Reckless (Thoughtless, #3)(166)
By the end of the day everyone was tired, but everything was all set, and I was ready to marry the man of my dreams.
I couldn’t sleep at all that night, especially since Anna had made me go back to the hotel with her and the girls. She said I couldn’t spend the night before my wedding with my fiancé. When I told her she’d spent the night before her wedding with hers, she scoffed in my face. “Griffin and I are way different than you and Kellan.” Pointing a finger at Mom holding Gibson, she’d added, “We did everything back-asswards.”
The next morning, Abby disappeared for a few hours to go watch the parade with Denny while the other girls prepped me for my big event. Even though it was a holiday, we were able to get manicures, pedicures, and relaxing facials. New York City really did never sleep. Abby returned while Mom was getting my dress ready, and Jenny and Kate were curling my hair into long loose ringlets. Saying that the natural look suited me better than a fancy updo, they left my hair flowing down my back and across my shoulders. When they were content with my finished look, Anna went to town on my makeup. I reminded her that I was a pretty simple person, so my makeup shouldn’t be too much.
Without skipping a beat, she told me, “Don’t worry, I’ll leave the whore makeup for your wedding night.” Leaning in she added, “By the way, I asked a nurse for you, and you guys will be able to start knockin’ boots again in four to six weeks.”
Even though she’d just done my mascara, I closed my eyes in embarrassment as all the girls in the room tittered, our mother included. TMI, Anna. T. M. I.
Seeing my mortification, Anna giggled and merrily stated, “You’re welcome.” A laugh escaped me, and opening my eyes, I gave my sister a warm smile. I suppose that was information I needed to know.
Mom helped me slip into my dress when the girls were all done beautifying me. Anna and I had found a very simple satin, tank-top dress. It was a brilliant white color that had a bit of a shimmer to it—it was elegant and modest, but stunning too; Anna said it suited me to a tee, but I personally thought it suited Kellan to a tee. They were no frills on it—no lace, no beads, no ribbons, no elaborate sleeves. It was beautiful simply because it was beautiful. Like Kellan, the dress didn’t need any enhancements.
I slipped on a pair of simple white shoes, then turned to look at myself in the mirror. I almost couldn’t believe it was me I was looking at. With bouncing curls, moderately smoky eyes, and a gleaming white dress, I looked like something straight out of a fairy tale—the princess about to marry her prince. Except, instead of a crown, this princess had a sparkling guitar necklace draped around her neck. Even I had to admit . . . I was gorgeous.
Mom had tears rolling down her cheeks as she snapped pictures of me on her phone with one hand while juggling Gibson with her other. If she was crying already, she was going to be a wreck by the actual wedding. She might need a Valium. Good thing we were going to a hospital. Feeling my eyes start to fill, I warned her, “Stop it, you’re going to make me cry and ruin my makeup.”
Mom sniffed as she made a valiant attempt to control herself. “Sorry, honey, you’re just so beautiful.”
Grabbing her elbow, I inhaled a deep, calming breath. “I’m ready. Take me to my husband so I can finally marry him.”
My dad had arranged for a limo to pick us all up. It was a plain one, clearly on the bottom of the rental scale. There were no real frills on the inside except a shelf in the wall holding bottled water. It was perfect, and I greatly preferred this simplicity to the overdone elegance of Sienna’s limo.
The limo dropped us off right in front of the hospital. The fans outside went ballistic when they saw me. They tossed out such flowery compliments that my cheeks felt heated, but I smiled and gave them a gracious curtsy anyway. I even waved for the paparazzi. Let them splash my face all over the magazines. It would only give me more photos to use for my wedding album.
Our entourage walking through the halls had to have been a strange sight, but all I saw everywhere I looked were smiles. The nurses, the doctors, the other patients—everyone seemed as excited about this moment as I was. Well, maybe not as much as I was. I was nearly bursting at the seams as I clung to Mom’s arm. When we got to Kellan’s floor, rose petals were scattered along the ground. My eyes misted up just seeing the bright red velvet. My vision watery, I followed the path marked in flowers.
When I reached the hallway that led to Kellan’s room, the moisture in my eyes grew disastrously thick. Dressed in gray slacks and a dark blue button-up top, my dad was waiting for me at the end of the hall. He looked ten years younger as pride filled his face. New tears spilling from her eyes, Mom handed me off to Dad. Whispering, “I have never been more proud of you,” in my ear, he enclosed me in a warm hug. It took everything in me to not start crying.
Holding on to Dad for dear life, I looked down the hallway toward where the injured love of my life was waiting for me. The corridor was lined with at least a dozen nurses, doctors, technicians, and other staff members, and all of them were holding the softly glowing vigil candlesticks that the fans outside were using. Some patients’ doors were open, with curious faces peeking through the cracks, but I didn’t care one tiny little bit if strangers were watching this bizarre spectacle. I was getting married today.
The hallway floor was also littered with red rose petals, and at the end of the hallway, standing right in front of Kellan’s door, was Deacon. He had Kellan’s acoustic guitar strapped around his neck. The minute he saw me, his face split into a wide smile. “You’re beautiful,” he mouthed, then he started to strum my favorite D-Bags song. I just about lost it. My mother did.