Chasing Stars (36 page)

The guests form a line and exhaustion creeps on my bones. I have been up since five helping to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner and doing last-minute things for Saturday’s wedding. But I smile as we serve the Thanksgiving dinner. Surrounding me are my best friends, Will’s family, and Will—and I am giving the sweat off my brow for a noble cause. Maybe, not sweat, but you know what I mean. So yeah, I’m terribly—and unusually—happy.

Two hours and three thousand scoops of mashed potatoes later, we are released from our duties.

The crowd has thinned out, so we sit at an empty table. Maritza serves us our dinner. After eating, we decide as a group, to go back to Dan and Maritza’s place and hang out for a while.

Mel declines to join us, claiming her back is in excruciating pain. I don’t doubt she is uncomfortable. She has become huge. But, I think there is different reason. Throughout the afternoon, Tarry stared at her with his sexy, seductive silver-gray eyes. I am furious. She is married, and very pregnant. What a man whore he is. I make a mental note to tell him at my next opportunity to back off.

At home, I crash on the couch. “I’m beat. I won’t complain about my filming schedule anymore. This volunteering is brutal.”

“Oh, baby, you did great,” Will chuckles. “I loved when people stared, unsure if you really were you.” He collapses next to me and drapes his arm around my shoulders, pulling me closer to him.

“Did you see that teenager sighing at the sight of Tarry? I guess taking a picture with him will get her points for popularity at school.”

“I gotta say, man, I kind of liked serving those people. I have volunteered before, but this felt real, y’know?” Tarry sinks on the other couch and pulls Niki to his lap.

“Well, we’ve been doing this long enough and it never gets old.” Lucas lounges on the couch beside me.

“So, Lucas, is everything ready for Tarry to crash at your place?” Will asks.

“Yeah, I am off to work at eleven, though. Sorry, man,” Lucas says.

“No prob. I am cool. Ditching the hotel will help keep a low profile, so Miss Movie Star here can have a private wedding.” He grins at me, warming my heart.

“I am so happy, that not even paparazzi could ruin my day,” I say.

“Dude, according to the news, the reason you canceled the sold-out show in Copenhagen, Denmark, was to go into rehab after overdosing,” Lucas says to Tarry.

“Yeah, sweet, huh.” Tarry laughs. “My publicist released a statement declining to comment,” he chuckles and shrugs, the irony of the statement is not lost. “We didn’t want to raise any speculation of my whereabouts.”

“Unbelievable how the media works,” Lucas utters.

“Yeah, we can use some of the distorted tidbits and manipulate it in our favor. That’s how it works, man,” Tarry turns to me and asks, “Is Stefan coming?”

“Oh yeah, Marina, Stefan, and Chloe will be here tomorrow at noon. They had a hard time finding last-minute tickets.” I say, reclining against Will.

“Tell me about it, I almost had to charter a jet to get here,” Tarry says.

“Yeah, I was about to do charter one for Stefan when he found tickets. I could never get married without you guys and him here.” I glance at Tarry, and he stares at me with his sad, lonely eyes.

“I would not miss it for the world, darling.” He smiles at me.

Niki yawns and I soon follow her.

“Are you tired, baby?” Will’s arm is around my waist and he pulls me into his lap.

“Dead tired.”

“Go to bed, peaches. I am going to Lucas’s place. I’m beat from the flight and all the manual labor you put me through.” Tarry lifts Niki from his lap and stands up.

“Come for breakfast tomorrow morning.” I stand up and embrace Tarry.

“I will drive him, after my shift. Tell Aunt Iza to make me some tacos.”

“Christ, Lucas, how can you think of food, after all we ate?” Will teases him.

“Gotta replenish the body, man.” He flexes his biceps. “Good night, beautiful bride.” He gives me a bear hug. “And remember, there is still time for you to change your mind and trade-in Will for a better looking member of this family.” Will shoves him away and possessively grabs at my waist.

“Back off, man.” Will sneers, but is unable to stifle his smile.

“Nah, I am good, Lucas.” I grin.

“Suit yourself.” Lucas kisses Niki, who turns pink.“Get some rest. Saturday we need to put a checkmark on that list.” Tarry grimaces. “What is it called again?”

“Shut up!” Niki smacks his arm.

“Hey, you picked the name, Nillie,” he laughs.

“Go away, Tarry,” Niki says, jokingly.

“See you guys tomorrow.” Tarry smiles and I notice something is off with him.

