Thank you all for your support on this story. I've decided there will be one chapter left. It's almost entirely written so I hope I will not make you wait too long for it.
Chapter 30:
"Tobias, come on, hurry up!" I urge as we are already late for the event.
I run around the house, making sure I have everything I need to bring while trying not to fall flat on my face in these high heels.
"I am ready. I'm waiting for you." He snaps back.
"You don't have to be so rude. Do you have the gift?"
"It's already in the car."
I watch as he is leaning against the doorjamb, keys in hand, dressed in his black suit. Any other day, I'd be happy to drag him back inside but today, I must refrain myself from kicking his ass.
I take my handbag and walk past him.
"Are you coming or not?"
I don't wait for his answer as I walk to the car. I sit in the passenger and sit, then wait for him to join me but looking through the window opposite from him. He sighs once he is sat.
"Tris."
"We have to go."
"Tris."
"We are going to be late."
He doesn't push me further and starts the engine. We are both silent as we drive to the small castle rented for the occasion. We don't speak to each other as we get out. I take the gift from the backseat and go to the main entrance. I ask for directions and don't wait to see where Tobias went.
I put my gift with the others than knock three times on the door I was instructed to go. I smile when I see my friend fidgeting in front of the mirror. His face turns from anguish to relief.
"Tris, thank God you're here."
"Calm down, Will."
I stand behind him and smile at him in the reflection.
"You look handsome."
"Thanks. Do I look scared too?"
"Only if I look at you with my eyes open."
He smiles back.
"It will be okay. I know how you feel." I add with a sad smile.
"Of course. I feel terrible for ruining your honeymoon."
"Will, I got married one month ago. I'm not on my honeymoon anymore."
"Still, I'm surprised Tobias let you out of the bedroom. You two seem quite…"
"Do not worry about us. Today, is your big day." I assure with a smile, trying to hide the sadness my marriage is bringing me at the moment.
He returns my smile before looking at himself in the mirror again.
As he seems lost in thought about his bride, I, too, reminisce about the day I was standing at his place.
My grandmother tries to calm my nerves as she places the veil on my head. I smooth my hand over the fabric of my dress for the hundredth time in the last hour. Evelyn's necklace and my grandmother's earrings make me look like someone from royalty.
"Stop fidgeting, you look wonderful."
"What if I mess up my vows?"
"You won't."
"What if I make a fool of myself?"
"You won't."
"What if…"
"You won't. And even if something doesn't go as planned, it will make for a great story one day. The only thing that matters is that you both say I do at the right moment and I know it will be perfect."
"Thanks grandma."
"You're welcome. Now come. Let's get you married."
She lays a gentle kiss on my forehead then lead me to the room the ceremony will take place. She leaves me in front of the door then go in to sit. At first, she was supposed to walk me down the aisle but her knees don't allow her to stay up for too long so it was decided that Marcus would do it.
I only have to wait a few seconds before he appears.
"Are you ready for this?"
"God, no."
He chuckles but offers his arm.
"That's the right answer. But do not worry, Tobias is dying to see you. And you look beautiful, I'm happy to call you my daughter in law."
"Thank you, Marcus."
"Now, let's get you married to my son. Shall we?"
I take his waiting arm the moment the doors open and the audience stands. I'm almost sure I'm going to pee myself but when I meet Tobias' eyes. Nothing else matters. It's just him and me.
"Now, let's get you married." I say to my best friend. "You've waited long enough as it is."
"We sure did."
I escort him to the garden where they decided to hold the ceremony. I make sure he looks perfect, adjusting his bow tie before I take my place as the best woman. My eyes meet Tobias' and for a second I get lost in them. I immediately look away before anger takes back it's place in my heart. Now really isn't the time and the place for this kind of emotion.
Unfortunately, I notice Will observing me with a frown. I direct his attention back to the altar where is bride just made her grand entrance. And just like that, I am forgotten.
During the dinner, I stay sat next to my husband but I don't converse with him. And he doesn't try neither. To be honest, I don't really know why he avoids me. I am the only one who is allowed to be angry.
He was the one offered several bouquets of flower at work. He was the one getting love letters. He was the one getting calls from that nurse. And he hid all that from me. I only discovered the truth when I found one of those letters under the bed. I won't hide the fact that it was quite heated. When I confronted him, he had the audacity to actually laugh at me.
Not once, did I even get an explanation or an apology and that was one week ago.
I listen to a funny story Shauna, Zeke's new fiancée, tells us about the time she left the car window open as it poured outside. Zeke was livid but when he saw how sorry she was, he just let it go.
Soon after dessert, everyone at our table got up to dance, leaving Tobias and I alone at our table. I play with my napkin without meeting his gaze.
