Tears Behind Our Eyes: A Prequel

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fourteen

"Where are we going?" she whined. "We have to meet Hunter soon and I need to put the ring in the room before that."

"Mia Kaye," I smiled, swinging our hands as we walked on a busy street near Times Square. "Have you given any thought to the wedding yet?"

She nodded, "For years. Why are we going over here--on the opposite side of town we need to be for the game?"

"Love, you know how much I adore you but shut up and trust me," I joked, making her laugh under her breath, half scoffing. We walked a little further and I held the door open to a bridal store for Mia Kaye to walk through first. She stared at me, nervously playing with the ring, spinning it around her cute, skinny finger with her other hand. "Go in, it's okay."

"Jackson, we're not even seventeen. They're not going to waste time picking out a dress that I'll use when I'm twenty-something."

I smirked, laughing at how she still doubted me. "Go in," I urged, making her walk forward, slapping her ass subtly while I followed, making her laugh.

"Hi!" The receptionist greeted. "You must be Jackson and Amelia Kaye Bayley!" The lady with a strawberry blonde bobbed haircut in a business suit. She walked around the counter, gave me a hug then went to Mia Kaye, putting her hands on my shoulders and doubling her shock, I'm sure, "Darling, you're absolutely gorgeous! Jackson is a lucky gentleman. I'm Cassiopeia, call me Cassie--it's easier to remember." She then gave McKaye a hug. Mia Kaye looked at me after she turned around to lead to our try-on area in the huge store, full of poofy white dresses. I sat on a red couch that matched the grey walls.

Mia Kaye sat next to me and Cassie crossed her legs in the chair across from us, "Okay, your fiancee has filled me in on some of the details a few days ago. Your engagement is a secret, still I suppose?" We nodded together. Cassie pursed her lips and whispered, "May I see the ring?" Mia Kaye smiled, that making me happy since she'd been wanting to brag about her ring for months but couldn't. Seeing how cheery Cassie was really made the difference for Mia Kaye. She was comfortable with Cassie. Mia Kaye held out her hand and Cassie gasped, showing the wrinkles under her eyes.

"It's spectacular! Absolutely perfect." She sighed, content and satisfied. "What kind of dress were you two thinking about? I know it's a bit against the rules for the groom to see the dress but the wedding isn't for a couple years so I doubt you'll remember," she winked, being a cheery, optimistic lady.

I chuckled, "I dunno about that, Ms. Cassie... Mia Kaye in plain summer dresses are pretty unforgettable." Cassie awed at my statement. "I know she'd be beautiful in a potato sack so I don't have anything specific. I'm just here to get her to pick something."

Mia Kaye flushed rose red. "I have ideas..."

"Great!" Cassie exclaimed. "Just follow me back and we'll talk, okay?" Mia Kaye got up with her pull on my hand. She was hesitant to leave me alone. I thought it was sweet.

"I have my phone, I'll be okay. Go on. I love you."

"Love you, too," her eyes smiled, leaving to the backroom with Cassie.

Within a few minutes, I got a text.

Mia Kaye: Do you want to see the dress I pick or no?

Me: It's up to you. Did you already pick one? That was fast.

Mia Kaye: No... she went to pick one out. Your choice!!

Me: I do ;D

I played on my phone during the hour and a half wait. At one point, I went to the Starbucks across the street to get a strawberry acai to share with McKaye.

Finally, Cassie came out to where I was sitting, announced the game of the three dresses. My future bride walked out the way she would at the wedding--- step, wait, step, wait, step-- all the way until she stood in front of me. I got on my feet immediately and opened my mouth, then shut it--debating on what to say. "I don't know what to say because if I say I love this one and it's not the one, I don't want to get in trouble." The girls laughed. "Other two?" My voice cracked.

I was shown the other two favorites with the same veil and I stayed silent, not able to comprehend how gorgeous she looked. Mia Kaye got dressed in my normal clothes again and we talked about what dress I thought she'd picked while Cassie hid the real dress in the back. "Which one?"

"I don't know," I wiped a tear from my face. "You looked incredible in each one."

"Which do you hope I picked? I promise--no strings attached, you won't get in trouble," she swore to me.

"The first one took my breath away, not only because I hadn't seen you come out in a wedding dress before. I loved it. Absolutely loved it."

"Which do you think I picked?"

I laughed, "Trying to be optimistic, the first one."

She looked damn beautiful.

And she was all mine.