Gettin' Ready
Jason threw his Jeep in park on the street, a smile spreading across his face. Kelsi's car was already in the drive, a pleasant surprise. Her door popped open and she quickly made her way up the porch steps, barely giving him a wave as she went. As he hurried to catch her at the door, he couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement. A little extra time with her before the night's festivities would be perfect. When he met her at the door, he opened his mouth to speak, but instead of a greeting, she launched into a rapid-fire series of questions.
"I left the boutonnieres with your mom, did she let you know?"
"Uh yeah, she told me they're at the house," he answered quickly.
"And Andrew confirmed on the suit returns, right?"
"Yeah, I'll leave mine in the hall closet and he'll pick it up."
"Did you check that the suits were pressed and all the right sizes when you picked them up?"
"Yes, Kelsi, I checked them all," Jason answered, starting to get a bit annoyed. He hadn't even gotten a hello yet and she was already on to questions five and six. Although he listened patiently, his brow furrowed in concentration as he tried to keep up with her whirlwind.
They made their way into the living room, where Kelsi continued through her list. "I finally heard from Ryan that his plane got in. I don't know who else we could have asked to emcee if he didnt make it. The poor guy was stuck in Cincinnati for six hours. And don't forget you have to—"
Jason, suddenly impatient, pulled her close. His lips met hers in a deep, passionate kiss that silenced her rambling. He dipped her low, holding her steady as their world narrowed to just the two of them. When they finally broke apart, he softly whispered, "Hi."
Kelsi, taken aback by his sudden affection, melted into his embrace. The tension of the past few weeks seemed to dissolve, replaced by a sense of calm and love. "Hey," Kelsi said with a soft smile, "what's this all about?"
"Just practicing for tomorrow."
Kelsi rolled her eyes playfully. "You know I love your kisses, but you're gross, Gearhead, as always." She glanced affectionately at his work clothes.
Jason grinned. "Want to join me in the shower before we head out for our parties?"
"I think I will," Kelsi replied.
Jason took her hand and led her upstairs, stripping her of her clothes then stepping out of his own to meet her under the steaming water. She quickly dampened her hair and began working shampoo through her dark brown locks, the sight of the lather running down her perfect body turning him on in an instant. "Damn, you're so hot, Kels," he groaned as he ran his hands over her body, the silky soap aiding his gentle caress of her skin.
Kelsi sighed as he kissed down her neck, relaxing into his touch as he began an intimate caress. "Glad we have some extra time, J."
"You know I'd have made time," he breathed, dipping his fingers deeper inside her.
Kelsi gasped in pleasure and took a hold of Jason, joining in with her own intimate massage. They quickly brought each other over the edge, the urgency of the moment making them impatient.
Jason heaved a deep breath and let Kelsi go, taking his time to help her wash and rinse her hair. "What are you doing with these beautiful curls tomorrow?"
"You'll have to wait and see," she said with a smile. When they had finished, she dried off and slipped into her robe. Quickly drying her hair, she opted to pin her curls back into a half-up half-down style for her night out. When she returned to their room, Jason was already dressed in his jeans and t-shirt. Pulling her green party dress along with her strapped black heels from the closet, she couldn't resist a little torment and dropped her robe to step into her clothes. "So, you're going to a basketball game and then out for wings?" Kelsi asked, raising an eyebrow. "Sounds like a pretty typical Friday night for you guys."
Jason chuckled and bit his lip at the sight. "Uh yeah, I guess we know what we like. But it's not any basketball game, it's a U of A pre-season game, Chad got us some great seats."
"So no strip club?" she asked, a playful smirk on her face. "Isn't that where all the bachelor parties end up?"
Jason shook his head. "That's a total cliché. Besides, Andrew's married, and the rest of us have beautiful women to go home to. We're just going to have some fun at the game, maybe drink a little too much to calm the nerves, and then head back to my parents' place for the night."
Kelsi nodded, a slight frown creasing her brow. "Just promise me you'll be safe. Don't get too plastered and be sure to take cabs."
