Page 128 of The Compass Series

STELLA

I woke up the following morning after a night of unrest. The idea of the upcoming day kept me twisting and turning throughout the early morning.

Even worse, I was hoping I could’ve spent the night with Jeff to make it clearer to him, and maybe myself, that, at the end of the day, this wedding arrangement was nothing more than a contract.

Merely a piece of paper to make Kevin’s odd final wish come true.

Sadly, Jeff had a DJ gig that evening, and he turned down the request to attend the ceremony.

I couldn’t blame him. I would hate to see him off marrying another woman.

Still, I had hoped that by having him there, it would be even clearer how much of an absurd arrangement this was—especially since he was the one who pushed me to go through with it in the first place.

I’m doing this for us. For our future. For our happily ever after.

I told myself that repeatedly to keep from having a full-blown meltdown.

There was a knock on my door, forcing me to pull myself from my bed. When I opened the door, I saw a friendly face holding a tray with goodies on it. Most importantly—champagne.

“Good morning!” Aaliyah exclaimed, beaming from ear to ear. “I figured the bride-to-be deserved a cocktail to start the day. I know it’s not a real wedding ceremony, but you deserve royal treatment nonetheless.”

“Where have you been my whole life?” I joked. “Come on in.” As she walked in, I noticed another tray on the accent table in the hallway across from my room. “Is that from you, too?” I asked.

“Oh, no. That was there before I arrived.”

I walked over to it and felt my heart skipping a few beats as I looked down to find a plate with blueberry scones sitting on it and a cup of black coffee.

Kevin’s exact order. Next to the plate was a folded note.

I picked it up and read the words as the strongest organ in my body pounded against my rib cage.

Your something blue for the day.

– The Beast

Oh, Damian.

You hardened hummus, you.

“Is it from Damian?” Aaliyah asked.

“Yes. It’s…” I sighed, feeling tears fill my eyes as I stared down at the scones. “My father and I used to eat blueberry scones together. It’s a long story.”

She smiled and began to make me a mimosa. “I’m listening.”

I told her the story behind the scones and how Damian and I first met. She laughed at the exchange even though I still felt foolish for being so insane that morning.

“I was wondering why I saw him leaving the house at four in the morning. I’m guessing he was the first in line,” Aaliyah said.

“You were up at four in the morning?”

“Yeah. Couldn’t sleep with the three-hour time change.”

I looked down at the scones, a bit in amazement. “It blows my mind how someone who’s such a jerk can be so sweet.”

“That’s Damian for you.”

“Just seeing those scones makes me want to cry. I know it’s silly, but it does.”

“You lost one of the most important people in your life last week. Feeling emotional isn’t silly at all. Feel whatever comes up. It’s all allowed.”

“Thanks, Aaliyah.”

“Of course.”

“Can you tell me something about him?” I asked when she walked over with my drink. I was almost certain she knew I needed a drink based on the fear on my face.

“About Damian?”

“Yes. I know it’s silly, but I, well, I’m…”

“Overwhelmed.”

I nodded.

She gave me a kind smile and handed me my glass. “I get it. Well, I don’t exactly. Honestly, I’ve only read about these situations in storybooks.”

“Tell me about it.” I nervously laughed.

“It’s like a twisted fairy tale. What if the Beast married Cinderella?”

“He told you about our nicknames?”

She raised a curious brow. “No. Nicknames? Damian hates nicknames.”

I laughed. “Not when it comes to me. He calls me Cinderstella—in a mockery tone, at least.”

“Wow. You must pull something from him to get that kind of reaction. What I will tell you is he’s loyal.

When he stands by a person’s side, he won’t ever falter.

A little over a year ago, I was in a dire situation.

Connor and I weren’t on speaking terms, but Damian showed up when I needed someone the most. He stayed with me and comforted me—in his Damian way of comfort of course—and held my hand through the hardest times.

All because of his love for Connor. He’d do anything for his best friend. ”

“How did they meet?”

“That’s a longer story than I have time to share, seeing how you need to get showered and dressed.

Maple told me to make sure you’re in her guesthouse to put on your gown in about two hours.

So, take some time for yourself. And know that no matter what happens, everything will work out the way it’s supposed to. ”

“How can you know for certain?”

“Don’t know.” She shrugged. “Call it a gut instinct. Enjoy your scones and mimosas.”

“Thanks again, Aaliyah.”

“Welcome.” She paused as if something was on her mind.