The red door in front of me pulses with life. My fingers, wrapped around my bouquet of white lilac, tremble. I don’t remember being as nervous as today, not even when I dined with our Commander in Chief and the First Lady.

“You look out of a dream,” Niki murmurs beside me.

“Is Will inside?” I ask in a shaky voice.

“Of course he is, peaches.” Tarry, so handsome in his black tuxedo, cups my face. “The poor man is nervous as hell.” He kisses my lips. “You’ve never been so beautiful, and I’ve never been happier for you.” His eyes pierce through me, reaching inside my soul. He is as lost as I once was. Though he is genuinely happy for me, I know him too well to sense a deep sadness seeping through him.

“Ready?” Mel glances at me.

“Yes.” I draw in a deep breath.

I hear the organ, and nervously wait. I step to the side waiting as Tarry and Niki go in first, followed by Lucas and Mel.

The red door is closed as I stand waiting expectantly to go in. Closing my eyes, I inhale again, and try to calm my tangled nerves. My legs are shaking and my heart gallops so fast it feels ready to take flight at any minute.

A sharp pain grips my heart as I think of Dad. I wish so badly he was here. I decided against inviting him to walk me down the aisle. I am not ready to forgive him, nor am I ready to hear him refusing to be part of such a special day in my life. To my surprise, there is no regret, but it hurts like hell. I won’t dwell on it. My life with Will is all I want to think.

“Over the Rainbow,” performed by IZ, wafts my way. Tears burn my eyes, but I suppress them. There is no way I will ruin my makeup. The door swings open, and my stomach turns somersaults.

The soft fragrance of white roses permeates the church, providing me with a fragrant invitation. Candles glimmer in the air, tinting it golden. Anticipation pools in the pit of my belly. Seized by an overwhelming desire to be near Will, I take the first step that leads me toward the man I love.

My eyes glance quickly through the church. The few guests stand, their eyes fixed on me. Stefan and Marina dab tears from their eyes. Dan grins from the pulpit, and Maritza cries intensely on the first row.

But my eyes are instinctively drawn to the tall figure of Will. I run my tongue across my lips, and smile. His hands sweep along his thighs. He is nervous. His warm gaze, filled with promises, captures mine. An expression of adoration fills his eyes, slowly melting my insides and pulling me his way. I am utterly lost to all that surrounds us. With new confidence, I stride down the aisle, knowing that my gypsy days are over. With Will, my heart has finally found a home.

For a moment, I forget to breathe and I forget where I am. Hell, I forget my own name. The exquisite beauty of Portia enthralls me.

Mystified, I watch as Portia floats down the aisle. Grace surrounds her and Botticelli’s Venus pales before her splendor. I am certain that no mortal has ever embodied beauty as fully as has the woman walking my way. The lovely white gown molds her body perfectly and a veil flows around her. I hear my heart thudding as I wait patiently for her to come to me.

Heaven and earth align the moment she takes my outstretched hand. Our fingers intertwine, speaking an ancient language of love and surrender. She offers me a slow, sensual smile. I grin back at her and we turn to face Dan.

I have an extremely hard time focusing on Dan’s words and I wonder if other grooms have had the same problem. My whole being is tuned to Portia. Her hands tremble, and I gently squeeze her fingers in reassurance. She glances at me and I wonder if anyone has ever adored his bride as wholly as I do Portia.

The ceremony is heartwarming and beautiful. But, in all honesty, all I can think is that in a short time, Portia and I will be alone…

I will never tell Dan this, but I find his ceremony long, excruciatingly long. My eyes wander from him to Portia. In a haze, I repeat the traditional vows and her pure voice tugs at my heart when she says her vows.

“Portia, you have selected a personal vow for Will?” Dan asks.

Surprised, I turn to Portia. Her deep stare seizes mine. She is teary, and my insides clench. I bite my lip, and do my hardest not to cry. Her face is translucent. I can see deep into her clear blue eyes that she loves me wholeheartedly.

Portia clears her throat, and her crystal voice permeates the silent church.

“Will, in the words of Ruth, ‘Entreat me not to leave thee, and to return from following after thee, for whither thou goest, I will go; and where thou lodgest, I will lodge; thy people shall be my people, and thy God my God.’”

Unable to contain myself, my hands cup Portia’s face, and I kiss her trembling lips.

“Wait, son, I didn’t get to the kissing part yet,” Dan says, and laughter resonates through the church.