~ Three Months Later ~
Aria's POV:
So I'm getting married today...and surprisingly, I'm hardly even nervous.
Thanks to my lovely friends, everything was planned to the T, and I couldn't thank them enough. Last night, we girls had a bachelorette party, and never again am I leaving Hunter in charge of such festivities. It was fun, of course, though way wilder than Sade or myself would've planned. But I won't even lie and say that I didn't enjoy it.
She took us on a party bus to one of the most famous strip clubs known here in Tampa, and reserved us our very own VIP section. Let's just say, it was one of those nights that we all agreed to stay there, and would be discussed no further.
But now, it's the morning of the big day. We've just returned from a group breakfast, and are now headed back to get dressed for the ceremony.
My nails were already done and my hair had just finished being curled as the makeup artist started on my face. Each of us were sitting in a row of high chairs as a team of women got us all together.
"Hey A," Hunter chimed from two chairs down, Tina in between us. "How's it feel, having to confess your love for you boo in front of your whole family?" Hearing everyone snicker, I playfully rolled my eyes while bashfully smiling. "Then you gotta kiss him too? Blech-"
"Shut up H," Lauren chuckled.
"Her ass is just mad because that stripper ain't pick her up last night-" the girls giggled again as I smiled teasingly.
"You got picked up A?" Tina asked, and I nodded proudly. "Was he tall?"
"As a tree," we giggled. "And ripped, honey-"
"Even his face structure had muscle," Lauren said, making us laugh again. "I was like damn-"
"Same," Sade giggled.
"Those two literally got a lap dance by him together," I said, and Tina laughed,
"How?"
"Listen, it's hard to explain, just know it was quite the experience," Joi said, making Tina laugh harder,
"Oh God-"
"I wonder if the guys had strippers," Ivy said.
"I don't even think Dylan would know what to do with all that-" we cackled at Hunter's comment and I shook my head in agreement.
Omniscient POV:
Three hours later, a line of smiling bridesmaids stood at Aria's side while a line of groomsmen stood at Dylan's. Holding hands while gazing deep into each other's eyes as the official spoke, the couple stood at the center of an arched display of flowers, and in front of a full seated audience.
Their venue for the ceremony was hosted at a rented mansion, with the most beautiful garden right in the backyard. Everyone was seated on a bricked courtyard, at the center of large circle of bushes with lilies inside. Just beyond the alter was a magnolia tree. And surrounding them were the most beautiful spring colors embedded in the nature setting, accentuating the soft colors of each bridesmaid's dress, and every groomsmen's flower in their suit.
"And by the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, husband and wife." He smiled and looked to Dylan, who was already leaning in. "You may now kiss the bride-"
His words were cut off by loud cheers and applause as the couple at the altar locked lips while smiling into their wedded kiss.
"You have no idea how happy I am right now," Dylan whispered to Aria once they broke apart. She smiled against his lips,
"Happier than me?"
"Wayyy happier than you-" Aria giggled before capturing his lips once more.
As their friends and family continued to cheer, the two turned to them with joined hands and raised them in the air to celebrate. Beginning their walk down the three steps as the bridesmaids and groomsmen followed behind, they walked back down the aisle just as they came in.
~~~~~~~~
Reception music boomed through the speakers of the place while everyone danced to the upbeat music, waiting for the infamous bride and groom.
Caterers served cocktails and appetizers on trays as they made their rounds within the mansion's decorated ballroom. The bridesmaids had just changed as well as the groomsmen. And though Aria and Dylan were ready, they took about ten minutes just between the two of them to just relax in each other's arms.
Meanwhile outside, Silas had pulled Kingston off to the side to talk before things kicked off inside. He knew that Kingston wanted to speak to him at game night, but he just didn't feel ready. Still though, he knew that a conversation between them needed to be had. So all feelings aside, he'd have it. Even though, after that night, he told himself he'd never speak to Kingston again, though apparently life had other plans...
"...You go first," Kingston spoke after the two of them had been standing there for a moment, just awkwardly avoiding each other's gaze.
"I uh," Silas sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I just wanted you to know that I forgive you...and even after everything, I...I still love you-"
"Silas-"
"No, just let me finish, please..." Kingston's head fell a bit and he found himself suddenly interested in the speckles of the concrete. "The past is the past, and it's better for us to just let it go, in my opinion. So, if you're okay with it, we don't have to be friends or anything, but I wouldn't ignore you if you were to speak to me anymore-" King chuckled,
"You'd really ignore me?"
"Hell yeah, the best way I've dealt with everything is to just hate your guts, or at least tell myself that I did- to make it hurt less."
At those words, his smile then faded, and Silas' followed.
"Can I uh- can I speak now?"
"Yeah of course, I'm sorry," Silas laughed. "Go ahead..."
