Page 47 of Ski You Later (Alpine Glow #1)
Yellow’s her most appropriate colour. She’s my personal sunshine after all.
This was, without a doubt, the longest week of my life.
The sheer number of messages I received regarding the wedding would have stressed me out on their own.
But the combination of them all with my training and homework resulted in a few grey hairs popping up.
If it weren’t for Roman, I probably would’ve booked a trip to Mexico by now and just blown the entire thing off.
Luckily, he has been there every step of the way, from helping me with my meal prep when I had to find a twenty-four-hour seamstress.
To massaging my aching muscles after training when I had to sit on the phone with seven family members.
Apparently, the dresses for the flower girl got destroyed, and they needed all hands-on deck to solve the problem .
Overall, it has been an absolute mess and Roman’s been there, standing in the eye of the storm with me, through the entire thing.
Flattening the satin fabric against my skin, I cringe at how the stupid dress is already wrinkling. Julian was very adamant on spring colours being the theme, even though the wedding is in the middle of April.
Twirling around to look at every place the light-yellow dress hugs my curves, I can’t help but admire how my entire back is on display. As I make sure I’m alone, I flex my back into the mirror, and can’t help but smile at the muscles I see.
My hair is all pinned up in a bun with a few strategic pieces escaping the messy updo. Since my bangs have grown to almost a curtain length, I part them down the middle to frame my face nicely. All it takes is a few more makeup touches, and I’m completely ready for the event.
My hands are sweaty as I open and close them, so I wipe them on the bed to avoid ruining my dress. The satin’s going to be a real issue if I can’t get it wet, because the stress sweat is coming in hot.
Jasmine’s been quiet lately, always finding a way to ignore the family calls, and laying low at training. Aunty said she wasn’t feeling well this week, which just meant I got stuck doing all her tasks. My new dream is for her to be sick as a dog, and I’m able to attend this event in peace.
“Langley?” A voice calls from the hallway, the familiar timber of it already putting me at ease.
“In here,” I call back, doing one more once-over to ensure everything is in place.
“Sorry, I knocked a couple times, so I just assumed –.” I turn around at the abrupt stop in his sentence, but every thought flies out the window as I stare at Roman.
His frame fills the tux as if it were made for him, with the tie being a perfect match to my sunshine yellow dress.
His hair is gelled back with only a slight wave present now, his shoes shine against the indoor lights, his face is clean-shaven and every freckle he has is proudly on display.
As I flounder for words to express his beauty, it dawns on me that he’s having the same problem.
He looks at me in complete awe, his eyes alight as his gaze travels up my form. I almost want to shy away from the sheer intensity of it, but that’s the last thing he would want me to do. “Do you like it?” I ask teasingly .
“Rhodes, you’re absolutely stunning,” he says with emotion filling his voice.
“It’s a beautiful dress,” I say in agreement.
He slowly approaches me, grabbing both my hands in his. “No, it’s the woman in the dress who’s steals the room.”
Looking up to meet his eyes, the softness I find there threatens to crush me. “Roman, thank you. For everything,” I say and try to keep the emotion from clogging my throat.
“Any time, gorgeous,” He smiles widely, and then wastes no time leaning down for a kiss. Before I get the chance to feel the press of his mouth on mine, a loud bang sounds from the front entry way.
“Rhodes Langley! We have called you fifteen times! We have to go. Now!” My mother’s voice echoes through the house, and it couldn’t have ruined the mood more.
“Mom! That key was for emergencies only!” I scream back at her, giving Roman an apologetic smile as I walk to the door.
As we make our way into the hall, the feel of his hand on my back does nothing but help steady me for the event to come. I smile up at him and promptly jolt as I hear the loudest gasp that has ever left a woman’s mouth .
We both break eye contact, shooting our gazes to my mother standing five feet away, with her hands over her mouth in shock.
Her long pink gown stops just shy of her sparkly heels, her bag and earrings complementing both of them nicely.
She basically looks exactly like I will in thirty years, but with the difference of being ten times louder than me.
“Rhodes Jayne Langley! He’s absolutely gorgeous!” She quickly strides over to us, not warning Roman before wrapping her arms around him.
“Mom! Get off him! This is not how normal people introduce themselves,” I say with a healthy dose of embarrassment. Luckily, he just laughs as he lightly pats my mother’s back, a chuckle escaping him before he can stifle it.
“Oh, hush. I carried you around for nine beautiful months, I can introduce myself however I want,” she says happily. “Where’s our dear Aurora?”
I intercept her before she can barge into Aurora’s room, and I quickly lead the group back to the front door. “She’s in class still, how about we all just head over to the church, huh?”
“Well, I’m so thankful you both were able to skip class today. Thank you both,” she says kindly .
I don’t mention that we’re both probably going to have to skip training tomorrow as well, but there’s no chance I would say that in front of her. Roman doesn’t need to know my mom’s opinion on how we have too many training days and never a rest.
As my mother makes her way to the car, I reach for my jacket, only to have it already extended towards me. Roman holds it up as I slip my arms through, and I put both my palms on Roman’s chest.
“This will be your last moment of peace for a minimum of ten hours. I hope you’re ready.” I give him an intense gaze and frown when he has the gall to laugh.
“I think it’ll be alright. Remember, you’re getting my best behavior.” That hand runs through his dark hair stops short when he remembers it’s all been gelled down.
With one last tap on his chest, I interlace our hands as we walk out the door. “Oh, Huxley. They’re going to eat you alive.”
It took around fifteen minutes for me to notice the first sign that Roman was sweating.
That was after both my parents and brothers grilled him in the car on why he was worthy enough to date me.