"I'll go sleep at Zeke's tonight." He announces in a whisper as he leans a bit closer to my ear.
His words have the effect of knife in my gut.
"So this is it, you are already giving up on our marriage. Only one month later."
"Tris…"
"Sorry."
I stand before he sees the tears in my eyes. Why did he have to marry me if he wanted to go sleep with another woman?
I am soon caught up and he guides me by the elbow to a secluded corner of the ballroom.
"Help me Tris because I don't know what to do anymore."
"What?"
"First, you don't want to share your bed with me. I've been sleeping in the guest bedroom for a week and now that I want to give you your space, you run. I don't know what to do."
"I want the truth! I want you to be honest with me."
"I already told you the truth. I…"
We are approached by Al at the worst moment ever and that idiot doesn't even seem to realize it.
"Tris, may I have this dance?"
Tobias' head turns immediately to stare down the former pool boy. Surely, he wanted to snap at him but our conversation is too important right now to waste time on him.
"I was going to dance with my wife, Al." Tobias cuts in while offering his hand.
I surely don't want to dance but I need to talk to my husband. We go to the dancefloor and catch up on the waltz that begun a few seconds ago.
"You didn't explain." I state.
"I told you she is insignificant. I don't know her."
"That's not an explanation."
My head is held high during what is simply the worst moment of my life.
"You're right. Maria is a new O.R nurse. I've told her numerous times I was engaged then happily married but she didn't seem to get the hint. She is nothing to me and I thought by ignoring her she'd let it go. I've talked to the HR manager about her unprofessional behaviour and she shouldn't be working with me anymore."
"Why hide it then?"
"Because I didn't want you to feel insecure over a silly girl's infatuation. I know you."
"And how do you think I feel now?"
"I know. I wanted to take care of it without hurting your feelings."
"That's a success!" I spit out.
I yank my hand away from his and walk outside to get some fresh air. The stifling atmosphere of the ballroom was going to make me faint. Of course, he follows me on the balcony.
"Love, I'm sorry. I love you too much to lose you. Please, forgive me. But I can't be held responsible for her feelings. I'm not mad at you because Al likes you."
"You are such a dense idiot!"
He frowns at my comment.
"What?"
"I'm not mad because she likes you. Nita liked you and have I been angry at you for that?"
"No, but..."
"I'm angry because you didn't make it stop right away. You lead her on, even if it was unintentional."
For a few seconds, I see the gears turning in his head. Knowing him, he wants to protest and tell me it's all in my head. But as time passes, he seems to understand the severity of the situation and admits defeat.
"You're right. I didn't see the seriousness of the situation before it got out of hand. But I love you. Only you."
He approaches slowly and lifts a trembling hand to caress my cheek, probably afraid I'd bite his fingers off. But, I melt at the first contact I get in a week. I missed him so much.
"I'll be working on forgiving you." I whisper.
"This is all I want."
"Does that mean you're coming home tonight?"
"Do you allow me to come back in our bedroom?"
"Yes, of course."
We get lost in each other eyes again and this time, when he leans in to kiss me tenderly on the lips, I don't pull away. Oh boy, did I miss my husband.
After a few minutes of kissing in the cool air, we decide to go back inside to dance some more before we leave to go back home. We still have things to work out and talk about but for now, I want to make love to my husband.
This time, there is no distance between us. We are in our own bubble, acting like the newlyweds we truly are. Guided by the music, I lay my head on his shoulder, his head resting on mine. His hand holds firmly mine and caress the wedding band resting on my left hand. And when I catch Will looking at us, I see relief on his face.
I'm sure he was scared his wedding was also the day I'd get a divorce. Of course, I didn't tell him anything but he's like my brother, he knows when something is wrong with me. And I'll probably tell him what happened today but not before that girl keeps her claws away from my husband.
Tobias makes me spin around flawlessly. Once I'm back in front of him, I catch a smile on his face that has always been only for me. He knows it has always sparked a fire that will consume us both. It might have been endangered lately but a fire that strong cannot be put out.
"Love?"
"Mmm." I mutter with my head resting on his chest.
"Do you want to go home?"
"Do you?" I ask while looking in his eyes.
"People are starting to leave and I think we need some time to ourselves. Don't you?"
At first, I wanted to say no because it was the wedding of my best friend. Then, his warm breath on my ear and the pressure of his hand on mine made me change my mind. And partly because he was right, people were leaving.
I put my hand on his neck and played with the hair there.
"Let's go say goodbye to Will and Christina, first."
"Of course."
Just as I was going to walk away to do just that, he pulled me back to him and without giving me a chance to understand what happened, his lips land on mine.
We're good. He and I. It didn't always feel like it but we are. And we always will be.