Ecie & Esme III: Forever and a Day

Twelve

'Cassie!' Esme hugged her tightly. 'How are you? It's so good you could come.'

Cassie smiled. 'I wouldn't miss a chance to see you.'

Esme grinned. 'Is Peter hiding?'

'He's in the bathroom,' Cassie replied. 'I told him he didn't need to come, but he insisted. Where is Ecie?'

'She's in the kitchen talking to the head chef and waiters,' Esme laughed. 'This has to be perfect or the world will come to an end.'

Cassie laughed. 'Well I'll leave you to finish whatever stuff you've got to do. Find me when you're done so we can have a nice talk. I haven't spoken to you in forever.'

'Sure,' Esme grinned nodded. 'I'll catch you later.'

'I have no idea who half these people are,' Lauren said eating some appetizers. 'Do you think Jonathon and Riley will?'

Verde looked at Lauren. 'You've seriously got to stop eating all the food. They'll be nothing left for the party.'

Lauren laughed and kissed Verde on the lips. 'So who is on the guest list?'

'Well there's Cassie and Peter,' Verde replied looking around the room. 'Clive is on his way, everyone who is working on the movie, us and some of Riley's friends.'

'Okay,' Lauren nodded. 'That's cool.'

Verde looked at Lauren as she took another appetizer. He smiled fondly at her then shook his head.

'I think we're going out after this dinner,' Lauren replied. 'Es and I thought it'd be good to get some hard vodka in our blood.'

'Right,' Verde laughed. 'I'm sure you guys thought that.'

'What?' Lauren looked at Verde.

'You are so beautiful,' Verde said. 'You are so smart and amazing and your father is a bastard for calling you stupid and worthless. You're worth everything to me.'

'Verd,' Lauren laughed uncomfortably. 'Thank you, but I don't really think now is the right time.'

'I don't care,' Verde shrugged. 'I thought you should know that I love you and a big part of me wants to marry you.'

Lauren looked at Verde.

'I love you Lauren.'

Esme and Ecie stood outside Curtain Barcelona in black T by Alexander Wang Ponte zip dresses and purple Charlotte Olympia platform heels; as they waited with Ross for Jonathon and Riley's black BMW to pull up outside the restaurant.

'Thank heaven,' Ecie sighed, finally spotting the black BMW they had been waiting for. 'They are here.'

'Thank goodness,' Ross undid the top button of his white Burberry shirt. 'Man, it's so hot tonight.'

'Suck it up,' Esme grinned at her brother.

Ross ruffled Esme's hair and grinned as the black BMW slowly stopped by the valet.

Jonathon and Riley stepped out of the blacked out car and saw Ross, Ecie and Esme waiting outside the restaurant for them.

'Hey guys,' Jonathon said. 'This is a surprise. I didn't realize you'd be joining us for dinner tonight.'

'Well I guess we are,' Ross said.

'You look very beautiful Riley,' Ecie grinned. 'I love the dress.'

'Thank you,' Riley replied. 'I didn't realize I had it.'

Esme and Ecie exchanged glances.

'And your shoes,' Esme smiled. 'I love them.'

'Thank you.'

'Perhaps we should head in?' Ross suggested nodding towards his younger sisters.

'Oh yeah,' Esme and Ecie nodded quickly. 'Let's go.'

Esme and Ecie walked in ahead of Ross, Jonathon and Riley.

Jonathon looked across at his son. 'What's going on here Ross?'

Ross ignored his father and continued walking by his side, until they arrived outside a red room.

'Ross...'

Ross opened the door and led Jonathon and Riley into a private room that erupted in cheers, whistles and smiles.

Ross stood up holding a glass of champagne in his hand and cleared his throat. The room quieted and turned to look at him.

'Well I just wanted to say a few words,' Ross said looking around the room. 'Thank you all for coming tonight, I know that some of you had to fly in from the other side of the world,' he took a deep breath then looked at Jonathon. 'For twenty five years my dad has only cared about three things. He would do anything for these things, even if it meant having to fly in from Europe every Wednesday night just to watch some high school football. For twenty five years, these three things have loved dad, even if it wasn't always obvious. As you can probably guess, these three things are: myself, E and Es. Dad, we do love you and we are so thankful to have you for a father,' Ross looked at Riley. 'Riley, thank you so much for putting up with dad's bad jokes and table manners. He hasn't quite mastered what it means to leave a cell phone at home...'

The room laughed a little.

'We wish you both a happy engagement and an even happier and everlasting marriage,' Ross said raising his glass. 'If you would all raise your glasses: to Jonathon and Riley...'

'To Jonathon and Riley...'

Ross nodded at Jonathon then sat back down.

* * *

'I care about you Verd,' Lauren said. 'I'm not sure if it's love, but for what's it's worth I think you're pretty amazing too.'

Verde smiled.

'You're going to have to work really hard if you want to marry me,' she smiled. 'I always said I never wanted to get married.'

Verde grinned and kissed Lauren passionately on the lips.

'Thank you for coming,' Ecie kissed Landon. 'You have no idea how much I missed you.'

'I think I have an idea,' Landon laughed. 'Especially if what happened earlier is anything to go by.'

Ecie kissed Landon on the lips and smiled. 'I love you.'

'I love you too,' Landon grinned. 'Forever and always.'

Esme grinned at Taylor. 'What?'

'Nothing,' he grinned back at her. 'I was just imagining what you'd look like with...'

'Let it go,' Esme laughed shaking her head. 'It's never going to happen.'

'Not even if I bribed you?' Taylor kissed Esme's shoulder.

'If we ever break up, I imagine this being the reason,' Esme grinned. 'I'm not cutting my hair.'

'Cool,' Taylor grinned kissing Esme on the lips. 'I suppose I can love you just the way you are.'

Esme hit Taylor then kissed him.

'Tonight was amazing guys,' Lauren said. 'I had a great time and the food was awesome.'

'I hope that dad and Riley liked it,' Ecie said. 'I'm sure they did.'

'I think we should make our own toast,' Esme laughed with Lauren. 'Who has something they want to toast to?'

'An incredible first year,' Verde said looking at Lauren. He looked around the group, sat in their velvet booth, and held up his shot glass. 'To an incredible year.'

'To an incredible year!'