Romeo On and Off the Court

Chapter 37 – Lifetime Teammates

A fellow member of a team.

Author's Note: For some reason weddings are difficult for me to write, and that is why this chapter was long in coming. I hope you enjoy.

Edward

July 5, 2025 – Wedding Day

Bzzzt bzzzt bzzzt! Clearly, my phone was telling me to wake up. And wake up I did, alone for the first time since Bella moved in with me. It was hard leaving Bella last night with the girls and my mom, but Bella was a bit superstition when it came to the wedding. She didn't want me to see her before Charlie walked her down the aisle. As if I could leave her, and she knew that, although she insisted on spending the night with the girls.

I sighed, rolling over and peering over at the closet door. My tuxedo hung on the back of it. A smile was slow to form on my lips. In a matter of hours, I would be marrying my best friend. I couldn't pinpoint exactly when Bella usurped Emmett in the role, and it didn't matter. I knew at some point I had replaced Angela. Not that there wasn't a time when we would both seek out our former best friends. Heck! Could a best friend be replaced?

My phone beeped twice, indicating I had a text message. I hoped it was Bella. The smile fell from my face when I saw it was from Alec Volturi. With another sigh, I opened the message.

"Congratulations Edward and Isabella. Your offer was accepted by the seller. I will be in contact you on Monday about the next steps. Please let me know when would be the best time for a call. It should take no longer than 15 minutes."

Well, crap! I thought, hitting reply. I was thrilled our offer was accepted on the sixth house Bella and I had virtually toured.

"Alex, thanks for letting us know. Unfortunately, we will be out of the country for the next three weeks on our honeymoon. I have given my parents, Esme and Carlisle, temporary power of attorney to help assist in the next steps in the purchase of the house. Their contact information is in the last email I sent you. I will have them contact your office on Monday. Edward."

I pulled up Bella's last text message from last night and replied.

"Good morning, sweetheart. I can't wait to see you walking down the aisle. I have a bit of good news for you. We got the house!"

"Edward," Emmett bellowed. "You better be up."

A groan left me. I had forgotten the guys – Emmett, Jasper, Jacob, and Seth – stayed with me. My dad and Charlie opted to get a hotel room for the night.

"I am."

~~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~~

I shrugged into my tuxedo jacket after Emmett adjusted the purple vest. Trying, I grinned at the image staring back at me through the mirror. My eyes had a brightness to them I had never seen before, and I had a feeling by the end of the day my cheeks were going to hurt from smiling so much. Not that I cared one bit.

The photographer entered the reception hall with the bridesmaids – Alice, Rosalie, Leah, and Angela. The first look pictures were still to be taken, but that would happen ten minutes before I had to outside. I slid my hands down my slacks as the photographer took picture after picture.

Everyone cleared out of the room, and I was instructed to face away from the door. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath, hearing the door open and close as I released it.

"Whenever you are ready, Mr. Cullen," the photographer said as his assistant snapped a few pictures from somewhere in front of me.

I didn't want to turn, wanting to tell Bella my first seeing her should be when Charlie was escorting her down the aisle. That it was bad luck for me to see her now. But I knew she didn't believe such nonsense. She would argue there was a time and a place for such practices, and that those old superstitions belonged in the days of arranged marriages.

With another deep breath, I turned and opened my eyes. My jaw dropped. Bella was a vision in white. The delicate string of pearls I gifted her three days ago hung around her neck. I wasn't sure where the matching earrings and bracelet came from, not that it mattered. I saw a hint of purple peeking out from under the skirt as she moved toward me, whether as instructed or because she needed to be near me. Again, it didn't matter. My brain had finally told my feet to move and I met her in the center of the room, taking her hands in mine.

"Okay," someone said, "we're done."

Huh?

I broke eye contact with Bella and saw the photographer and his assistant walking out of the room. Charlie was entering.

"Edward, time for you to head to the altar," he said.

Bella

The woman staring back at me in the mirror surely couldn't be me. I could see why brides are described as beautiful. I was positively glowing. My hair was slicked back into a loose bun with a few tendrils caressing my cheeks. After washing and drying my hands, I reentered the salon. Two beauticians were patiently waiting for me. One was going to polish my toe and fingernails while the other dusted my face with makeup.

My eyes drifted around the salon, Angela was sipping sparkling cider as she waited to get her hair done. Alice and Rose were both in chairs getting their hair pinned up. Leah was next to me for her mani-pedi and makeup. Both Sue and Esme were snapping pictures.

