, and I have to be okay with that.

I quickly gather myself and my emotions before I pull back, not wanting to burden her with them right before she’s supposed to walk down the aisle. The photographer snaps photos of us as we share a moment together, laughing through the tears.

“Are you ready to do this?” I ask.

“More than ever,” she says and I squeeze her hand.

We make our way back into the dressing room to touch up the makeup that might have moved around through our tears. Later, all of the bridesmaids go outside with her to take a few photos before the ceremony.

As the photographers are posing some of the bridesmaids for individual shots, I pull my phone out to check on Charlie.

Me

You doing okay?

Charles

Yep, just hanging out with your Aunt Brenda.

Me

Good call. I had them sit you by her for a reason

Charles

My girl is always looking out for me.

Me

I put my phone back into my bag and follow behind the coordinator as she pulls us all into a line to get ready to walk down the aisle. The music starts and nerves begin to bubble in my stomach as our line starts to move forward. I look back and wink at Colette as she joins arms with our dad, then turn and make my way to my place.

As I walk, I look for Charlie. When I find him, he smiles at me and I melt immediately—my broody cold hockey player who turns soft just for me. I love him and I love the way he makes me feel cherished and wanted.

My mind wanders as I make my way closer to where he sits, off to the side. I start to picture what it might be like for me to walk down an aisle to him, but with me in the white dress and him in the tux. The image doesn’t scare me, but instead causes me to smile widely.

I love you , I mouth as I pass him. He says it back and we smile knowingly at one another.

We all then turn to watch my vision of a sister float her way down the aisle to her forever.

* * *

“Oh, I love this song!” I shout at Charlie over the music. The reception is well under way and I have had the best time dancing with my sister, my family, and Charlie. He’s been great, constantly by my side and making sure I don’t need anything.

He’s gotten a few questions and stares from different family members, but so far it has been surprisingly uneventful. If we can make it out of here unscathed, I will be immensely happy.

We continue dancing through the song, the beat traveling through my toes, up my legs and into my chest. When the song ends, Charlie suggests we take a break outside and I agree, following him to the large yard area with cocktail tables scattered around.

My parents are crowded around one of them, laughing together, and they wave us over.

“Well, I guess now is as good a time as any,” he says. I nod at him in encouragement.

“Mr. and Mrs. Slate,” he says, shaking their hands. My dad takes it and instead pulls him in for a hug.

“You know you can call us Miranda and Grant, no need for formalities.”

“Well, I’m not just the annoying neighbor kid now, so formalities do feel slightly required,” Charlie says with a chuckle.

“That’s right,” my mom says. “Now, you’re dating our Cami.”

“I am,” he says and wraps his arm around my waist, tugging me into him. “I love her very much.”

He looks into my eyes as he says the words, as if my parents aren’t even there. I get lost in his gaze, forgetting them myself, until I hear my mom’s quiet giggle.

“Oh, to be young and in love. I sure do miss those days.”

“Our best days are ahead of us,” my dad says and kisses her head. I smile at their easy affection after so many years. “Charlie, you’re going to look after my girl?”

“With my life, sir.”

“Well, then that’s all I need to hear. You break her heart, we’re going to have more than a conversation. Understand?”

“I understand.”

“Good.”

“Do you boys mind giving us a moment? I’d like to speak with Cami privately,” my mom says. My heart drops into my stomach as I wonder what she would want to speak with me about if she feels the need to dismiss my father and Charlie.

He looks down at me as if to check that I’m okay with him leaving me with my mom. I smile up at him, or at least I hope my face obeys and smiles, and he squeezes me once before letting me go and heading inside with my dad.

“Everything okay?” I ask.

“It’s not, but it’s nothing you’ve done.”

I breathe a little easier at that, thankful that this isn’t turning into another criticism moment. She pulls me in for a hug and squeezes me so tight it hurts.

“I’m sorry,” she whispers into my hair. It’s so quiet, if she wasn’t right by my ear I wouldn’t have heard it.

“What for?” I ask as she pulls away. She has tears in her eyes, which automatically makes mine do the same.

“I haven’t been fair to you. I know I’ve been hard on you and I’ve been overly critical of your choices and I’m just so sorry. Your father and I are so proud of you, and we love you very much. The comments I’ve made about your choices in boys and activities hasn’t been the way a mother should act towards her daughter, and I’m sorry for that.”

I take a deep breath, absolutely stunned that the words she just spoke left her lips. This is coming out of nowhere, and I don’t really know how to respond.

“What brought this up? Is it Charlie? Now that I’m settled you’re happier with me?” I ask. I know it’s harsh, but I can’t understand how she would just randomly realize the things she’s said to me my entire childhood and early adulthood have been completely inappropriate.

“Oh, honey, no. I had a long talk with Colette and she pointed some things out to me. She didn’t betray your trust, but she did tell me that she believes you’ve been hurt by my actions. It took me some time to sit with the things she said, and think about the things I’ve done. After thinking, I was extremely remorseful. I love you, unconditionally, and whether or not you marry that man or stay single forever, that will never ever change.”

I start crying then, unable to hold the tears back any longer. Tonight has been an emotional overload, and while I’m so happy my sister is married, and so grateful my mom has recognized her mistakes, I feel overwhelmed.

My mom pulls me into a hug and we stay like that for long moments, cuddled together.

“Let’s get back inside, it’s cold.”

“Mom, it’s in the sixties,” I laugh.

“Exactly.”

She ushers me back inside and I immediately return to Charlie’s side.

“Everything okay?” he asks.

I nod and wrap my arms around him.

“Everything is great. I’ll tell you about it later. Thank you for coming with me,” I say as I cuddle into him. “I’m really glad you’re here as my real boyfriend and not my fake one.”

“Me too, trust me.”

And I do.