03/15/2021

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CHAPTER TWO - Little Annie's Getting Married

Night before the wedding

My bridesmaids and I clink our glasses in celebration. We're settled into the Airbnb we booked to get ready for the wedding tomorrow.

My wedding.

Little Annie is getting married.

I'm so giddy, I could burst. Dad has been looking at me with a sappy face from the moment I got engaged. Who ever thought Raymond Steele, the Man of Steel in his unit would be a big ol' sap? Well, I always knew but his army buddies are going to definitely see another side to him tomorrow. They'll never take him seriously again.

Carla, as usual, can't make it. Bob has a last minute business trip that's come up and doesn't like traveling without her. More like, she won't let him out of her sight in the event he figures out he can do better and stop the gravy train that she loves so much. Jose's mom has been a bit of a mother figure throughout my life but we don't see eye to eye on a lot of things. I like to keep it simple, she likes to go big or go home, except I really like being home. Jose and I insisted on paying for the wedding for ourselves and I've generally always been very good with money so I had a fairly decent amount of savings, working all those odd jobs since my teens. I got a full ride to WSU on scholarship and worked my butt off throughout. Jose's not so great with money but I helped him budget and it's helped a little, not as much as I would've liked though.

Ray insisted on paying for some of the wedding items but I forbade him. He only has his pension along with a carpentry business that's been slow for the past few years. He's already done so much for me when my own mother was such a failure. He still snuck in some funds here and there—case and point this Airbnb along helping me pay for my hair and makeup tomorrow.

"I'm so happy for you Ana!" Kate squeals and comes in for a hug. I smile and thank her. She isn't my Maid of Honor but she's been on point and helped me like one. We became friends in college, getting paired together in our business writing class and never looked back. My actual Maid of Honor, Gaia Reed, tried but ever since she and Jose started getting interest from potential investors for their app, things have been crazy for these past 3 months. I'm proud of them though, things are looking up and we finally made the move to Seattle last week.

Jose, Gaia and I have been best friends since high school in Montesano. The three of us went to WSU Vancouver together. Jose and I got together sophomore year of HS and have been together ever since. He's been my first and only for everything. I always thought he was kinda cute but didn't think he'd ever see me as anything more as Ray's Annie but then things changed sophomore year and well, the rest as they say is history.

Both Gaia and Jose are computer geniuses and have been working on an app for the past two years that's going to revolutionize the privacy of phone data. I may know nothing beyond my books of romance and fiction but I did whatever I could to support them which included picking up extra shifts at the coffee shop and hardware store in addition to handling all things domestic. We've been struggling a little, living very modestly in Portland since graduation last year. I work 7 days a week in addition to my menial job at the small publishing company called Portland Press.

Jose and Gaia recently connected with some potential investors in Seattle at a conference who have agreed to provide funding so that Jose and Gaia can expand their team. This helped in our move to Seattle and once I'm back from the honeymoon, I will be starting my job at Seattle Independent Publishing. It's not a significant pay bump but still welcome compared to what I was making before. Hopefully, in this larger market I can really grow and spread my wings while Jose and Gaia's hard work pays off and we can finally breathe easy and work just one job instead of three.

Kate ordered a ton of thai food which I told her was unnecessary since I was more than happy to cook for us but she shushed me and said that as the bride, I deserve to have a day off before the wedding at least.

She's always been incredibly sweet to me— like the little sister she never had and has always treated me as such. Her family comes from money and she even offered me a job at Kavanagh Media when I told her we were thinking of moving to Seattle but I declined. Firstly, I felt a little uneasy about taking her up on the favor and second, I'm not really sure I'm cut out for the media. I like my quiet energy.

Unfortunately, Gaia isn't Kate's biggest fan. She thinks Kate is trouble given her inability to commit to a relationship. She tried to convince me that Kate had her eye on Jose back in college over some flirty banter and lingering stares.

As a result, that did plant a tiny seed of doubt into my mind and I did notice some of what she had been saying. I decided to confront Kate who promised me it was unintentional and that she was just being friendly like she always has been. I decided to trust her and even after my confrontation she offered them a place to stay whenever they came to Seattle for business meetings helping them connect with some people. Why would she do that with Gaia around if she really wanted to make a move on Jose? Or help their startup as much as she could? That's stupid.