Drawing in a deep breath, I relaxed as I released it. I wasn't sure why I was so nervous. It was my wedding day, and yet, butterflies were in my stomach. During breakfast, I barely ate. I couldn't even drink the cider Esme had brought.

The beautician grabbed my left hand. I smiled over at her as she dried my fingers before she started polishing them in a French tip but purple.

~~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~~

As I stepped out of the limo, my breath left me like it had when Edward and I toured Thornewood Castle. It was a remarkable and historic Tudor Gothic castle, reminding me of a fairy tale. I couldn't believe we were getting married here and were staying the night before flying off to who knows where.

We were greeted by the event planner and shown where we would finish getting ready. My dress was hanging in the doorway of the room's bathroom.

"The photographer will be here in a half hour," Esme announced. "So Angela, Alice, Leah, and Rose, get changed."

"Bella, relax and we'll help you into your dress," Leah said, indicating the others.

I sat on the plush couch, laughing as the girls tried to figure out how to get into their gowns without messing up their hair.

"Step into it," Sue suggested, giggling. "And then pull the gown up."

I could tell Alice wanted to slap her forehead and say Duh!

All too soon, the girls surrounded me. With my hands in the air, the satin and lace gown decorated with beads and rhinestones, was slipped over my head. The moment I had saw it, I knew it was the gown for me, and I hadn't even tried it on.

Sue put the string of pearls Edward surprised me with at the rehearsal dinner as Esme handed me two hinged boxes. The smaller of the two held pearl earrings and the other a pearl bracelet. They matched the necklace. Tears threatened, at her and Carlisle's thoughtfulness, and I dabbed my eyes with a Kleenex that mysteriously appeared.

Alice produced a pair of purple heels, that matched the dresses she and the other girls were wearing. I sat and Alice helped me put them on.

Next up was Rosalie. There was no telling what she would provide. I blushed when she brought out garters, one to keep and the other for Edward to slingshot over his shoulder. Both were white and purple with the number three in the center of the one Edward and I would keep.

I turned to Leah once the garters were in place. She looked nervous. I had to wonder why.

"Borrowed was assigned to me," she supplied without me having to ask. "I'm not sure how you are going to receive what I have for you, so I have two things for you."

Leah opened the box she was holding, inside was a hair comb. Blue rhinestones twinkled up at me. I wasn't sure why the comb looked familiar.

"Charlie told me your mom wear them on her wedding day."

Unbidden, tears formed. Alice handed me another Kleenex. I dabbed again at the corners of my eyes. Esme slipped the comb into the bun as Leah handed me the second item, a handkerchief with the Clearwater stitched into one corner.

"Even though we are not blood sisters, you have never treated me like anything less. Like I am an unofficially adopted Swan, you are an unofficially adopted Clearwater."

I stood and gathered Leah into a hug, whispering into her ear, "Thanks, sis."

The last person to present me with something was Angela.

"Leah stole my thunder with her first gift." We all laughed, before Angela went on. "I've been your friend since the first grade, and probably know you the best. And it doesn't matter that my cousin replaced me as your best friend. I knew whomever the guy you gave your heart to was, I would lose the title. I'm happy you found Edward and gave him a shot."

She paused, walking over to where our bouquets were. Picking up mine, she rejoined us and showed all gathered the 76ers charm attached to the ribbon. It was mostly blue and hidden by the greenery.

"I'm going to miss you, but I'm happy for you and Edward."

"Oh, Ang," I said, hugging her. "We'll visit, and you can visit us."

~~~ Romeo On and Off the Court ~~~

The moment Edward turned and took me in, I knew I was in trouble. If I thought the suit he wore for the NBA draft looked good on him, the tux he wore now blew that night out of the water. I itched to slide off the jacket and unbutton his top. Blowing out a breath, I moved toward him as the photographer instructed.

The first few steps I took toward Edward, he had this deer-in-headlight look. He seemed to shake himself out of it and began walking. We met in the middle.

Edward

I had been told the ceremony would go by in a flash, and I scoffed not believing Dad and Charlie. But, sadly, they were right. Even though I got a first look at Bella in her dress, my eyes were on her. Even when Emmett handed me the ring, I couldn't take my eyes off Bella.

Smiling, I leaned forward, kissing my wife for the first time.