"Well I uh.... I don't want to take us down memory lane, at least not on purpose but...that night when you walked in...you turned around and never looked back. Which I don't blame you at all, but I just- I never got the chance to genuinely apologize to you, for everything not even just that. You... Silas, you were really the one that got away. And I know that there's no rekindling, which I fully take responsibility for, but I needed you to know that. And I'm sorry- I'm truly sorry, for what I did...and for not bending over backwards to win you back-"
"You should have," Silas whispered sincerely, and Kingston nodded, letting his eyes fall again. "Why didn't you?"
He sighed. "In my head, at the time, it was because you just left... I mean of course now I realize that that was the dumbest shit to use as an excuse, but I did... It only fed my insecurities when you walked out of the door and never looked back. Because I'd already been thinking that you were losing interest in me and didn't love me for real-"
"That's nowhere near true King-"
"I know," he let out a puff of air while rubbing his forehead. "I know, and I'm sorry Si. I was being an idiot, and an immature one at that...You didn't deserve to be treated that way, and I'm so sorry..."
"It's okay," Silas whispered before Kingston shot back,
"It's not okay Si-"
"No really, it is King... I mean yes I was pissed at you for years, but seeing that you genuinely feel bad for doing what you did, shows to me that you didn't do it to purposefully hurt me-"
"I really didn't..."
"I know..." Silence fell as the two of them gazed upon each other, wanting to say so much yet no words left either of them. "You were just callously stupid-"
Kingston expelled a breath of laughter and Silas smiled at him. They looked at each other again for a moment until Silas held out his arms.
"Come here." Kingston walked hesitantly into his embrace, then tried his hardest not to melt in Silas' arms. "I forgive you, okay?" he whispered, holding his ex lover tight. So tight that Kingston felt tears brimming his eyes as he squeezed back. "You should forgive yourself King... Regardless, I still want you to find happiness. And you can't do that if you let your past haunt you..."
"I know..."
"I'm serious, you hear me?"
"I do," he closed his eyes, letting himself bask in their embrace for the moment that it was. "I promise, I do..."
~~~~~~~~
Over by the beverage table, Kyra walked slowly up to the table. She grabbed a cup, then eyed the variety of options until deciding on the pitcher of lemonade. Another woman also happened to be getting lemonade as well, and Kyra decided to introduce herself.
"Hi there, I don't think we've properly met." The woman turned around as Kyra smiled at her. "I'm Kyra, but some people here call me Bri as well."
"Well which do you prefer?"
"You can call me Bri," she said, subtly giving her a once over. "And you are?"
"Oh I'm sorry, I'm Tina," she chuckled. "Old friend of Aria's."
"Oh really? I noticed you and the girls seemed close but I didn't want to make assumptions..."
"Yeah well we've only recently rekindled, but I've known them all since high school. My girlfriend's the reason I consider them some of my best friends, especially Aria and Sade."
"Your girlfriend?"
"Yeah, it's Hunter," she said pointing over to where Hunter was dancing with Lauren and Sade. "We dated back then, and we're together again now," Tina smiled, but couldn't help but notice the face of distaste that Kyra made while looking over at Hunter.
"Are you two serious?" she asked, looking back at Tina with a smile. Tina nodded. "Oouu, how serious we talkin?"
"...Just serious...?"
Kyra chuckled at the face Tina made. "I only ask because I came over here to get your number, only to find out that Hunter's snatched you up already...."
"Is it just me," Lauren said, slowing her movements. "Or does Tina look like she's itching to get out of that conversation with Kyra?" The mention of her girlfriend and Kyra's name caused Hunter to turn and look on as well, Sade too.
"Yeah, she's making her 'help' face," Sade chuckled.
Both the couple's eyebrows rose once Hunter had dashed toward them in the blink of an eye.
"Hey T," she said, getting their attention, though her eyes mostly focused on Kyra, who simply smirked back. "Sade and Lauren said they have something for you-"
"Oh Aria must be ready to change," she grabbed her lemonade then turned to kiss Hunter's cheek before walking away. "Meet me outside in ten?"
"Of course," the blonde smiled, and it quickly deteriorated once Tina was out of ear shot and only she and Kyra remained. "I don't know what the hell kind of game you're playing, but I promise you, you don't want to be playing it with me," she spoke while watching Tina walk away, then pierced into Kyra's eyes at the end of her sentence.
"That a threat?" She smiled, and Hunter chuckled,
"Are you deaf? The word 'promise' was there, I could've sworn-"
"Ha ha, very funny Hunter-"
"Oh but I'm not laughing," she said, shining the fakest of smiles and dry chuckles. "You keep it up with the weird shit, and you'll see just how serious I am-"
"Sweetheart, I was just talking to her-"
"No the hell you weren't, you knew damn well she's my girlfriend. You literally saw me kiss her when she came this morning."
