All of Me (Inside Out #5.5)(42)

? ? ?

The tight security to get onto the chateau grounds should be comforting, but it reminds me of all the people arriving soon. All the vendor trucks and people running around don’t make the tremors in my stomach any better, either. Katie and I exit the car, and I’m pleased that it’s sunny and on the warm side, though it’s two o’clock now and the ceremony is at six, right at sunset, and I expect it will be chilly then.

I glance toward the steps leading to the chateau, relieved to see Jacob and Blake by the front door, both wearing Walker Security T-shirts. The instant they see us, they break away from several other men to approach and Blake whistles.

“The bride has arrived.”

“Yes, and she needs to be protected.”

“Oh?” he asks, sounding serious. “From what?”

“Tripping over my own feet in front of all these famous people coming today.”

“I’ve never seen you fall,” Jacob assures me. “Though I do remember ripped pantyhose and a lot of sand once.”

I blush, remembering that incident well myself. Chris had come home from Dylan’s funeral. We’d fought, and ended up making love on the beach. Later, we’d tried to sneak into the garage unnoticed, but Jacob had busted us. “Thanks for that memory, Jacob. I feel better already.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” he says with a wink. “But seriously. We’re here. We’ve got your back in all things.”

“Thank you. You sure we can’t hire you away from Mark and Crystal?”

“Chris is too private to have me following you two around like I do them.”

I glance around as a car pulls up, and I’m excited to see Chantal and her mother emerge, and unsurprised when Rey gets out of the front of the car. Chantal rushes to me and gives me one of her customary hugs, and I realize that, in general, I don’t mind being touched the way I used to. Because of Chris.

“Do you want to see the ceremony area?” Katie asks, joining us, while Blake and Jacob move on to take care of business.

“Yes, please.”

Rey heads off to help the security crew, but not before whispering in Chantal’s ear. She’d returned to the lunch table yesterday and said nothing about kissing him in the hallway, so I’m dying of curiosity. She and I follow Katie and her mother through the chateau to inspect the ceremony area out back, stopping first at the reception area. There is a rose ice sculpture and plenty of flowers, and while the Paris scene on the chocolate cake is impressive, my favorite cake is the three-tiered strawberry one with elaborate roses on the edges.

After our tour and inspection, there is a lunch that I only nibble at. Shortly after, Katie delivers me and Chantal to a sitting room and orders, “Rest until the hair and makeup people get here. It’s going to be an adrenaline rush later that will drain you.”

She leaves and we enter a room with a gigantic couch, a vanity and chair, and a tall, triple-paned standing mirror. But it’s what’s hanging on the mirror that has my attention.

My dress, in all its rose-etched glory.

Chantal steps to my side. “It’s even more gorgeous than I remember.”

“It is. It really is.”

“Come on,” she urges. “Let’s lie down and rest. I’m up for a fifteen-minute snooze.” She sits down on the couch and pulls off one of the throw blankets on the back.

I join her, taking the second blanket. “Because you were with Rey last night?”

Her eyes go wide. “How did you know?”

“I saw you kiss him yesterday by the bathroom.”

She smiles. “He kissed me—or at least, that’s how it started. Why didn’t you say something?”

“Why didn’t you?”

“Because I needed to think first.”

“And?”

“And I don’t know.” She kicks off her tennis shoes and turns to sit against the end of the couch, her knees to her chest.

I do the same, prodding, “What does that mean?”

“It means I’m nervous with Rey. He could hurt me, Sara. I could fall hard for him.” She laughs without humor. “Who am I kidding? I already have. It terrifies me, and yet I need him in this really intense way.”

“Does he return your feelings?”

“He doesn’t talk about feelings. He just says he’s bad for me, but he can’t seem to walk away. He pretty much ordered me not to see Tristan again.”

“And you said?”

“Considering he was naked and in bed with me at the time, I said I wouldn’t. Besides, Tristan and I were about mutual heartache and escape. Rey had rejected me, and Tristan had lost Amber. We helped each other. The connection beyond that doesn’t exist.

“Rey is different. All he has to do is look at me, and I feel him in all kinds of crazy ways. And I think I make him feel the same. Isn’t that what we all want? To be with someone who consumes us? Who makes us want to give them all that we are, even though it’s terrifying?”

“Yes,” I whisper. “Yes, it is. But they have to deserve all of you, Chantal. Make sure Rey does before you give it to him.”

“The way Chris does?”

“Yes. The way Chris does.”

“No cold feet at all?”