"I promise," Jason assured her. "And speaking of safe, you better behave yourself on your night out too. Don't do anything too crazy at that fancy lounge."
Kelsi grinned. "Well the girls get to have fun too! A few drinks, some dancing, maybe a little karaoke to blow off some steam. Then we'll head to my parents' place and get ready for the big day."
Jason smiled back. "Just be careful, okay?" He bent to hook his finger around the straps of her heels and dangled them in front of her. "I don't want to hear about any mishaps in these sexy heels."
The roar of the crowd filled the arena as the Red Hawks took the court. Jason, Andrew, Chad, Troy, and Luke were packed into their seats, the energy of the game electrifying the air. The game was intense, with both teams trading baskets. The crowd erupted with every dunk and three-pointer. Chad, a former Red Hawk, pointed out familiar faces on the court and shared inside stories about the team, making the experience even more exciting.
Jason finally felt the tension of the upcoming wedding start to dissipate and couldn't help but relax and enjoy the moment. At half-time, Chad snuck them all back to the dressing rooms, stealing a few minutes with the players. The night only got better with a win for the home team. After the game, they headed to a nearby sports bar. The place was packed, the atmosphere buzzing with post-game excitement. The guys ordered a round of beers and a mountain of wings, and the conversation turned to old times. As the night wore on, the stories became wilder, secrets being shared that none of them had intended.
"Wait wait, Gabriella wasn't your first kiss?!" Chad said with shock at Troy.
"No man, it was that cheerleader who transferred out to West High, Libby something," Troy said with a grin.
"You never told me that!" Chad exclaimed, "but on that note, well done, she was hot!"
"Kelsi was mine," Jason said, a hint of pride in his voice, almost like a badge of honour that his first kiss was going to be his wife.
"No way," Troy scoffed, "you didn't have the balls to kiss her that summer."
"I sure as hell did," Jason countered, "that's why I was wearing polo shirts all summer. She really liked kissing my neck, but didn't want anyone to know."
"You're lying!" Chad teased, grabbing a couple more wings.
"Speakin' of those love bites, Cross once picked up this blonde," Luke started. "What was her name? Bree? Brandy?"
"No, no! Don't tell that story man!" Jason turned to Luke, trying to cut him off.
"Me and Cross and Dylan were at the bar, and it was looking so good for him, the lucky bastard, that was one hot woman," Luke continued. "So this girl was gettin' cozy with him in a corner booth until he blew past us out the door with her, and he was our ride! Got in the next morning to work and his neck was purple from one side to the other! The teasin' he got for the next week sure made up for him ditchin' us!"
The guys erupted in laughter, making Jason blush at the memory of his wild days. It hadn't been that long ago. In a way, he had been lost while Kelsi was gone, looking to fill the vacuum she had left in his heart. There wasn't another girl like her, and no matter how hard he tried to replace her, deep down he knew he'd never be complete without her.
"So dude, are you ready for the end of your life?" Troy teased.
Jason shook his head and sipped his beer. "Yeah, but at least the end of my life is a hot brunette who cant keep her hands off me."
"Married life isn't so bad, you'll all figure that out soon enough," Andrew remarked. "Besides didn't all of your ladies say yes already?"
Troy and Chad exchanged a look with Luke, each of them realizing they were soon to be in the same boat as Jason.
"I figured if I didn't ask soon, Tay was going to ask me," Chad said with a shrug. "But I'm happy to spend the rest of my life with her. That girl's been perfect for me since day one."
"And we don't need to hear about how Hoops over there feels," Jason said, a knowing smile on his lips. They all knew how hard Troy had fallen for Gabriella, how he had fought so hard to keep her in his life.
"What can I say, she brings out the best in me, makes me better," Troy said, "and I didn't have to get her in bed to know that!"
Jason nodded, taking a long sip of his beer. "Thanks for tonight guys, I needed this. Tomorrow's the big day, and I'm feeling the pressure for sure."
