The Breakup Mix (38 page)

She wiped the tears off her face and chuckled. “Nah, I slept. Not much, but I slept. How you doing, honey?”

“Uh uh, spill it.”

She shrugged and looked at the water. “Just . . . reality. Been thinking about my parents a lot.”

That took me by surprise. Chance never talked about her parents. “I suppose that’s normal. Today is a big day.”

She sniffled and played with a stick in the sand. “They’ve been gone longer than they were in my life at this point. This year is twenty years.”

I remember when Chance’s parents died. We were at her house working on algebra homework and talking about boys when her grandmother and two police officers showed up at the door. At fourteen years old, she was an orphan thanks to an impatient driver who ran a red light. That driver walked away with scratches but the Bradleys were pronounced dead at the scene. Her grandmother sold her house and moved in with Chance to lessen the loss. “No sense in uprooting the poor girl and making her change schools,” she’d said.

Chance flipped more sand with the stick. “Dad won’t walk me down the aisle. Or boardwalk, in this case.” She offered a weak grin.

I said, “I can walk you down the aisle. If that’s what you want.”

She looked at me and whispered, “Really?”

I nodded. “Sure, I’d be honored.”

“Lis, I need you today. I’m freaking out, and I don’t know if I can do this.”

I smiled. “You can do anything. You’re Chance-Fucking-Bradley. Stop being a pussy. This is Tony.
To-ny
. Do you want to live the rest of your life living in regret?”

She shook her head. “God, no.”

“Okay. So then just keep your eyes on the prize. How freaking romantic is it that he came all this way to find you? That in and of itself is a crotch-buster. But then the proposal and oceanfront ceremony? Holy shit, I can see why you’re thrown. That stuff only happens in the movies.”

“Yeah, but what happens after the credits roll, honey? What happens when it’s all said and done, and I’m . . . married?”

I smiled and grabbed the stick from her hand. “You live happily ever after. Give me that damn stick. You’re driving me crazy. You can sit out here and try to talk yourself out of marrying Tony or freak yourself out about the what-ifs, but you’re going to rob yourself of your peace and excitement for today. You broke that man’s heart in a million pieces and he still came back for you. Just . . . just be grateful for it, okay? I’d hate to punch you on your wedding day. Sheesh.”

She chuckled. “I’d hate to hit a pregnant lady.”

I pointed to the sunrise. “You have from this moment right now until that sun is fully up to get out all those bullshit thoughts running through your mind. But when that sun comes up, you have a fresh new start. You know I wear the Team Chance shirt twenty-four/seven, but Tony deserves for you to start this day madly in love with him and excited about your life with him. Don’t rob him of that.”

She stared at the sand and nodded. “You’re right.”

“I’m sorry, could you repeat that? I don’t think I heard you.”

She smacked my knee. “One time shot, there, honey.”

I grinned. “You’re running out of freak-out time. The sun is almost up.”

She smirked. “Nah, I’m good. That last part got me. Tony doesn’t deserve this. Time to put on my big girl panties and quit being a pansy, sister.”

“Atta girl, Chance.”

Chapter Forty-Two

Love Will Lead You Back

Chance

Alissa and I spent the morning laughing and making fun of the other three as they twittered about like birds on the first day of spring. Ironically enough, it was the second day. Alissa shaped and painted my nails and chattered on about whatever random thought crossed her mind. There was a silent agreement amongst all of them that Lis’s job that day was to keep me out of freak-out mode. She accepted and completed the mission.

It was killing me knowing Tony was in the same town just miles from me, and I couldn’t see him. I sent him a text after my seaside revelation and told him how much I loved him and wanted to be his wife. He responded with:
I need to change your name from Do Not Call to My Beautiful Wife. I love you too.

I took it as good ju-ju that his statement didn’t send me running to the toilet to puke my guts out. I actually smiled and got butterflies in my stomach. Me. I got butterflies. God, I’m such a puss.

I only had one rule for myself for the day. Well, two, actually. I wasn’t allowed to think about after the wedding and I had to show up on the beach at sunset. Talk about a leap of faith. But, I trusted Tony. Me? Not so much. I’ve managed to make soup sandwiches of everything I’ve done in relationships up to this point and shred my own heart in the process. Tony’s been good to me. Which one of us is more trustworthy, here? Not me.

At five o’clock, the transformation of Chance-the-eternal-bachelorette into Chance-the-bride began. Alissa lost her patience watching Michelle try to fix my hair and scooted her to the side. Thirty minutes later, my long locks were loosely pinned in the back with an up-do that would make the best hair professional envious. The rest of my hair laid in loose curls down my back. She added a few snips of baby’s breath (which is the creepiest name for a flower and the topic of a lively discussion amongst friends) and stood back to admire her handiwork.

She smiled. “I think that’s a keeper.”

