“Are you mad?” I asked cautiously. “I knew I threw a major fit with Kyle, but I also knew that there was only him and no one else. I would understand if you would be upset by it.”
She grabbed my thigh and squeezed it. “Do you really want to go through one of those fights? I’d rather not. That was exhausting. I think we’ve moved past it. Even though the thought makes me sad and yes, even angry, I can’t hold it against you. You were single then, you were just living the bachelor life.”
The relief of hearing her say that was uplifting. Broken-hearted men, sex and alcohol—those factors came hand and hand. It was a horrible experience I would gladly not want to revisit.
We were handling things rationally. Compared to last year, this was truly a different level of compromise and understanding.
“You’re the only one in my mind, cara. You never left it ever since you came in the picture, back in Toby’s apartment. I just want you to know that.” I knew it wasn’t necessary, but I needed her to see, her and understand that she was it. She was the only woman I wanted, needed and loved.
“I know.” She finally smiled at me. “How do you think I’d survive the thoughts, hmm?”
Christ, I do love the hell out of this woman.
Nine
Sienna
“Hey, Luce! You’re late!” I glared at her, but the second our eyes met, I regretted the tone I had used with her. “What’s wrong, babe?”
“I just heard; he’s not really getting married in two weeks, is he?” Lucy sounded flabbergasted, as though she couldn’t believe it either.
“He is.” I cupped her jaw, looking directly into her blue eyes, pleading with her. “Talk to him, Luce. You’re the only one he’ll listen to. He loves you dearly. Hell, I’m sure he’s just waiting to hear from you.”
“How the hell do I f**king face him after knowing this? He got her pregnant, Sienna! From where I’m standing, he can have the filthy tramp to spend the rest of his life with!” Lucy flashed her eyes at me.
“Lucy, he’s already going through so much… feel a little sympathy for him,” I urged the angered woman as she looked around and took in everything. Chad’s theme was hot pink, black and white. The whole place was decorated in that fashion; even the swans had bowties in those colors.
“Lucy! Where the hell have you been? How dare you be late to my wedding!” Chad pouted as he walked into the room before he hugged her. “I have ten minutes so if you want to cry, you can do it now, honey.” He patted her back as he tried to soothe her.
Lucy gave a small, tight smile before she pulled herself off him and kissed him on the lips. “Silly man, I’m not about to breakdown on your wedding day, love.” Lucy then glanced at me thoughtfully. “Can you believe this bloke is getting married before us?” She laughed, teary.
I closed the gap and hugged them both. “We love you and we’re so happy that we get to spend this amazing day with you, Chad.”
Chad groaned, huffing. “Seriously, baby loves, I’m about to cry.” He sniffed again, patting the sides of his eyes. “As much as I love you both, I’m not about to ruin my make-up. Hello!” He tried to laugh it off, but his tears were unstoppable. “Oh, shit cakes! Where’s my Mighty Knightly? Maybe a good boner will make me stop crying.” Give it to Chad to make us crack into boisterous laughter before our tears could really start.
Chad hugged the living crap out of us as we laughed a bit more. “I love you!” He kissed my lips before he bounced to Lucy’s face and announced the same sentiment before kissing her again. “My beautiful she-devils!”
“Did I just hear you call my fiancée a devil, Chad?” Blake strode in with Toby. Both men looked dashing, but it was Blake’s possessive gaze towards me that made all the difference. It simply made me unbelievably attracted to him; there was a gravitational pull of desire between us.
Chad had his mouth ajar and started jumping like a four-year-old by the time I turned my attention back to him. “Get the f**k out, Sienna!” He squealed and pulled on my arm that held the engagement ring I had been hiding in between my br**sts before all the drama had made me realize where I should have been wearing it all along. “OMG, girl, congratulations!” He drooled over the ring before he winked at Blake. “Wow, did you ever seal the deal with some major bling, Blakey-poo!”
Lucy tapped his head before congratulating us both on the engagement. I noticed the whole time that Toby hadn’t said anything and, when I did glance at him, his eyes hadn’t left Lucy.
Pulling away from them, I went and took hold of Toby’s hand to let him join in the fun.
“Hey! Smile a little, munchkin. How can you walk me down the aisle with a scowl?” Chad directed at Toby, who tried to look happy for him.
Chad was going to have Blake and Toby walk him down the aisle. He said he hadn’t felt the need to invite his parents since they’d never really supported him after he’d come out of the closet. Both men were honored to walk him down the aisle and, of course, Chad wanted to be the center of attention, which he certainly would with these two dapper men at his sides.
“Blimey, Chad. I am. Inside. Doesn’t that suffice?” Toby said before he caught Lucy’s gaze and their eyes locked. “Luce, it’s good to see you again. You look stunning as always.”
“Thank you,” Lucy responded in an icy manner. “Is it true? You’re getting married with a baby on the way?” Man, she did not hold back. The three of us watched as the former golden duo sparred with their words and eyes. The tension was beyond palpable.
“It’s in two weeks’ time. You are all invited,” Toby said calmly, but the veins on the side of his neck were bulging, instantly making his anger evident. He was in love with Lucy, but the stubborn, demented woman wouldn’t take him back.
“How quaint; an instant family! Congratulations! I hope it’s all you’ve ever hoped for and all you have ever dreamt of. I’m sure Amelia is delighted to be pregnant.” Lucy’s barbed words shot out of her mouth.
Toby shook his head before responding to her. “No, it wasn’t what I had dreamt of having. Not even close. I’ll try to make the most out of it, though. Amelia isn’t all that bad. She truly adores me and, in some way, I like that about her. I don’t have to constantly fight about getting my way because she agrees with me.” He gave her a curt nod before he spun around and directed his next words to both Chad and Blake, “Time to head out and get this horny bastard married.”