"Don't worry, man," Chad reassured him. "It's going to be great. And besides, we'll be there to back you up."
As the night progressed, the tension of the upcoming wedding was temporarily forgotten. They were just a group of friends, enjoying a night out and a good old game of basketball.
Kelsi was nearly drifting off to sleep when her phone started to buzz loudly on her nightstand. Her bridal party had stumbled home not long ago, all kicking off their heels and giggling with the buzz of too many tequila shots. Her blurred vision managed to pick out Jason's name on the screen and she answered quickly. "Jason? What's the matter, baby? Are you alright?!" she asked, assuming he wouldn't be calling unless something was wrong.
"Yeah yeah, everything's fine, Kels," he said, a slight slur in his voice. "Listen, I asked the cab driver to stop at your place, can you come to the door? Just for a minute?"
"Thought you weren't supposed to see me anymore?" Kelsi teased as she tiptoed down the stairs.
"Those traditions can go fuck themselves, I want one more kiss."
Kelsi dropped her phone on the hall table before easing the door open. She quickly saw Jason on the other side of it and grabbed his shirt to pull him close. "Then you better make it damn good," she said.
Jason leaned in hard and fast to land a hot and heavy kiss on her lips. Wrapping his arms around her waist, he pulled her flush to his chest, backing her up against the doorframe. They broke apart with a soft laugh at their passionate embrace, both affected by the buzz of too much alcohol. "Are the girls asleep?" he whispered.
"Out like lights," she replied.
"Damn, I wish I had a few minutes to screw you," he said, brushing a stray hair from her face. A silly smile broke across his face as he glanced back at the cab. "Guess I'll have to find you tomorrow."
"I'll be the one in white," Kelsi giggled.
"Enjoy your last night as Ms. Nielsen," Jason replied and planted one more kiss on her lips. "I love you so much."
"I love you too," Kelsi said and let his hand slip from hers as he headed back to the cab. She retreated back into the house, closing the door silently. Leaning back against it, she heaved a sigh. My last night as Ms. Nielsen, tomorrow I get to be Mrs. Cross.
The first light of dawn painted the sky in soft hues of pink and orange as Jason stirred. With a groggy stretch he was out of bed, padding barefoot into the living room. Chad and Troy, still sprawled across air mattresses, snored a rhythmic soundtrack to the quiet morning. Andrew was still in a crumpled heap on the pull out couch, while Luke had opted to go home, knowing his big frame wouldn't be comfortable anywhere but his own bed. Jason shook his head with a fond smile, the guys sure overdid it last night. He moved quietly to the kitchen, a fresh pot of coffee was first on his list as he passed along in a daze of how nervous he felt. As he went to work on prepping breakfast, he heard the familiar creak of the front door before his dad stepped into the kitchen with Luke following behind
"Morning, Jase!" Mark called, then hushed his voice when Jason raised a finger to his lips and pointed at the guys still snoozing in the living room.
"Don't tell me you're cookin' on your weddin' day?" Luke said in a low voice.
"Morning, Dad. Luke," Jason replied softly, the weight of the day settling in. "Yeah, I don't think any of those losers are going to do it," he snickered as he jerked a thumb at the rest of his snoring groomsmen. He turned back to his work, tossing some bacon into the pan before fumbling with cracking a few eggs into a mixing bowl.
Mark nodded, sensing the heaviness on Jason's mind, he crossed the kitchen and grasped his son's shoulder. "You're ready for this, Jase. You and Kelsi are going to have an amazing life together, we can all see how much you love her." Jason met his gaze.
"Thanks, Dad." The quiet moment was broken by the sounds of stirring from the living room. Chad was the first to emerge, his eyes still half-closed.
Andrew followed shortly after, rubbing his eyes. "Smells good in here," he mumbled, heading straight for the coffee.