“It better be. My scalp can’t take much more abuse, honey.”

“Want me to thump you on the head with this?” She waved the hairbrush at me.

I patted my hair and grinned. “It’s perfect, Lis.”

“Want me to do your makeup?” Katie asked.

I waved her off. “No, I’ve got lots of practice with this. Being ‘the face of the station’ has its privileges. I pay attention to the makeup artists.”

Michelle and Dani stuck their heads in the bathroom.

“Everything is ready downstairs,” Dani said. “We even have a groom.”

Michelle smiled. “You look beautiful, Chance.”

I blotted my lipstick. “Ah, thank you, dahling. How much longer till sunset?”

I’d been forbidden to even look toward the balcony that overlooked where the ceremony was to be held. Basically I was being held like a princess in a tower and wasn’t allowed downstairs until I was making the walk to Tony. I had a little fun with Katie earlier making her run up and down the stairs to retrieve three things right in a row. She caught on, but it took a minute.

Alissa moved the curtain on the door. “It’s time to put on your dress, Chance.”

Tingles raced from my heart to my palms, and I took a deep breath as I slipped out of my robe and stepped into the dress Dani held. I steadied myself against the bed and grabbed her shoulder. “Shit. Balance was never my forté.”

“Good thing you don’t have to wear heels tonight.” She smiled.

I turned as she pulled the dress up my body, and I slid my arms through the holes. One long pull of the zipper, and I was officially a bride. I turned to examine myself in the full-length mirror and my breath caught in my chest. I met Alissa’s teary eyes in the mirror and shook my head. “Oh no, sister. You can’t do that.”

She bit her lip and chuckled. “You are absolutely stunning, Chance.”

I smoothed the dress over my stomach and half-turned to see the back. “It’s a great dress, huh?”

Michelle and Katie stepped toward me and offered shy smiles. Katie said, “We, uh, we have something for you. Nothing special or anything, but uh. . . well it’s tradition. Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.” She held out her hand. “It’s not much, but this was an anniversary present from Landon, and you can borrow it for the ceremony.” She offered me a pair of diamond earrings with silver teardrop shapes dangling from the setting.

“I love these!” I grinned. “Thank you, honey. I’ll get them right back to you.”

“Mine isn’t personal to me,” Michelle said, “but it is to you. I dug through your jewelry box earlier, and I found this. I think it’s perfect for today, and I didn’t think you’d remember it with everything going on. It will satisfy the something old and something blue.”

My throat constricted as she opened her hand and revealed my mother’s silver sapphire ring. I gasped and took the ring from her. “You’re right, I totally forgot about this.” I slipped it on my right hand and held it up to get a better view. “I should have had it cleaned.” I thought about the argument my grandmother and I had about the ring. I wanted Mom buried with the ring, but she insisted we remove it after the funeral and that I keep it. I lost her four years ago, but I could feel her smiling at me and whispering,
See? Aren’t you glad you listened to your grandmother?
I blinked several times to hold back the tears and clenched my jaw as I held up my hand toward Alissa.

She smiled and nodded. “It’s perfect, Chance. Let’s take a few more pictures then head on down.”

Michelle, Dani, and Katie each took their turns hugging me then went downstairs to the beach. Alissa turned to me. “You ready for this?”

I smiled and shook my head as I said, “Yes.”

She laughed. “Every bride feels that way right before the doors open. Don’t think, just feel. Isn’t that what Michelle said to you?”

I took a deep breath. “God, can we just go? I can’t wait to see Tony’s teeth fall out when I walk down the boardwalk.”

She slipped her hand in mine. “Don’t forget to take off your flip-flops. They totally don’t go with the dress.”

I laughed. “I’ll ditch them on the deck, I promise.”

We walked down the stairs, and everything went into slow motion. All I could hear was my heart pounding in my head, and my mouth went dry. I squeezed Alissa’s hand and she squeezed right back. I took a deep breath and nodded as she opened the door to the rest of my life. The sky was illuminated with the most brilliant display of orange and gold I’d ever seen. It was like God Himself had offered His blessing and taken all afternoon to mix a perfect collection of bright, happy colors to celebrate the end of my dark days.

The ocean clapped and sighed when I appeared on the deck. I followed Alissa down the boardwalk and trained my eyes on the spot where Tony should appear. We made the last turn and I saw him standing thirty feet away. He was here. He was really here. He was talking to the minister when I appeared at the foot of the boardwalk; the minister cut him off and pointed at me.

Tony turned and put his hand over his heart as he took a step back. He slipped his hand up to his mouth and shook his head. I took Alissa’s hand and stepped into the sand. She whispered, “Take off those fucking flip-flops right now.”

