Queen Bee

August 2010 (2)

August 15th. It was August 15th, making it officially eleven full years since me and Marshall had met for the very first time in Red's Bar & Grill. Or as I like to call it, Red's shitty Bar & Grill. At that point in my life, I had no interest in men outside of sex, and Marshall was definitely included in that. When him and all his friends sat down in my section, I was fully expecting to never see them again in my life. Just another group of loud, obnoxious boys who wanted to fuck me, I thought. And arguably, I wasn't wrong. But where I was proven wrong was my ability to fall so madly fucking in love with someone who I just wanted sex from. Who I just wanted to get me off, then leave me alone. But Marshall had other plans for us, and I'm so fucking thankful he did. 

Standing in front of a large, full length mirror, Peter Dundas' assistant roughly yanked on the back of my dress, cinching it as tight as it could possibly go. "Beautiful! Beautiful, Angel!" Peter beamed, staring at his custom creation came to life in awe. 

I laughed, feeling as his assistant finally finished tying the back. "I can barely breathe." 

"That's okay, we don't need to breathe! We have people who do that for us." Peter joked, although there was a little part of me that felt he might be serious. 

"Here's her veil." Zoe offered, carefully handing his assistant my incredibly oversized, 12ft long headpiece. Straightening my neck, I allowed as Peter began fidgeting with my hair, giving way for his assistant to secure the clips onto the back of my tousled curls.

Finally releasing me from their invasive clutches, I scanned my reflection, a big smile beginning to tug at my lips as I noticed all the girls sitting behind me smiling. "Well say something! My goodness!" Peter yelped, breaking the silent admiration. 

Earning seven distinct laughs to come from all of us, I quickly extended my arms, wrapping them as tightly as possible around Peter's shoulders. "It's stunning, Peter. Thank you so much." 

"Yeah, she looks beautiful." Jill added happily from the far side of me. 

Releasing me, Peter turned his attention onto Zoe and Jill. "Hey, either of you ever decide to get married, you know where to find me." They both laughed. "Same goes for you four." He joked, pointing his finger towards Lainey, Hai, Stevie, and Brooklyn. 

"Yeah, right. If Marshall ever lets 'em." Zoe joked back, earning many more rumbles of laughter. 

"Don't worry, he will. Just as long as they're good to you." I smiled. 

"Knock, knock!" A familiar London influenced accent made itself known. Turning my attention towards the door, my gaze landed upon Elton's friendly features as he poked his head through the door. 

I laughed. "Come in! Come in!" 

He smiled, opening the door wider as he essentially skipped over towards me. "I'm sorry, I know I'm not allowed to be in here but I've already been to visit the groom and I just couldn't wait to see the beautiful bride!" He exclaimed, simultaneously throwing his arms around me. "And of course you look stunning, just as I thought you would." 

Returning his beaming smile, his hands gently locked around mine. "Thank you, thank you for coming!" I replied genuinely, hearing as the others began talking amongst themselves. "How's Marshall? He's okay?"

"Is he okay?" He reiterated, brows drawing into a confused frown. "Angel, that boy is bouncing off the damn walls! I've never seen him so excited for anything in his life." Laughing, I felt a giant wave of relief wash over me. It wasn't that I ever thought Marshall would get cold feet and run off on me, but still. I just wanted to be sure. "Why? Are you okay?" 

Smiling softly, I nodded. "More than okay."

"Then what're you waiting for?" He smiled, giving my hands one last squeeze. "Get out there! Go get married!" He exclaimed, earning loud laughter to roll from my tongue as he began attempting to shoo me out of the room.