"Bacon's on," Jason announced, The sizzle of meat filled the kitchen as Troy strolled in, trying to rouse himself after one too many beers the night before. The atmosphere turned to a mix of excitement and nerves, the countdown to the wedding officially underway. Suits were slung neatly over the backs of their chairs, promising the formality to come.
Chad, the ever-impatient one, was the first to rise, his mouth still full of toast. "Alright, boys, we better get a move on," he declared, his voice muffled as he checked his watch.
Troy, nursing a black coffee, groaned in mock protest, but was quickly on his feet to clear some dishes and trays with Jason. "You go get ready, Jason. You cooked, we'll clean up," he said and shoved the groom out of the kitchen.
Jason heaved a relaxing breath as he retreated to the bathroom and stepped under the spray of the hot shower, cranking the temperature up in an effort to burn away his nerves. As he dried off and shaved, he battled his trembling hands, begging them not to let him cut himself as his razor made the last pass over his jaw. Finally, he threw on some jeans and a shirt and gathered his suit to head for the kitchen. The house had fallen silent as the guys were taking their turns in the other shower, save Andrew, his brother and best man, who was already showered and ready to go. Jason grabbed his wallet, keys and watch off the counter and shoved them in his pockets, unable to hide the nervous tension in his shoulders.
"Hey, take a deep breath, bro," Andrew said, his voice steady. "I know you're nervous, but trust me, it's all going to go smoothly." A fond smile graced Andrew's face as he continued. "Remember my wedding? When we all forgot the boutonnières?"
Jason couldn't help but chuckle. "You were lucky Mom noticed before we left the house."
"We were all nervous, could barely tie our ties. But you know what? It was still perfect, just like you two are perfect together." Jason managed a small laugh, the tension easing slightly. "And besides," Andrew added, "she's the one everyone's going to be looking at. You just have show up on time."
"Ah! Jason! My darling!" Lucia called as she entered the kitchen, her hair already done from her early morning appointment. "Il giorno del tuo matrimonio! And it is a beautiful day today, not a cloud in the sky."
"So much for a garden wedding being impractical, huh, Ma?" Jason said with a smile and kisses on her cheeks. "Sei meravigliosa!"
"Grazie, figlio mio, though not nearly as wonderful as your bride will be I'm sure," she replied with a wink. "We'll see you there soon, son."
Jason bid his parents goodbye and followed the rest of the guys out to the cars, his mind a nervous wreck.
Sunlight painted the room in soft hues, casting long, dancing shadows across the comforter as Kelsi stirred. Blinking slowly as consciousness seeped into her mind, a smile crept across her lips as she stretched. I'm getting married today. A wave of anticipation and nerves washed over her. She hadn't been one of those girls who had her wedding day all planned out until Jason. He had made her daydream about it, and in a few short hours, he would be waiting at the end of the aisle for her. Her mind drifted back to last night, to Jason's lips on hers one last time. A pang of longing hit her. The next time he kissed her, she would be his wife.
The scent of breakfast cooking downstairs, rich and inviting, was an irresistible siren song. With a sigh, she swung her legs over the bed and stood up, the room spinning momentarily from that extra shot of tequila she'd had at her own bachelorette party the night before. When she strolled into the the kitchen, it was already bustling with activity. Martha, her maid of honour, was a serene figure on the back patio, bathed in morning sunlight as she moved through her yoga poses. Gabriella, her eyes still puffy from sleep, slumped at the island, already sipping a second coffee.
"Hey there, bride," she said with as bright a smile as she could manage towards Kelsi. Alisha sat beside her and gave Kelsi a soft smile, fighting her own hangover. Suddenly, Taylor burst into the kitchen with Lina, both whirlwinds of energy.
"Morning, sleepyhead!" Taylor exclaimed, her voice filled with excitement as she wrapped Kelsi in a hug.
"How are you feeling, K?" Linda asked, her voice gentle.
Kelsi managed a weak smile. "Okay, I guess. Just a little tired."
"Breakfast is almost ready, ladies!" Steven called, already flipping pancakes on the griddle. As the delicious aroma filled the kitchen, the girls filed in and filled their plates.
