The Best Man's Speech

26: I Can't Sleep

✵ JAMES ✵

I tried so hard to get some sleep last night but kept failing... not that it surprised me. Julie's unresponsive nature to reveal her plans were sucking the life and energy out of my brain. But I knew for sure that it included me and my career, but there was no way that I would let her get away with it... even if it meant risking my own reputation and success.

I jumped out of bed and hopped into the shower, allowing for the heat of the water relax my nerves and wipe any thought from my mind. I needed to be able to think straight without worrying about Julie and her desperate nature, or about Lyra and what happened between her and her family. But I couldn't get her out of my head, I was worrying for her. The chain of thoughts lead me to promising to protect her and provide for her, no matter what happened. Lyra was and is my world now, I was not going to let her go... ever.

It was dawn when I found myself sneaking through the corridor and into Lyra's room. I opened the door and found the bed messy while she sat on it, curled up into a ball. I walked towards her, after silently shutting the door and walking towards the bed. I walked myself over to the side before sitting on the edge, facing the opposite direction she was facing, while sitting beside her. I opened my arms, before pulling her into a tight hug.

"I don't know what to do." She sadly whispered to me.

"There is nothing we can do now, other than go through with the wedding like nothing happened." I replied, before letting go of her since she was pulling out of the hug already. She looked at me blankly, "Michael kind of told my mom that we're all terrible kids who didn't grow up according to her plans." The words she said made me want to smile, mostly because she had no idea what I wanted to say and her worries seemed adorable to me.

"What was her reaction?" I asked, completely focused on what she had to say.

"She just kind of fell apart." She looked up at me, "I've never felt more guilty of anything that I had done to her." I moved to her side and embraced her in my arms again.

"It'll be fine." I whispered to her before kissing the top of her head. "But we should get dressed now... we don't have long until the wedding starts... and until then, we need to ensure that everything is perfect." I smiled before carrying her out of bed, bridal style.

"James?" She called out.

"Hmm?"

"How does Julie know you?" She asked me. My eyes widened a bit, but she couldn't and didn't see that, she had her face buried in the creases of my shirt.

"That is a story for another time." I replied, getting her into the bathroom and stripping her completely before allowing her to slip under the rain of water. She hummed in approval before distracting herself with the shower. Slipping out of the bathroom, I started to gather her clothing. Pulling out a laced lingerie with the dress she was meant to wear, only to put back the white bra, since the dress exposed her back. I left her with only her laced underwear and dress. I wanted to pull out accessories to match her outfit, but I decided to leave that to her, in case she didn't approve of my style.

✵ LYRA ✵

I slipped myself into my dress, intentionally moving slowly and seductively. James had his eyes focused on me like a prey, he was watching my every movement like a hawk. If I didn't know him the way I did, I'd say that he was intimidating, but I grew into him and couldn't be asked to question him for watching me change, while peacefully sitting on my bed.

"I need heels." I announced, before looking at James for help. He read my mind and literally jumped off of my bed and rushed to my side. "Will you be carrying a purse with you?" He asked and I shook my head. Within seconds he plucked out a white pair of heels, that had a golden belt around my ankle. "Thank you." I whispered to him before lightly kissing his cheek. He went down on one knee and helped me buckle the delicate fashion item around my feet.

Standing straight, he looked down at me and kissed my cheek, "Let's go." I nodded and followed him out. His hands entwined with mine, making me look up at him, questioning his intentions, "I think I am ready to tell the world that I love you." He smiled as he declared his love for me. I blushed in response before nodding, happily willing to go on with his plans.

We walked down the long and narrows corridors till we met with the Roman-inspired architect, only to meet the unwelcoming group of people in the assembly hall, where everyone was meant to meet before the wedding. "What's going on here?" James coldly asked, his eyes wide with annoyance and frustration as everyone's attention turned to focus on us. I wasn't sure if this was a great time to reveal our relationship or not.

"I am so sorry." My mother mouthed to me, after last night's declaration of my love for James, she had become aware of how useless her attempts to change that would be. My focus diverted and met my sister's sad gaze. I couldn't understand what was happening, so I turned to look at Eliza, who was too busy sending harsh glares towards James.

Looking up at him, I noticed how confused he looked. The room was silenced as we walked in with our hands in each other's. "Look who's here Luis." Julie's voice echoed before she carried a cooing baby towards James, "Daddy's here."