Marry & Bright

by angellwings

Prologue

Nate hated these label parties. It was an excuse to do business when business was supposed to be done. He loved his job, but networking at a party just never appealed to him. He was task oriented and the idea of him needing to be social to obtain better opportunities just felt unfair. These events made him glad he was in a group instead of solo. Shane and Jason were social enough to make up for him.

He took a sip of his beer and sighed from his corner of the room. He was wasting valuable time.

A vision in pink sequins walked through the door and Nate grinned to himself. Or maybe it wasn't so wasted. She looked just as bored as he did. He made his way across the room to her and then cleared his throat. She turned and smiled warmly at him.

"Nate," she said brightly. "How are you?"

"Much better now that you're here. Where's Stubby?"

"Walking around here somewhere. He was pulled away by Chris as soon as we walked through the door," She answered with a chuckle. "Oh, by the way, look!" she said excitedly as she held up her left hand. "We're engaged!"

He nodded and forced a smile. "I heard. Congratulations. You guys picked a date yet?"

He'd always liked Ella, but he hadn't realized how much until too late. She'd been their stylist early in her career and they'd gotten close. She was bright and fun and someone he felt he needed in his life. But he'd just broken up with Dana and back then he thought he needed some time. Connect Three left for their world tour and by the time he got back to L.A. she was dating Stubby. That was nearly 2 and a half years ago. Honestly, it was about time Stubby proposed. Nate couldn't have held out that long.

"We're still discussing it," she admitted. "I was thinking December but Stubby thinks we should wait at least a year. But I just…I've always wanted to get married in December. It's already such a happy time of year, you know?"

Nate nodded. "A December wedding seems very…you."

Ella laughed. "Is that good or bad?"

"Definitely good," he told her.

"Well, aren't you two adorable," a dry voice said from behind them. They both turned to find Tess watching them with a raised brow.

"Hi, Tess," Ella said with a bright welcoming smile. "Are you back from New York?"

She shrugged and sipped on her glass of champagne. "Turns out the New York music scene is dead. So I'm back and desperately hunting for producers at the last minute. I promised the label an album by summer."

Nate's brows rose. Stubby was trying to find his footing as a producer. He wanted out of Chris Wilde's shadow and who could blame him? Nate pointed at Ella before he spoke. "Stubby's trying to be a producer. You should talk to him. I've heard some of his mixes, they're pretty good."

"Praise from the Maestro, huh?" Tess asked with an interested glance. "He must actually be good."

"Who's good?"

Ella turned immediately and kissed Stubby quickly. "You are."

"Well I think I walked into this conversation at exactly the right time," Stubby said with a smirk. "Hey, Nate. How are you?"

"I'm good, man. Have you met Tess Tyler?" Nate asked as he introduced Stubby to Tess.

"Can't say I've ever had the pleasure," Stubby said as he reached across their circle and shook Tess's hand.

Tess suddenly looked much more interested in Stubby than she had before. Stubby noticed. Ella could tell by the way his smile changed to a smirk. Ella did not like this.

"Tess is looking for some collaborators on a new album," Nate told him. "I thought you might be a good fit."

"Oh, yeah?" Stubby asked as he gave Nate a grateful smile. "Thanks, man!"

"Why don't the two of you get a couple of drinks and talk over your ideas?" Nate suggested. "See if it'll work."

"That is an excellent idea, Nathaniel," Tess said with a predatory grin.

Ella shifted uncomfortably before taking a deep breath and forcing a bright look. "Oh! Tess, I am so glad you came. Remember how I said there was someone I wanted you to meet when you were in town? Well, this is him," Ella said as she looped her left arm through Stubby's and wiggled her ring finger. "We're engaged."

Tess's gaze darkened with doubt and guilt for a brief moment before her smile was back. "Wow, Ella, congratulations. That's amazing."

"Thank you," Ella told her.

Stubby kissed Ella's temple and then motioned to Tess. "Come on, let's get those drinks. We have a lot to talk about."

Ella watched them walk away with a forced smile and then turned an urgent look on Nate. She smacked his shoulder and glared at him. "What did you just do?"

"What?" He asked cluelessly. "I was trying to help your fiancé land a job!"

"With Tess Tyler?" Ella asked with a huff. "Do you know how many things she's stolen from me over the years?"