“What is it?”

“I just want to say… I don’t know what’s going to happen between you and Damian. I don’t know what’s to come at the end of this bizarre scenario, or if you two will even make it to the full six months’ time, but I do know fairy tales. And they always end up with a happily ever after.”

I bit my bottom lip. “Even the twisted ones?”

“Especially the twisted ones. It might not be the ending we had planned, but still, it turns out okay.”

I thanked her again. Before she left, I had one more request.

“Do you think you might be interested in being my maid of honor? Since Maple is going to act as the officiant, I don’t really have anyone to stand beside me.

I mean, I have my work friends and stuff, but since this isn’t my real wedding, it felt odd to invite them, let alone letting them know about this whole arrangement. ”

“I’d be honored. Also, I know we gave you tips yesterday, but don’t be afraid to use the wife card.

Don’t let Damian disrespect you an ounce after you exchange ‘I dos.’ Even if he pretends he doesn’t believe in the institution of marriage, commitment and vows mean the world to him. After ‘I do,’ you’ll have his loyalty.”

“How can you be certain?”

She glanced down at the blueberry scones then back to me. “Because I know my friend and the heart he pretends he doesn’t have.”

“Don’t cry,” I told Grams as I walked out of her bedroom after slipping into my dress. A black gown—per Damian’s request. For some reason, it felt right. As if I wasn’t giving away something special to him that I’d hoped to save for Jeff someday.

I knew my words to Grams were pointless because she was already in tears by the time I parted my mouth.

“Wow, wow, wow,” she breathed out, walking over to me with her arms wide open. “I know this is a wild adventure for you, but wow, Stella. You look like a masterpiece.” She wrapped her arms around me and pulled me into the tightest hug. “If only your mama and Kevin could see you today.”

Those words tugged at my heartstrings. “It’s not real, Grams.”

“I know, I know. But boy…” She stepped back and placed the palms of her hands against my cheeks. “It sure looks real today.”

There was a knock on the front door. Grams opened it, revealing Aaliyah. “Hi, ladies. Stella, wow… you look stunning,” she told me.

“Thank you.”

“The guys are out there by the arch, prepared to get started if you two are ready.”

“We are,” Grams said before turning to me. She raised an eyebrow. “We are?” she questioned, looking for my approval to continue.

I nodded, releasing the breath I hadn’t even known I’d been holding. “We are. You two can go get in position. I’ll walk out in about five minutes if that’s okay.”

“Perfect.” Grams gave me one last hug before the two went on their way.

I walked over to the window and stared out at the waves crashing against the shoreline.

The water was calm that morning. Easy, even.

Without much thought, I went out the back door of the guesthouse and began walking toward the water.

To my left, I could see the ceremony location, and I knew I only had a bit of time before I was supposed to stand there and say “I do” to a man I didn’t know.

I needed those few moments with the woman who loved me first.

“Mama, I’m going to need your love to walk me through this today.

I’m going to need you to somehow show me that you’re here, okay?

Because I’m freaking out right now, and I can’t believe I have to do this without you…

without Kevin…” I took a deep breath and smoothed my hands over my dress.

“By the way, if you can tell him I’m pissed off at him over this whole thing.

” I paused and fiddled with my fingers. “Also tell him I hate that he’s not here to walk me down the aisle. ”

I bent down and placed my hands in the water, feeling the coolness wash over my skin. As I closed my eyes, I quietly whispered my reply to the words only my soul could hear. “I love you, too, Mama.”

One with the earth, one with the sea, may the waves of the ocean bless me be.

I stood straight and walked in the direction of my temporary life, where I’d say “I do.”

When I walked up the aisle, purple lilacs made a path.

My chest tightened as I stared at my favorite flowers.

The sun fell against my skin as my palms sweated with nerves.

When I raised my head to look in front of me, I met Damian’s eyes, and for the first time, I noticed a look I hadn’t seen from him yet.

Was it… wonderment?

He stared at me as if he were seeing me for the first time.

He shook his head a little, shaking himself from his trance as he cleared his throat.

I couldn’t even pretend that he didn’t look amazing.

The Beast cleaned up nicely in an all-black suit and bare feet in the sand.

His blue eyes stood out more with the ocean as a backdrop to the ceremony.

As I reached my placement, I turned to him. “Hi there, Beast.”

He sniffled a bit and nodded. “Hello, Cinderstella.”

I smiled.

He almost did, too.