Second time lucky

68

Britts pov.

The day before the wedding and in true traditional fashion Brett and Ava were making sure that me and Riley had no communication at all. Not even a good morning text. There was one exception and it was only in the event of a life or death emergency.

Instead of the secretly planned relaxing day at home followed by our final night of unmarried life together, our friends had conspired against us and we were both being held captive by our respective best friends.

My parents were with Riley's parents and had both the children, but would be at the venue bright and early so everyone could get ready and take pictures and all the pre wedding requirements that seemed to be irrelevant right now. I just wanted to get it done with and finally be his wife.

"We have a hair appointment at ten, nails at one, followed by facials and massages at four." Ava uttered excitedly.

"This is so exciting!" Hannah added.

"Riley would think so too." I replied with a lot of sarcasm as Ava rolled her eyes.

"Stop pouting Britt. I'm ready for you to officially be my sister so suck it up and let's enjoy the day." Anna added.

"I can't wait to be your sister either."

...

The hair appointment was like most hair appointments. I got my highlights touched up, confirmed the time for our wedding hair tomorrow and filled my friends in on the important things I needed from them.

Then we went to lunch and ate some Mexican food before heading over to the nail salon where we all got some simple and short French manicures as the nail technicians talked to each other in another language.

Of course I couldn't be sure but I guessed they were probably talking about us and how we were probably stuck up rich girls with nothing else to do.

By the time we walked into the massage parlor I was exhausted. I managed to stay conscious enough for my facial but as soon as I was face down and the lady started rubbing out the knots in my shoulders and back I was out.

I might have snored, I'm not sure.

What I do know is that Ava had to come in and wake me up because apparently I was out cold, which was not only slightly embarrassing, but having her scream at me completely ruined the tranquil mood I had been in.

I hit Avas guest room soon after we got to her house. I closed my eyes and felt the excited nerves start to flutter around in my stomach. This was finally happening and I couldn't wait until I woke up and got to finally marry the man of my dreams.

....

Riley's pov

"This is so dumb. I mean come on guys, it's not as if any part of our relationship has been by the book." I protested as the guys sat around playing call of duty on the oversized TV in the living room.

"That's the whole point." Brett argued. "After all the bad shit you've been through, maybe it's time you did something by the book."

"We can't have you dooming yourself to misery a third time." Jacob added as I glared at him.

"Low blow." Kyle howled as he shot and killed Jacob on the TV. " not that you're wrong, but still, low blow."

"I don't have to listen to any of you." I shook my head and went to grab my phone.

"She won't answer. Ava took her phone." Brett announced as if he knew what I was doing.

"Dude I need to talk to her about Kyles thing."

"Later, for now, sit and play video games. You're about to be married and wives don't allow for much video game time with the boys."

"Fine." I conceded and joined the boys on the couch.

It was surprisingly a decent day of just hanging out and drinking with the guys. I could tell that the guys were excited and I knew that I was.

I have been waiting for the day I would finally get to make Britt mine forever. There is nothing I could ever want more than to call her my wife and know that no matter what we will love and fight for each other.

For me it's always been her. The way her hair, the shades of red and blonde, tangle together in waves around her face, the way her eyes, blue and clear crinkle when she smiles, makes me genuinely happy.

The night we started all of this, the night after Carl,  was the first time that I ever allowed myself to believe it was a possibility for me to have the girl I had wanted as we grew up.

Somehow she wanted me too and I'll admit I made mistakes and so did she, but I never gave up on us. I think deep down she didn't either.

I glance at Kyle and think about the time they had spent together and I'm not even mad at them for it like most would be. I don't blame her for moving on with him, she needed someone and so did he. Together they helped fix each other so that she could return to me, and he to Hannah.

He was also a great influence to the kids and while I will always hate that I missed out on four years of their lives, I'm glad they had someone to show them how their mother deserved to be loved, how they deserve to be loved.

I must have been staring as I got lost in thought, because the guys all started yelling at me as a sniper shot me out of my lookout.

"I'm heading to my bed. It's getting late and I gotta have my A-game for tomorrow. She deserves perfect and she will get it." I announced.

"Riley?" Brett called as my brother started playing Kyle

"Mhm."

"Avas going to talk to her about what you mentioned and let you know."

"Fine." I sighed before disappearing upstairs.

I wasn't happy with how our friends were doing things even if they had good intentions. Even regular couples talked on the phone before the wedding day, they just weren't supposed to stay with each other or see each other before the ceremony on the day of.

Being away from her, and the kids and not being able to talk to her made me anxious. I had no way of knowing if she was nervous, having second thoughts, or still excited.

It didn't help that I had never slept in this bed, our bed without her. Maybe I should have let the girls keep our house and we could have used Bretts again, but for some reason they didn't want to do that.

The pillows still smelled like her and I found myself hugging her pillow as I tried to sleep. Breathing her smell seemed to help as I reminded myself that this time tomorrow she would finally be my wife.

This time tomorrow I would have carried her across the threshold like the beautiful queen that she is. There wouldn't be any bossy friends, no. Our kids would still be with our parents and I would spend my time loving her the way she deserves.

Then once we were exhausted I would hold her all night until it was time to jet her away on our surprise honeymoon.

It was one of the few things she had let me take control of and I knew exactly where to take her. A place that was so special to us both as young kids. A place that deserved a second chance without our prying families.  A romantic and serene place where we would be uninterrupted and free to enjoy each other.

I was ready for tomorrow, and every day that followed. It doesn't matter if everyone shows up or if only she does. All that I care about is spending every waking moment showing her that our family is the most important thing in my life.

I am ready to say I do.

I just hope that she is.