Tethered

Chapter Eight:

I was a mess when my mother came in and tried to salvage my makeup. I needed a couple minutes to pull myself together and I wouldn't answer anyone's questions about what Aaron was doing there, but the ceremony continued on schedule. Julia shooed everyone out of the tent on their cues until it was just me and her.

"Is everything okay?" she looked at me sadly.

"I... can't talk about it." I pushed back the oncoming tears. Julia nodded and gave my hand a firm squeeze before stepping out of the tent. How had she so quickly became the only person that I could confide in? The only one to bring me comfort?

I was upset at how things had gone down. But what was I supposed to do? Leave my waiting fiancé at the end of the aisle and run away with my best friend? I mean he was my best friend. I didn't know how I felt about him, I hadn't gotten a chance. Sure I had thought about it when we were younger but that would mean losing him as a friend if we ever broke up. Although... it seemed I had lost him anyway.

The last of the bridesmaids and groomsmen were down the aisle and it was just me and my dad left. He laced his arm through mine and pulled me close to kiss my forehead. He smiled at me, but it was almost a sad smile.

"I love you, pumpkin. Are you sure you want to do this?" he patted my hand a few times.

"I'm sure, dad." I whispered, not entirely sure, and then the music chimed to let me know it was my turn to start walking. We walked slowly down the aisle full of rose petals. My mom decided that keeping the colors simply white and red would be the best for our winter wedding.

My face turned away from all the decorations and to Daniel. He had a small smile but wasn't overly emotional like everyone in the crowd seemed to be. I started to worry that maybe he was having second thoughts too until my dad placed my hand into his and his smile grew bigger.

I got lost in Daniel's eyes as the minister started speaking. I hoped that the photographer was getting lots of pictures because it went by so fast that I hardly had time to savor it. Before I knew it, we were both saying I do and then Daniel was holding me in a tender embrace and kissing me. My friends and family cheered and wiped away tears and then crowded around us to get pictures before we headed to another tent to eat and dance.

The reception was wonderful. String lights lit the seating area up like the whimsical fairytale I had dreamed about. Daniel was doing well mingling with my friends and family. Even my distant relatives who were nosey and...handsy. Daniel's family didn't show up. I actually hadn't even met them yet. He had said it was because they weren't close. And I couldn't tell how he felt about them not showing.

I kept looking at his face across the small, romantically lit dance floor. Looking for signs that he was sad or uncomfortable around my family so I could save him. But his face told me nothing. It stayed calm and collected.

The reception went on for what seemed like forever. We ate lots of good food provided by my mom and danced until our feet were sore. At the end of the night Daniel and I were pushed into a car and sent to his apartment. All of our money was going towards the house and the move, so we decided earlier to take a delayed honeymoon after we were settled in our new house and his new job.

"Are you nervous?" he asked me as he drove. His face was trained on the road, but I could tell he was exhausted. It had been a long day.

"No." I lied. I was very nervous. I had spent so much time thinking about the wedding and the move that I had completely forgotten about our first night together. I had never... well... just to say that... I had never... done that before.

"It'll be okay." he said not looking at me. "You're my wife. And I'm your husband. It's time to start the rest of our lives together."

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