Savior

Chapter 98

-xx-

"First the shower dress and now this?" Cate grinned as she turned around to face Derek. Her mother and sister were going over last minute details with Shelby, so Cate finally got a moment to herself as she looked over the set up for the wedding. "I don't know how you're going to top it."

Cate accepted Derek's kiss before taking his hand in her two. "I almost went with something like this for tomorrow," she admitted as she stepped back to let him take in the white lace dress she wore. It stopped mid-thigh and covered her chest completely, all while leaving the back wide open.

She laughed as Derek twirled her. "You're so beautiful," he complimented. Cate bowed her head at his words, only for him to lift her chin with two fingers. He pecked her lips quickly.

"C'mon Cate," the two groaned as she heard her mother call across the patio area. The brunette rolled her eyes as she could hear her mother mumble about her taking her time.

Derek kissed her cheek before softly patting her on the butt and directing her over towards her mother. She took her time walking over to where her sister and Derek's sisters were standing, taking the time to run her hands over the chair set up.

She loved how everything was starting to come together. She found it hard to believe that by midnight tomorrow everything was going to be over. The weeks of work put it and it'd all be over in just over twenty-four hours.

She shrugged it off before stepping up to meet up with her three bridesmaids and flower girl. Jackie handed her the 'bouquet' made of all the ribbons and bows from her bridal shower gifts. "Tradition," the older brunette said with a wink.

"You and Maddy did a great job," Cate replied. The young blonde grinned in her godmother's direction. "Are you ready, Maddy? You lead us all out!"

The blonde nodded excitedly. "I'm so ready, Auntie!"

Shelby came over to show the ladies where they would be standing while they wait to walk down the aisle. Cate was relieved when she realized it was out of sight and she could make her grand entrance.

-xx-

Cate looked up from her sister's cell phone as the two were taking selfies. She watched her future husband tap on the side of his glass before offering Cate a hand to help her stand up. "We just wanted to take a minute to thank all of you for making this weekend possible."

Cate grinned at Derek's words. She adjusted her hold on the wine glass in her opposite hand. "We definitely got on the fast track to get here, but every single person in this room was so helpful in making it a dream come true for the two of us," Cate added. "I know we've had a crazy few months," she continued and could feel Derek give her hand a squeeze, "and we're so excited to join these two families together."

Derek pressed a quick kiss to Cate's lips before escorting her back to their end of the table. "Quick and painless," he said with a wink.

"I want time to slow down," Cate said and sighed. She glanced around the restaurant and grinned; the love in the room was overwhelming. From Derek's family that flew in from Chicago, to Cate's family, the excitement in the room was strong.

She brushed a curl back from her face and rested her head on Derek's shoulder. "I can't wait to see you walk down that aisle tomorrow," he admitted before kissing the top of her head. "I'm dying to show off my beautiful wife."

Cate looked down at their joined hands and gave his a quick squeeze. She always noticed how perfectly her hands fit in his. She could feel the eyes on them from around the room, but for right this moment, she needed to be next to him.

The two were interrupted by Brandon tapping the side of his glass to get everyone's attention. "This'll be good," Derek said with a laugh as he sat up straighter in his seat.

-xx-

Cate glanced around the suite and sighed. Her bridesmaids just left to get some sleep before the big day. They had killed off two more bottles of wine in the room after Cate handed out their bridesmaid gifts. She wanted to make sure they all had the robes for their hair appointments in the morning.

She knew the room was going to be bustling again in just over nine hours, but it was already too quiet for her liking. After the past few days of not getting any time to herself, she was not expecting to hate being alone.

The brunette ran a hand over the garment bag holding her wedding gown. It was finally happening. She was marrying the man of her dreams – the man who brought her comfort and stability. He truly cared for her, and that was something she had never been able to say about anyone before.

It seemed quick; people were always telling her that they did not know each other well enough to get married so soon, but she begged to differ. The curveballs that life had thrown at them in the eight months they had known each other brought them closer than they ever could have been. No one seemed to understand what they had, but that was okay with Cate.

Because she knew, after tomorrow night, nothing was going to change how they felt about each other. She truly believed that fate brought them back together three years later, and that was not something she was going to let slip away.

Cate pulled on her cardigan and sighed. She was way too lonely for the night before her wedding. She closed the closet door to hide the garment bag as well as those for her bridesmaids before walking back towards the bed.

She grabbed her cell phone from its spot on the charging dock.

To hell with tradition. Come upstairs? xo

She nibbled on her lower lip as she hit send on the text message.

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