Kyra rolled her eyes and huffed out a breath. "Whatever-"
"Damn right, whatever. That shit is childish as hell-"
"Well so is ghosting people, so I really don't see the problem," Kyra spat, and Hunter shook her head, rolling her eyes in frustration. "Besides, she says you're not even that serious with each other, so I don't see why I can't be talking to her," she arched a brow.
Tightening her lips into a thin line, Hunter bit the bottom one while narrowing her eyes at Kyra.
"You know what Kyra, fuck you." She brushed past her and Kyra laughed as Hunter hit her shoulder.
"Already did that, remember?"
Even though she'd trusted Tina, Kyra's words still rang in the back of her head. And given their history, she couldn't help but wonder what'd really gone through her girlfriend's head when talking to Kyra.
~~~~~~~~
Some hours had gone by as the dreamlike night was about to come to an end. Aria and Dylan had been all smiles since arriving at the altar, and everyone had been dancing until they felt themselves about to drop. By now, only a few remained on the dance floor while some mingled at the dinner tables, the beverage table, the stage, and a few were chatting outside.
Aria and Dylan were dancing loosely in each other's arms while Hunter had gone to join Tina in talking to Silas, Kingston, and Ivy. The parents of the couple had managed to gather round the large table and shared stories nonstop. Sade hadn't seen her fiancé in the last half hour and when Hunter pointed out that she'd been away for too long, she'd gone to go look for her.
"Well shit, there you are," she said once finding Lauren at the top of the steps, about to come down. "Where'd you go? I've been looking for you everywhere."
"Just had to take a call, and it was quieter up here," Lauren muttered a brief lie while trying to brush past Sade. "Are people starting to leave or something?"
"Wait, hold on," she grabbed a hold of her arm before Lauren could make it completely past her, then went down two steps so that they'd be face to face. "What's wrong- what happened?"
"Nothing," Lauren exhaled a dry chuckle and shook her head. "I'm good, probably tired is all."
"Lauren-" A peck on the forehead cut off her words before Lauren managed to squeeze past her and head down the stairs.
"Come on, let's get dessert."
Minutes later, they'd joined Hunter, Kingston, and the rest of the group while sitting at a table and talking. The entire time, Sade had been watching Lauren, knowing something was bothering her, and was itching to pry it out of her. She could tell at the stairs that her lover was upset, but didn't understand why she wouldn't tell her about it.
Meanwhile Lauren was mentally pacing back and forth, trying her best to act as normal as possible, though she felt herself losing her mind as each minute passed. She didn't want to be angry, or upset, but it was as if it couldn't be helped. Like those emotions were out of her control and she had no choice but to feel them though she didn't want to, especially not towards Sade.
Was she mad at Sade? No, at least she didn't want to be. But she was upset by what she'd just found out upstairs, that was for sure. And it didn't help that she'd found it on her fiancé's phone no less.
After a while, they'd found themselves saying goodbyes to most of the family and friends that were simply guests. They'd gone upstairs to get everything Aria would need before everyone sent her and Dylan off for the night. And as the other bridesmaids left the room, Sade reached ahead to close the door from behind Lauren before she could follow.
Taking her by the waist, she turned her fiancé to face her and wasted no time to lay a hand under her chin. Even then, as she was now pinned against the door, Lauren couldn't bring herself to meet her gaze.
"You're mad at me," Sade said with knit brows once searching her face. "Why?"
"I'm not-"
"Don't lie to me Lauren," she said, and it caused Lauren to reluctantly drag her eyes up. "Did I do something today to make you upset?" Lauren shook her head and snuck a hand around Sade's waist since she'd drawn her body closer until it was pressed against Lauren's. "But you're upset though..."
Silence fell as Lauren simply rested her head back against the door, unable to give a response without brushing it off, and Sade could tell. Their eyes peered into one another's, and Sade's gaze eventually grew understanding of her fiancé's unspoken words.
Hearing Hunter call both their names from downstairs, she sighed. Lauren trailed her gaze back to the floor.
Sade then grabbed her chin again to peer into her eyes assertively. "We're talking about this when we get to the hotel, alright?" She gave her a quick peck on the lips, which Lauren wasn't even upset enough to reject.
Peeling her off the wall and opening the door, she turned her back around by the hips again, then followed her out of the door. She knew by her gaze that Lauren wasn't exactly upset with her, but that it did have something to do with her. Hence her avoiding eye contact and not excessively touching on Sade like she usually does.
Sade was wary of their conversation, because she hated when either of them were upset with each other, even remotely, and it was rare that they ever were. But she had a feeling that it's probably nothing to worry about, just a conversation needing to be had.
Not too sure about this time though...
~~~~~~~~~~
Whew honey, it's been a while since I've written a chapter this short...
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