I told Gaia she was imagining things. Kate's drop dead gorgeous and yes, she may be promiscuous sometimes but she respects people in committed relationships. Again, it's her life. Moreover, Jose has always been an absolute gentleman and has never given me a reason to doubt him. I know he's a catch and I've seen women react to him but he's never entertained any advances.

After dinner we sat around and watched some Gilmore Girls, fully decked in gold facemasks, flowing wine and water because we need to keep our wits about.

I wake up and see Kate's head on my lap, Crystal leaning on my shoulder with Jose's sisters Maria and Rosa passed out on the other couch nearby. Shaking my head I slowly peel out of the hold of the two women next to me and check the time, it's close to midnight— I feel old. I will not be telling our kids about this fail, that's for sure.

I catch a movement in my periphery and see Gaia going up the stairs, wearing an actual dress versus the loungewear we were all in a few hours ago.

"Gaia?"

She whips around, startled. "Oh hey! Sorry, I woke you."

"No, it's okay. What happened?"

"Nothing, I couldn't focus so I decided to work a little in my room then I needed to clear my head, so I went for a walk."

"You look flushed and your hair is... did Sam join you on this walk? I told the boys not to see the girls before the wedding." I tease. They're staying about two blocks away from our Airbnb.

Gaia giggles and winks. "He may have joined me for the end part of it… in his car?" Sam and her have been dating for the past few months and I think he may soon pop the question. He's completely smitten with Gaia and follows her around like a puppy. He even moved out to Seattle with us with them both renting an apartment in our building. I can't wait to finally have an apartment with just my husband. I love Gaia to pieces, she's been my best friend for forever but having sex with your boyfriend while there's an audience in the next room really dampens the mood.

Suddenly, I remember that Jose and I haven't done it in almost a month and I'm jealous. Things have just been so crazy between him traveling and the overall planning of this wedding. Putting together an event of this importance and magnitude in three months isn't something I would wish on my worst enemy, our schedules have been so out of sync. I was happy to wait a while but when Jose popped the question the night of our graduation celebrations a year ago, I screamed out yes. Then suddenly out of the blue he wants us to have the wedding earlier than our intended two year plan.

"Was it good? Cause I can't wait to attack Jose tomorrow night. We've been in such a funk lately. I hope the honeymoon helps." I laugh sheepishly.

"Car sex is always good. Nothing like the thrill of getting caught." She snickers and I blush. I haven't ever been daring like that because I'm such a scaredy cat and well, I'm not all that adventurous like Gaia and Kate. Maybe I'm missing a gene or something?

"Don't worry, Ana. Some sun and booze will do you both good. I need his mind to be clear for our new rounds of investor meetings in two weeks so this wedding couldn't come at a better time." Gaia assures me.

"I hope you're right. We need this. We've never really gone away before so the change of scenery will do us good."

"Need some tips? Sam really likes it when I use my finger to—"

I shake my head, squealing and cover my ears. "No thanks, Mom and Dad."

She laughs and I bid her goodnight and slowly wake the others to send them off to their beds. Before clearing up all the food, I send a quick text to Jose telling him that I love him and that I'm thinking of him. Chances are he's already knocked out. I'm sure the guys were drinking and exchanging their own war stories.

I walk towards my room when Kate comes rushing out, throwing a jacket around herself.

"This is really not the time for you to be freaking out this close to the day for fuck's sake, she—."

"What happened Kate?"

She stops dead in her tracks and tries to compose herself, hanging up her phone.

"Sorry, Ana. It's uhhh––work... something's come up. I have to go and look over this segment for the early morning news."

"Oh, will you be able to still come back and get some sleep before the wedding?"

She gives me a sweet smile. "I should be back in two hours or so. It's just last minute issues."

Giving me a quick hug she heads out.

I lock up and climb into bed willing myself to close my eyes and sleep. The last thing I need is dark circles and puffy skin the day of my wedding.

In just a few hours I will be Mrs. Anastasia Steele-Rodriguez. The thought brings a smile to my face.

I can't wait for the rest of our lives to begin.

A/N: Hit me with your thoughts!