Kelsi settled into her plate and tried to force down a bite. It was a struggle, her nerves suddenly peaking.
"Eat up, we've got a big day ahead of us, Kelsi," Martha said, joining her at the table. "You need to be at your best."
With the encouragement of her friends, she managed to eat a couple pancakes and some fruit, the excitement and nerves crashing over her in wave after wave.
The living room soon became a whirlwind of activity as the girls transformed it into a makeshift salon. Cushions and blankets were piled high to create seating areas, and a large mirror was propped against the wall. The dining table was now a vanity, covered in a patchwork of open makeup palettes, hairbrushes, and curling irons. As they were busy organizing their beauty arsenal, the doorbell rang and Taylor hurried to answer.
"Sharpay!" she exclaimed, pulling her into a hug.
Sharpay, dressed in a pink jumpsuit and armed with a professional-looking makeup kit, strode into the room. "Alright ladies, where's that bride? Time to make her fabulous!" She surveyed the chaos with a practiced eye.
Kelsi, feeling a surge of excitement and nervousness, settled into the dining room chair to surrender to Sharpay's makeover skills. She winced at the various pinches on her head as Sharpay bound her brown curls into a fancy low bun. The other girls blew around the room, curling their hair, doing each other's makeup, and smiling with admiration as Kelsi slowly transformed. Sharpay gently took the hairpiece from Nonna Pia out of its box and pinned it above Kelsi's bun, the final touch to complete her look.
"Well I think this lucky girl looks the part," Sharpay finally said, stepping back to admire her work. "You look stunning, Kelsi." The girls exchanged excited glances. Each of them with their own dazzling makeup and hairdos looking perfect for the day.
"Time for those dresses!" Gabriella exclaimed. "Kelsi, we can't wait to see your wedding dress!" The rest of the girls squealed in delight as Kelsi strolled towards the stairs.
"Alright, can you all give me a minute?" she heaved in a heavy breath, "I'd like to put it on alone if that's alright."
Taylor nodded and shushed the other girls. "We'll be waiting, take all the time you need, hun."
Kelsi ascended the stairs and slipped into the spare room, closing the door gently behind her. Hanging over the closet door was her wedding dress, the billowing gossamer fabric looking soft and inviting. She took a moment to admire it and couldn't believe what she was about to do. Wearing this dress was the result of a love that had wrapped her in its tender embrace and was ready to vow to never leave her. Her heart fluttered at the thought of Jason making those vows in a few hours, the longest hours of her life. The gown fit perfectly when she stepped into it, but she struggled to get the zipper all the way up. A gentle knock came at her door and her mother poked her head in.
"Need any help, K?" Lina asked, her eyes filling with wonder and emotion at the sight of Kelsi in her dress.
"Yes, please," she said as she turned her back and let her mom zip the dress the rest of the way. "Thanks, Mom." She stepped back and let her mother's eyes wander up and down the dress, the glassy expression soon drifting to her own eyes. Lina heaved a sigh and dabbed her eyes.
"You look absolutely stunning, Kelsi," she said softly. "How are you feeling now that you're in it?"
"Doctor patient confidentially?" Kelsi asked with a wince.
Lina nodded and gestured for Kelsi to have a seat with her on the bed. "What's on your mind, dear?"
"Mom," she paused to take a breath in, "am I making a mistake?"
"What makes you ask that?"
"It probably seems rushed to everyone else, Jason and I getting married so fast. It's a bad time to have second thoughts, but I'm doubting myself now."
Lina took her hand and offered a gentle squeeze. "Kelsi, the woman I know would never have said yes if she wasn't absolutely sure this was right."
"But what if I'm not really sure? What if I let all the fun times the past couple summers and the great sex blind me?"
"Kelsi, This is one day that leads to the rest of your lives. Don't let the nerves of the big day cloud the truth. I saw it the first time you brought Jason through the door of this house. You were sure then, and you're sure now. He's the one for you. Joining your hearts and lives to face everything together, it's going to be a beautiful life indeed."