Honestly, surviving more than ten minutes of that torture before the first sweat broke is an achievement.
The church is a beautiful structure, stained glass in every window that casts a beautiful glow onto the space below.
Entering the main doors, my little nieces stand with their moms and hold bundles of flower pedals for everyone to take.
We thank them kindly, but then shuffle into the room so we don’t hold up the traffic.
Entering the churches main area, we find the entire place packed with family, and soon to be family. My relatives are sprinkled around everywhere, half mingling with the bride’s guests and the others reuniting with the long-distance family members.
I don’t manage to make it five steps before the nosiest of my aunt’s barrels into me, grabbing both my arms as she looks at me with the most fake pity she can muster.
“Oh Rhodes, look at you trying to wear such a happy colour. This day must be so hard for you. But don’t worry, us gals can stick together all night.
” She leans in close as she says the last part, as if everyone’s eyes aren’t currently on us.
My mom starts to make her way to us, but I decide to intervene before they start a fight in the middle of the area. “No Aunty, I’m not sad at all. Julian’s getting married today, and I have the privilege of attending with my boyfriend.”
It’s almost humorous how half the conversations in the room sputter out and their attention moves from me to the six feet of man at my back. He leans around me and extends his hand out to my aunt, who’s almost too busy ogling him to return it.
“Nice to meet you, I’m Roman Huxley.” He gives her one of his sweetest smiles and I promptly excuse us both before she tries to steal my date.
Everyone comes in waves after that, family members from all over the place coming and having quick words with the Langley clan. It ranges from cousins I’ve missed over the years, to snippy comments from relatives that think I’ve embarrassed Jasmine by bringing someone.
I couldn’t wrap my head around that logic, but luckily Roman stood by my side through it all. A comforting hand on my waist and polite dismissals when he saw fit.
After half an hour of mingling, we finally manage to take our seats and I can’t help but expel the breath I’ve been holding in .
“That was, a lot,” he says with exhaustion in his tone. “Are you alright?” He asks with concern as he interlaces our fingers.
Turning to look up to him, I lean into his neck and whisper so that no one can overhear. “The only reason I’m okay is because you’ve been by my side. For real.” I quickly pull back and smile, so he knows just how grateful I am.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else, Langley,” he whispers into my hair and then places a firm kiss there. Warmth floods me at his actions, but even more so when he reaches across and slides me closer towards him.
“We have to keep up pretenses. You get it,” he says with pretend seriousness. I can’t help but pull away slightly and raise my brow at him. His response being to plop a quick kiss to the tip of my nose before I can bat him away.
Carlos abruptly ends our little moment, as he flops down beside me with Henry in tow.
They both make a ruckus as they take their seats.
They look like twins in their matching tuxes, both boys sporting cute little noses and long blonde lashes.
The only way to differentiate the two is due to Carlos’s shaggy blonde curls that are a direct contrast to Henry’s new buzz cut .
“Y’all want a drink?” Carlos slips us a flask, and I don’t think twice before taking a big swig.
I temper down a cough as some of the cheapest tequila I have ever had burns its way down my throat. Roman is much more of a champ as he swallows his sip the same as if it were water.
“Mate. That’s dreadful,” Roman says right after. Leaning over me to meet Carlos’s eyes, and the smile on Car’s face telling me everything I need to know.
“Ah, it’s going to be that kind of night,” I mutter. Taking another discreet swig of the flask as Henry joins the conversation.
“Rho, you wouldn’t believe how many people asked us if you paid Roman to be here. Can you imagine?” Henry whisper shouts to us, and my heart drops into my stomach.
“What! Who told you that,” I whisper-shout as I whip towards Henry.
“Uh, like a bunch of people, but Car Car and I are shutting them down. Don’t worry.
” The thumbs up Henry sends back does nothing to ease my nerves and I quickly face the front, so they don’t see my panic.
Obviously, I didn’t pay him to be here, but it’s not like he was my boyfriend when I invited him .
The muttering quickly quiets down, as everyone follows my lead in facing forward.
Julian starts to walk down the aisle and I try my best to produce a smile for him.
He looks great in a forest green suit and my aunt radiates with pride as she walks him down.
The bridesmaids following close after them, everyone wearing a darker colour of pink as they walk down.
Jasmine is the last to walk down, her dress a dark pink that accentuates her glowing-bronze skin. I try not to look, but as I scan the small area, I don’t see any sign of Daniel sitting in the crowd.
Julian’s fiancé takes to the aisle not long after, and we all stand. Her cream dress is accented with hundreds of mini flowers, the design continuing to the train of the veil. The weddings entire design fits so well together, and I love the uniqueness of the whole thing.
The ceremony proceeds as usual after that, both parties smiling big as they face each other and get ready for the next stages of their life. I try my best to keep my gaze on the happy couple, but I can’t ignore the number of relatives looking back at me.
My cousins, aunts, and people I don’t even know make covert glances back, when their sole focus should be what’s happening up front. “Are you seeing this?” I whisper up to Roman, thankful as he lowers his head to be more discreet.
“Yeah. Your family seems to be very inquisitive. Just ignore them, Langley. This day is about your cousin, so let’s just focus on him.” The swift kiss he places on my temple does nothing but strengthen my resolve, helping me face forward with more confidence.
Not long after that, cheering breaks out and everyone’s filled with joy as Julian becomes a husband. The pair of them are radiating love as they face the crowd and wave.
They do a couple more dramatic kisses that are met with a wall of cheers, and I’m glad everyone’s focused is fully on them.
Looking up at Romans smiling face, I send him a reassuring nod and lean into his side. We’ve gotten through half the event already; this should be completely fine.