Page 53 of I Do, or Dye Trying
“Hair and makeup will follow after your massages,” I told them.
“You spoil us too much,” Martina half-heartedly protested as Josi massaged the arch of her right foot.
“Not enough,” I replied. I dropped a kiss on top of both our mothers’ heads and went off to find my two best friends who were on hand to help me.
Chaz looked me over from head to toe with narrowed eyes. “I expected to find you wild-eyed and crazy,” he told me. “I’m happy that I don’t have to talk you down from the ledge.”
“I’m feeling great,” I told them. “I can’t wait for five o’clock.”
“I’m so happy for you, sugar.” Mere threw her arms around my neck and rocked me back and forth. “I am so proud to stand beside you on your wedding day.” She pulled back and smiled up at me. “You’re going to return the favor, right?”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world,” I replied.
“That goes the same for me,” Chaz told her
“Does that mean you think Harley is ‘the one’ for you?” I asked her.
Meredith smiled happily and said, “I do.”
“That’s Josh’s line today, Mere,” Chaz said. “Wait your turn.” I hoped it wouldn’t be long before it was her turn to recite those words.
The day passed by quicker than I expected it to, and before I knew it, I was in our bedroom about to get dressed for the main event. The door opened just as I reached for my tuxedo. Gabe entered the room carrying his garment bag. Our original plan had been to dress separately and meet our parents in the sunroom so they could escort us down to the altar, so his appearance surprised me.
“I want to get dressed in our room,” Gabe said.
“Oh, do you want me to use the spare bedroom then?” I asked.
“No, I want to get dressed in our room with you,” he said huskily. “I don’t want to spend another second of this day separated from you.”
“Not even if I have to poop?” Come on; I couldn’t be expected to lose my snark and sass overnight. Besides, it was better to let my mouth run amok privately when my emotions soared rather than at the altar.
Gabe laughed hard before he hooked his finger in the elastic on my aqua blue bikini briefs that I bought for the special occasion. “I’m going to dress you now then undress you later.” His eyes held so much sensual promise that I worried we might be late to our own wedding.
“That’s much better than doing either of them alone,” I told him.
“Indeed.”
“I think we should remove some of your clothes to level the playing field,” I told Gabe, who had his clothes on while I stood in my new undies. “I should be aggravated that you get to see my something blue before I was ready to reveal it to you. It’s also my something new,” I told him. Okay, we were guilty of following that tradition too. “I’m wearing the cufflinks that my dad wore on his wedding day as my something old and borrowed.” I was pleased that two items counted as four.
Gabe smiled broadly at me, and I wasn’t sure I understood what was so damn cute until he pushed his sweats down to reveal he was wearing the same underwear as me. “I guess we are starting to dress alike after all,” he said. “Here’s my something new and blue.”
“What’s your old and borrowed?” I asked.
Gabe reached inside the garment bag and pulled out a baseball card. “Chipper Jones rookie card from 1991; it was Dylan’s prized possession. I asked my mom if I could borrow it for the night.” Gabe swallowed hard and cleared his throat before he said, “I thought it would be awesome to have a piece of him with me at the altar.”
I fought back the tears and said, “It’s perfect, Gabe.”
“Let’s get this show on the road, Sunshine.”
Gabe finished stripping down until we stood across from each other wearing nothing but our undies and sappy smiles. “This is the opposite of strip poker,” I told him. “Asking you to get dressed is the opposite of what I normally want to happen, but I’d rather not say our vows in our skivvies.”
“I’ll go first,” Gabe said then proceeded to pull on the dark gray dress socks.
I put on my socks then waited while Gabe pulled his tuxedo pants up his long legs. I fastened them for him and he did the same for me once I put on my pants. We tried buttoning one another’s shirts simultaneously, but we kept getting in each other’s way. I buttoned his shirt first—making sure I got a sweet kiss each time the button slid through the opening—then he did the same for me. I tied his necktie for him next then giggled when he turned me to face the mirror so he could tie mine.
“I have to be looking in the mirror,” Gabe said in my ear when he stood behind me. I wasn’t complaining because I took the time to study our reflections while he reached around me and tied my tie. I loved the difference in our height, build, and coloring. He was dark where I was light, the yin to my yang, the night to my day, and the sky to my sun—opposites, but equal and you couldn’t have one without the other. He was mine, I was his, and we were us.
Our jackets and shoes were the final touches to complete our look. Once they were on, Gabe turned us to face the mirror once more. He wrapped his arms around my chest and rested his head against mine. I glanced at the clock on the dresser and saw that we were expected downstairs in three minutes. That was plenty of time for me to say what needed to be said.