Kelsi heaved a heavy breath and dabbed at her own eyes, careful not to mar Sharpay's masterpiece. "Thanks, Mom," she whispered as she wrapped her arms around Lina in a tender embrace. "Now let's go see how the girls like this dress.
Lina smiled and took her hand to head out of the room together, descending the stairs ahead of Kelsi to assemble the other girls at the foot of the stairs. Excited squeals and gasps of amazement filled the hallway as they all took in the sight of Kelsi descending the stairs, a perfect bride if they ever saw one. She blushed and smiled excitedly at her best friends, each dressed in the soft green dresses she had picked out.
"Damn honey!" Taylor remarked with a few snaps of her fingers, "That man is going to fall to pieces when he sees you!" All the girls nodded in agreement and flooded Kelsi's ears with compliments that made her feel like she was almost as tall as Alisha.
"Thank you all, and you all look so beautiful too," she said, dabbing another tear from her eye. "Thank you for sharing this with me. I love you girls." They pulled together in a group hug, the tenderness of friendship settling the anxious bride's nerves.
Steven Nielsen sat on his worn leather stool in his workshop, pouring over the scrap of paper he had scribbled his speech down on. He knew he only had one line during the ceremony, to give his daughter away, but the reception had him sweating bullets for what to say about all this day meant to him. He was so caught in his thoughts that he didn't hear the soft clicks of the shutter as the wedding photographer snuck some pictures of him.
"That seat taken?" A soft voice he knew so well said from the doorway. He looked up to see Kelsi nod towards the stool beside him, the one decorated with stickers that she had claimed as hers when she spent so many hours hanging out with him in this shop. Tears started welling in his eyes as she lifted the hem of her dress to keep it from dragging over the dusty floor. His daughter looked absolutely stunning in what he couldn't believe was her wedding dress. His girl, his only baby girl, was getting married today. He wiped the seat, checking for anything that would mar the white gossamer material and patted it once he was sure it was all clear. "Always room for you, K."
Kelsi hopped up onto the stool and let her feet dangle as they always did, her usual sneakers replaced by fancy white wedges to go with her dress. "Got your lines all worked out?" she asked, looking at the rumpled paper in his hand.
"Yeah, I think so," he said with a deep breath, taking her hand, "my little girl, all grown up on her wedding day. It's a hard thing for a dad to wrap up into a tight five. Plus all the embarrassing stories and all that."
Kelsi shook her head. "Oh no, which embarrassing stories did you pick?
"Nothing too bad," Steven said with a sly smile, "just the time you convinced me to paint the living room purple."
"Okay, yeah that was a decorating disaster. I'm glad you never told anyone about that"
"Fathers can keep secrets to a point, but Jason needs to hear that one, just in case you ever feel like repainting!" Kelsi laughed and pushed a stray curl back over her ear, the obvious nerves of the day showing in her trembling fingers. "You alright there, K? Nervous?"
"Yeah a little, it's a big deal this whole getting married thing."
"Want a Bud?" Steven spun his stool around to the mini fridge he kept stocked with Budweiser and retrieved two chilled bottles. Expertly popping the tops, he passed one to Kelsi. "It is a big deal, but you're starting a whole new chapter. It'll be filled with love, fighting, laughter, and likely a leaky faucet or two. Marriage is a lot like an old car - it needs a lot of TLC to run smoothly. Be patient with each other, work through your problems together, and don't be afraid to ask for help when you need it."
"Well I'll still call you for the leaky faucets that's for sure! I love Jason, but he'll never be a Mr. Fix-It like you."
"Anytime, K, no matter what life throws your way, you can always come to me. Can't promise I can fix everything, some things you and Jason will just have to work out on your own, but I'll never be far away."
"I know, Dad, thank you - for everything."
"Shall we get this show on the road then?" he asked, looking at the clock on the wall of his shop. "If memory serves me correctly, you have a wedding to be at."