I obeyed and tried not to laugh. Tony stared at me with his hands in his pockets. He looked completely edible in his black pants and white button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled to his elbows. I glanced at his feet and saw Chubs sitting beside him on my blanket wearing the black tie from Tony’s tuxedo. I nudged Alissa. “Check out the best man.”

She giggled. “You know he’s hating that thing right now.”

I smiled at Dani whose eyes were misting, but she was doing all right. Michelle and Katie, on the other hand, were blubbering messes. I bit my lips to keep from laughing and crying right along with them. I knew if I looked at Alissa, it’d all be over. Her occasional sniffle and eye swipes had already given her away. I was close enough to make eye contact with Tony and that’s when it happened.

I’ve read a lot of sappy novels, watched a shit-ton of romantic comedy movies, and done my fair share of making fun of the leading ladies when they described ‘the moment the world fell away.’

But when my eyes locked with his, there was nothing else in the world but the man I loved with tear-rimmed, love-filled eyes staring at me like I was an ethereal goddess. I felt Alissa slip my hand into his and step away, but I couldn’t look at anything but Tony. Gone were the nerves, the questions, the doubt. I would be his wife, and he would be my husband to have, hold, kiss, cuddle, and love with every fiber in my soul.

He looked at the minister and held up his hands. “I know this is out of turn, but I have to hold her.” He wrapped me in his arms and sighed as he whispered, “You’re here.”

My chest swelled as I whispered, “So are you.”

He released me and stepped back in place. I took a deep breath, nodded to the minister, and stared into Tony’s eyes. I listened as Tony repeated his vows, and then it was my turn. I slipped the ring on his finger and whispered, “You’re mine forever, Tony.”

He grinned that panty-dropping half-smile and whispered, “Dreams do come true.
Florida
.” He slid his hands up my arms and grabbed my face. “I can’t wait any longer.” When his lips pressed against mine, he sighed. “God, I love you.” He kissed me again then wrapped his arms around me. He lifted me off my feet and twirled around in the sand. I squealed and laughed as I hung on for dear life and kissed him again. He set me down. “I love you, Chance. My wife, my heart, the air in my lungs.” He touched my face and whispered, “I’m dead without you.”

“Forever, baby. Then you’ll live forever.”

After the ceremony, pictures, cake, and lots of champagne, Tony slid his arm around me and announced, “Ladies, thank you for the happiest day of my life. With your permission, I’d like to whisk my wife away on our honeymoon getaway.” He looked at me and whispered, “I can’t wait to get you out of that dress.”

If looks could melt, my panties would have puddled at my ankles. I didn’t even want to go upstairs for my bag—I just wanted him to get me out of that dress immediately. Alissa nodded at Michelle who slid one of my suitcases from behind the couch and brought it to me. Alissa said, “I just packed a few outfits and your makeup. Even though I highly doubt clothing will be required.”

Tony took the suitcase. “You’re a good woman, Alissa.”

I laughed and shook my head. “Come on before she falls in love with you.”

Alissa hugged me. “Have fun. See you soon.”

When we got in the car, Tony leaned over to kiss me. “I couldn’t get much on short notice, but I promise I’ll give you a proper honeymoon soon.”

I smiled. “We’re married, Tony. Like husband-and-wife shit.”

“Like joint-taxes shit.”

“Like emergency-contact shit.”

“Like changing-your-name shit.”

I stared out the window and bit my lip. “Like never-having-to-wake-up-missing-you shit.”

He whispered, “Like never-having-to-talk-myself-out-of-calling-you shit.”

I sniffled and wrapped my fingers in his. “Tony, I’ll do anything to keep from losing you again.”

He kissed my fingers. “You just did everything I’d ever hoped for.”

Twenty minutes later, we pulled into the parking lot of the hotel and made out like high-school kids in the elevator. I panted, “If you keep this up, we’re not going to make it to the room.”

He grinned. “Fine with me. Bucket list item—check!”

“Doing it in an elevator? Good to know.” I kissed him again and straightened myself when the elevator door opened.

He chased me down the hallway. “Man, I can’t wait to get that dress off you. This is us.” He slid the card into the reader and set down my suitcase. “May I?” He wrapped one arm around my waist and swept me into his arms. “Gotta carry the bride across the threshold, right?” He swung open the door and carried me to the bed. “Stay right there. Don’t move.”

I flopped my arms and legs around. “Oops. I moved.”

He shook his head and took a deep breath. “I’ll be right back.” He kissed my nose and went to get my suitcase from the hallway. I shivered with anticipation of being with Tony again. By far the best sex of my life has been with him. Sweet and tender, hot and rough, always satisfactory—multiple times.

I walked to the foot of the bed and kicked off my flip-flops. Tony returned. “You moved.”

I turned my back to him and looked over my shoulder. “I thought you wanted to take this dress off me.”

He groaned and ran his hands over my shoulders. “You have no idea how much.” He ran his fingers down my back and kissed my neck.