"If she manages to steal your fiancé then I don't think he's much of a fiancé, Ells," Nate told her. "I wouldn't worry about it. You and Stubby have been together for so long. If he was going to screw it all up I think he would have done it by now."

She sighed and then nodded. "I hope you're right."

Eight months later…

Nate threw the mail down on his counter top and his brow furrowed at the heavy ivory envelop on top. He read the fancy calligraphy on the address and the return address before opening it carefully. He winced as he read what was inside. It was a wedding invitation for Tess and Stubby.

He honestly never thought Stubby or Tess would betray Ella the way they did. He really just thought he was helping out a couple of friends.

But it was eight months later and the exact thing Ella feared had happened. Not only that, but she hadn't spoken to him since. She blamed him and, honestly, he blamed himself too.

Not only that, but Tess had decided to get married in December which he remembered had been Ella's hope originally. That had to hurt too.

He never took Stubby for an idiot, but that's what he had to be to let Ella go the way he did. Nate could never have let her go. He knew that for certain.

His cell phone rang and he distractedly answered.

"Nate here," he said as he reluctantly selected yes on the RSVP card and then stuck it in the included envelope. He didn't particularly want to go but Tess was his label mate. He was obligated.

"Hey, man, our meeting with the Network starts in half an hour. Where are you?" Shane asked.

Nate groaned. "I'm protesting."

"Seriously? Dude, it's just a Christmas Special. We'll film it in two days and it'll be over and you can go back to being a workaholic grinch," Shane said with a chuckle.

"I agreed to go along with it. Why do I have to be there to make the decisions?" Nate asked.

"We split up the decisions, remember? You agreed to find our stylist and costume designer."

"Yes, that was back before my first choice for that position decided she hated me," Nate told him.

"She doesn't hate you."

"If she doesn't then she should."

"Man, it's not your fault Stubby decided to be a jerk after he proposed. None of us thought he would do that to Ella. Honestly, I didn't think Tess would do that either. I mean, yeah she's Tess, but she's not the same Tess she used to be. Call her, man. Call her and ask if she'll do it. You do that and I'll make an excuse for you with the Network," Shane insisted.

"Fine," Nate said with a huff. "I'll call her."

He didn't, of course. He couldn't bring himself to face her.

Ella knew what was in the ivory envelope the minute she saw it. Why the hell would they invite her? She was the ex. The ex-fiance and the ex-friend. It made no sense. Still, though, something kept her from throwing it away. She had to admit, she didn't miss Stubby as much as she thought she would. They'd grown apart, she could see that now. She just refused to admit it because they'd been together so long and she wanted to get married so badly. She saw now that she had unintentionally pressured Stubby into proposing. But that still didn't give him the right to cheat on her with Tess and nor did it give Tess the right to steal her wedding month!

Then there was Nate. Her former best friend. Well, she assumed former. She hadn't been able to talk to him since Stubby broke up with her. At first it was because she was furious at him but then she was afraid he'd be mad at her. She'd let too much time pass with silence and now she was scared he hated her. Not that she'd blame him. It wasn't his fault. She knew that, but at the time she desperately wanted someone to blame. He just happened to be there.

She groaned and threw her purse down on her couch. This was going to be an awful Christmas. She could already tell.

Her boss was treating her like gum on the bottom of her shoe, as always. She rarely got to touch clothes. She spent all of her time making orders, fetching coffee, researching clients. It was not what she signed up for. Her dream was to take on her own clients, but she didn't have any that were well known enough to sustain her business. She needed just one key client. Just one.

Her phone rang and she quickly answered.

"Pador."

"Did you get it?" Peggy asked.

Ella sighed. "The pity invitation? Yes, I did."

"You should go."

"To my ex's wedding to my former friend? Hell no, Peg," Ella told her.

"You need closure, Ella. I think it'll help. If you need help finding a date I know some guys who—"

"Peggy, I am not going and that's final," Ella said in a stern voice.

"If you don't every one will be talking about it," Peggy warned her.

Ella shook her head. "I just want to put him and all the drama behind me."

"Then come to the wedding and you will."

"Fine, if I can find a date I will go. I am not going to this thing solo. No way."

"Deal."

"But I'm finding my own date," Ella told her. "Got that?"

"Got it," Peggy said happily. "Anything you want."

"I can't believe I let you talk me into this."