Page 11

Sienna

Well, this is a mess.

“I’ll handle the hotel manager. You talk to Mae.” Tennessee kisses the top of my head. “We’ll make all this better. I promise.”

I know he didn’t mean for this to happen. Given the choice again, I’d gladly let him shove me into every room in this place and fuck me just like he did, over and over again.

“Sounds good. I love you.”

“I love you more,” he murmurs, brushing a thumb across my cheek before heading for the hallway like a man about to go to war in a peaceful, woodland lobby.

Mae is tucked into a corner at the bottom of the stairs with her face buried in her hands.

My stomach churns as I make my way toward her.

I really wanted today to be special. It still can be.

No one really saw what happened except the manager, my parents, and the cleaning lady.

Sure, people will talk, but if we don’t make a big deal out of it, no one else will either, right?

I tuck down next to Mae and lower my tone to a soothing whisper as I say, “I’m sorry about all that. I don’t know what came over me.”

She glances up, tears rolling down her face. “I do. That dude is hot. I’m glad you finally had your way with him. How big was it?”

I can’t figure why she’s crying if she’s also playfully excited for my very public romp. “Wait, what’s going on? Why are you hiding and crying? I thought you’d be mad at me or something. I mean, I did screw up. The manager is pissed.”

She grins widely and wipes away a tear. “He sure is. But if my next romance isn’t pissing hotel managers off, I don’t want it.”

My heart tightens. “What?”

“I went through Rick’s phone. He’s got like three nudes of some girl at his office in this text chat thing. I don’t know. I called the wedding off.”

I don’t know what to say. I’m not even sure I’m comprehending what she’s saying yet. “What?”

“My thoughts exactly. He’s such a fucking asshole. He threw a bunch of money at me to pay for the wedding, so I guess it’s his loss, right?”

I stare at her, mouth half-open. “Wait… you actually called off the wedding?”

She nods, letting out a laugh that’s half relief, half chaos. “Yup. Right after I screen-shotted the receipts and emailed them to his mom, ‘cause I’m classy like that.”

My jaw drops. “You did not.”

“Oh, I did, and I wore white while doing it.” She wipes a tear with the bottom of her dress. “Honestly, it felt kind of amazing.”

I let out a long breath, half in awe, half ready to high-five her into next week. “Damn. I thought I was the drama.”

“You are the drama. I’m just catching up.”

There’s a beat of silence, then we both burst out laughing the kind of laugh that hurts your ribs a little, but feels like letting the light back in.

“Okay,” I say, grinning wider. “So, what now?”

She lifts her chin. “We go out there and party. We’ve got to run up that bar tab he’s paying for.”

Tennessee walks down the stairs, his shoulders relaxed as though he’s fixed this problem too.

“I’ll let you do your thing,” Mae says, wiping away what looks like the final tear. “I’ve gotta go tell the masses we’re here for a hoedown, not a bridal march.”

“Wait and I’ll go with you.”

“No, it’s okay. I need to do this myself.” She squeezes my hand before heading into the other room.

I can’t help but smile at how strong she is. I’m not sure I’d have had the same reaction, though I guess sending the pictures to his mom let off some steam.

“How’d that go?” Tennessee asks, kissing the top of my head.

“Well, turns out the fountains and the chairs weren’t the problems after all. It was the cheating fiancé. So… wedding is canceled, and the party is on.”

“Oh shit! What the fuck?”

I shrug. “I don’t know. She seems okay. She kind of had an idea, I think. How’d the manager thing go?”

“Money. Money solves every problem, remember?”

“You paid him off?”

“This won’t haunt you. That’s all I’m saying.” He smiles softly and kisses the top of my head.

I could question him further, but I don’t. Now’s not the time. Instead, I lean into his chest and tuck my hand against his calloused palm. “Thank you.”

“Always, little girl. I told you, you’re mine. I protect what’s mine.”

The words wrap around me like a shield, and for the first time in my entire life, I genuinely do feel protected.

My hand in his, we step out into the courtyard overlooking the tall, snow-dusted mountains as a band plays soft music. Mae is talking with some guests, and though her day has been pretty awful, she seems to be in good spirits.

A crooked smile plays at Tennessee’s lips. “Dance with me.”

I don’t hesitate. I slip my fingers into his and let him lead me onto the floor. You wouldn’t guess that a wedding was canceled. The flowers are where they should be, the towered cake is in place, and the fountain spills water at a perfect rate beyond the arch.

He pulls me in slow and sweet, like I’m something breakable and precious, as his hand presses warm against my back, and we move gently, like the world hasn’t been upside down all day. I rest my head against his chest and listen to the steady beat behind his ribs.

“I don’t deserve you,” he whispers lowly as a warm breeze passes around us.

I smile into his shirt. “Too bad. You’re stuck with me.”

He leans down, his lips brushing the top of my head. “Then I’m never letting go.”

And just like that, the noise fades. It’s just the two of us. A not-quite-wedding, a first dance that no one planned, and a day no one saw coming.

The day ends here, but it feels like the start of something so much more.