The Moment They Reached Happily Ever After

The Wedding

Julie is nervous, more so than she had ever been over her entire life. The butterfly typhoon and accompanying nausea pale in comparison even to the moment in the 2015 FIFA Women's World Cup semifinal against Germany when she thought she had lost the game for her team. No, these butterflies are a different level of intensity. As hard as she tries, she can't stop the rushing river of questions and doubts from flowing through her mind.

"Jules, hey girl snap out of it. It is your day." Julie snaps her head up, meeting the ice-blue eyes of her favorite goalkeeper. Hope smiles at the defender, chuckling as she says "I was in your shoes not too long ago. Nothing will go wrong. Christen is going to walk down that aisle to you and everything and everyone else will fade away." The warmth and sincerity in Hope's voice does calm a few of the raging butterflies in Julie's gut.

"You're right Hope. I just have to make it to that point." The defender smiles at her friend and gets up off the edge of her bed.

"Let's start with coffee." Hope tosses Julie a bag. Upon inspection Julie finds it contains her favorite jeans and a loose t-shirt. It was one she stole from Christen when they first moved in together and stretched out to fit over her muscles. Julie changes in the bathroom quickly, taking in the scent of the shirt that smells of their home. Returning to Hope, the two make their way to the hotel lobby and join up with Crystal Dunn, Morgan Brian, Melanie Johnston, and Sofia Huerta – her bridesmaids.

The group heads to a quaint coffee shop that is adjacent to their hotel. Hope buys everyone's coffee while sending Morgan and Crystal to claim a table that would accommodate them all. It is up to Melanie to keep her sister occupied. She talks to Julie about the book she just finished, an over 600-page thriller called The Black Prism as they join the pair at the table. Julie is admittingly only half listening as her older sister rambles on, so she slips her phone out of her pocket under the table. Sofia catches her and swipes the phone from Julie's hands. All the blonde can do is stare at her fellow Santa Clara alum dumbfounded.

"Give that back!" Julie stretches across the table, knocking aside Morgan's coffee to retrieve her phone. The Dash midfielder lets out a cry of shame while quickly snatching up her coffee cup. Sofia smirks at Julie's endeavors all the while stretching as far back as she can to stay out of reach. Julie's gold iPhone is firmly gripped in her hand.

"Not a chance JJ. You aren't allowed to have any contact with Christen until you see her at the ceremony. That includes texting.

"What? Says who!"

"Says those of us who have been in your shoes. Trust us, it makes that moment when you finally see her even more breath-taking."

"But..."

"Nope. Sorry Jules it isn't going to happen." Hope gives the blonde a sympathetic smile. "Don't worry the time will start flying by."

"Fine... only because I can't take you all on." A sigh escapes Julie's lips as she sinks back into her seat, grumpily sipping her coffee with a pout. "So, then what's the schedule?"

"First, we go get our nails done. Then a light lunch. Following that is our hair appointment then we come back here and get you dressed. A limo will be waiting to take us to the ceremony. Before you know it, you will see your love. Then like I said, everything and everyone else disappears." Hope outlines the schedule they have made for the day.

Julie cannot keep her pout up for long – it isn't in her nature. "Alright then fearless leader. Show us the way." The reference to the goalkeeper's nickname draws a chuckle from everyone. Hope's response is classic Hope, rolled eyes and a jaw clench. The hint of a smile at the end of it though, shows Julie that her friend knows it is all in good fun.