3/17/2021

Lots of mixed reviews on CG but it's all good, I've actually never written him this way and it's been interesting. Back to the Wedding we've all been waiting for. ARE YOU READY? ARE YA?

CHAPTER FOUR - Let's get this show on the road

"Oh Annie." Dad's voice catches in his throat when he walks into the room to see me fully dressed as a bride for the first time.

"Don't make me cry." I joke, pointing my finger playfully at him. "I can't let this makeup ruin."

He beams a smile and envelops me in a hug, holding me tight like he used to when I was little and I soak in the comfort. "I'm so proud of you Annie and I wish you all the happiness in the world."

"Thanks, Dad." I mumble into his shoulder with tears threatening to spill out after all. Keep it together, Steele.

We do the required photographs and call an Uber to take us to the Church, that's about 25 minutes from where we are. The bridesmaids and groomsmen already left so it's just me and Dad who are last. The nerves are starting to get to me and I feel my mouth go a little dry.

Having a wedding wasn't really a big on my to-do list. I told Jose we could just get married at City Hall and have a nice dinner with the family but his mother wouldn't hear of it. She wanted her oldest child and only son to get married in a Church and have all the trappings of a proper wedding. In order to accommodate her never ending list of must-haves and complaints we are now having a chapel wedding and a reception that's completely strained my financial situation. My guestlist was literally 15 people. Jose's side of the family? 75 people!

Breathe, Ana. Breathe.

Did I mention that I'm getting married on a Thursday because it's significantly cheaper than getting married on a weekend, plus the fact that no venues were available for any weekend dates for the rest of the year. At least you're a June bride. I roll my eyes at the ridiculousness of Kate's statement, she sees the bright side to everything.

My bachelorette party was at Kate's house in Bellevue—budget friendly in a fancy place. Her mom, bless her heart, decorated the whole house and Kate invited a stripper. I was mortified. Once Jose and Gaia make the big bucks with this app, we're having a do over. Destination vow renewal, where we can really enjoy ourselves and be fancy. Just for once in our lifetime!

"So Dad, any words of wisdom before I do this thing?" I nudge him with a smirk as we sit in the back of this gigantic Uber and he looks back at me and smiles.

"Remember your worth." He says softly. "And always do your best to understand where the other person is coming from. Never go to bed angry and if need be, kick his ass. Us men need it every now and then."

I nod with a giggle and give his hand a squeeze.

"I'm sorry your mom couldn't make it." He continues. "She just—"

"It's okay dad." I cut him off, exhaling my disappointment. "I honestly wasn't even surprised when she did it. It's not like she's Jose's biggest fan anyway. I've, we've always been better without her." Money not potential, is the only quality my mother looks for in a man.

He gives me a half smile and kisses the back of my hand.

"I'm so proud of you Annie."

I pace back and forth in the bridal suite-waiting area of the Church. I feel butterflies in my stomach and the urge to jump around laugh just to dispel the excess nervous energy.

"Babe, relax." Gaia gives me a pointed look before going back to fix her lipstick in the mirror. She's in a floor length navy blue gown, looking like a knockout just like my three other bridesmaids. At this point it's so easy to point out what was chosen by me and what was chosen by Jose's mother.

"I know, I know. I'm just…. Ahhhhh." I laugh nervously, shaking my hands. "I just want this to be over with so we can get to the food and get drunk on the dance floor."

"And fuck each other?" Gaia smirks.

"Oh god! YES." I laugh.

"EWW I did not need to hear that." Rosa groans, rolling her eyes.

"Oh darling Rosa, one day you will meet a boy too." I tease. She may be 16 now but I can't wait till she's all grown up and dating. She's turning heads already.

"Yeah, that's if Jose doesn't rip his dick off." She rolls her eyes again. "May just have to date a girl to make sure the real estate is secure if you know what I mean."

We all laugh and Kate high fives her before continuing on.

"Jose might need some medical attention after Hurricane Steele makes landfall." Kate cackles along with Crystal who whoops loudly. "Boy better say his prayers."

"After how things have been going with the wedding, I'm wound up like a hurricane that's for sure." I groan.

Compared to Kate and Gaia I am not exactly comfortable with my sexuality, however recently, I have been feeling a little restless and wanting to try more but Jose has been distracted and distant with worry about all things related to his startup. I confided in Gaia one night over some wine and stir-fry and she promised she'd knock some sense into him in her usual slap up the head kinda way and pushed me to talk and voice my needs.

Kate on the other hand just told me to leave him be and get over with the wedding business. Since I'm not exactly confrontational, I remained quiet. Maybe he is in a funk, he looks worried all the time and I know he's been concerned about money.

Pulling all the girls into a group hug, I smother them with love. "You all are the bestest friends a girl could ever ask for."

I hear a knock on the door and everyone stands up and gets into formation.

"It's time to get this show on the road." Dad announces walking in. We all nod and the bridesmaids head out of the room towards the aisle.

I take a deep breath and fix my veil and dress a little, looking in the mirror one last time. Let's do this.

"You're always going to be my baby girl, Annie." Dad kisses my cheek and offers me his arm.

"Always." I smile, my voice breaking.

We walk towards the front of the entrance of the Church to stand at the start of the aisle while the organ plays the Wedding March. Another thing Jose's mother wanted. It sounds so grand and climatic right now. I take a deep breath and a shiver runs through my body. As the last couple of the wedding party walks down, Dad and I start to slowly follow.

Everyone stands and looks back at me. The difference in our family sizes is staggering across both sides of the aisle. My tiny little group of people versus Jose's entire congregation. The image makes me giggle. The phones are out and everyone is taking pictures, smiling at me. I hear murmurings of Spanish as I pass by, smiling and making eye contact with some of the people I do know in his family.

Then I see my man at the altar, looking so handsome. He gives me a small smile but the emotion on his face is evident. My bridesmaids all give me big cheesy grins, winking conspiratorially and it eases my nerves a bit. When we reach the end, Dad gives me one last look and I see tears in his eyes. He gives my hand to Jose and kisses my temple before taking his seat.

I look up at Jose and he's staring intently at me. I give him a teary smile and mouth an I love you which he returns with a nod. I feel his hands shaking and I hold them tighter, stroking them with my thumb.

The priest continues on with the proceedings but I find myself unable to really concentrate and I focus solely on the man before me and the happiness I feel to be standing here and marrying him.

"Jose do you take Anastasia to be your lawfully wedded wife in the eyes of God and all his creations? To have and to hold, for better or for worse, in sickness and in health––"

"I'm sorry." Jose mutters, releasing my hands. "I'm sorry, I.. I can't."

"W-what?" I ask shakily. My entire body freezes and I feel the blood drain from my face as the sounds of gasps echo throughout the church.

"I can't do this Ana." Jose says, not meeting my gaze and swallowing. "I'm not in love with you anymore. Please forgive me."

"Not in love with me? W-wha… But––"

He blurts out her name, telling me that he loves her and looks over my shoulder. I turn around and see the look of shock bloom into elation on her face.

Before I know it, he walks past me and drags her by the hand and they run down the aisle to exit the church.

Everyone's standing and in shock while I'm just rooted in the same place trying to make sense of what just happened. My vision blurs with the sting of tears and pain of my heart breaking as I fall in a heap to the ground.

He left me.

They fooled me and suddenly the truth of last night makes sense.

I can't believe this is happening.

A/N: Did you all actually think I was gonna let her marry Jose? PUH-LEASE. Second, WHO DID HE RUN OFF WITH?

Let me know in the reviews, best one will get special mention in the next chapter, lol.