I Thee Wed (Wedding Dreams) (21 page)

I pull up to the apartment
building and take a deep breath to settle my nerves. I know I need to calm down
and not come off too strong.
I will not fuck this up.
I walk to Lily’s
apartment and knock on the door. When she answers, my knees nearly buckle. She
is so beautiful. Her eyes are slightly red, I’m sure from crying, but she looks
beautiful to me. She smiles shyly and moves back, so I can enter the apartment.
I have to taste her, so I give her a kiss that turns passionate as soon as we
touch, which gives me hope that Lily is ready to forgive and move on from this.
It’s all I can do not to throw the food on the floor and carry her to bed.

“Lily, I am so sorry. You have to
know Brandy means absolutely nothing to me. In fact, she’s less than nothing,”
I start to explain in between kisses.

“I know, Drew. I just freaked out
and thought this was going to end like all my other so-called relationships. I
didn’t want you to be that guy, too.” Her eyes start to fill with tears. I
don’t think I can handle it if she cries.

“Let’s eat and talk. I think
there’s a lot we need to say to each other, but you need to eat. I’m guessing
you were picking up your lunch earlier but didn’t eat.

“You’re right. I’m hungry and the
food smells so good.”

Once the food is spread out and
Lily has taken a couple bites, I decide to tell her how I feel about her. 

“Lily, I think you need to know
something about me.” She looks up with a confused look on her face. It’s
probably wrong that I think she looks adorable, but I have to calm her down.

“I told you about Jackie, right?”
She nods and looks worried. “Well, I thought I loved her. I thought I wanted to
spend my life with her. But what I felt for her is nothing like what I feel for
you. Just the thought of you not wanting to be with me nearly tore my heart out
today.” She looks at her plate and doesn’t say anything. I really need to know
what she’s thinking before I say the next thing I want her to know.

“Hey, what’s going on in that
pretty head of yours? Please talk to me, Lily.” I put my hand on hers and
squeeze it.

“I thought you didn’t want me
anymore, Drew. I assumed you were in this for appearances and to make your
mother happy, and that my feelings didn’t matter. I was devastated and I didn’t
know what I was going to do.” A tear falls from her eye and I brush it away
quickly. I don’t want her to be upset anymore. I know what I have to do.

“Lily, there’s no other woman for
me. I want
you
. I love
you
. I want to legally marry you and have
you in my life until the day I die. I know it’s fast, but I can’t help how I
feel. I love having you in my home, and I love being with you.” I slip down on
one knee and take her hand. “Will you marry me for real, Lily?”

She’s staring at me. She isn’t
moving or saying anything. I’m not sure if she’s breathing. What’s she
thinking? I can’t tell, but I’m sure as hell not getting up until she answers
me. I give her a smile and try to communicate with my facial expression that I
need an answer.

She takes a breath and closes her
eyes. I see the tears just as they fall down her cheeks. The wait is killing
me.

“Drew, I love you, too. I don’t
know how it happened, but you’ve become the most important person in my world. Yes.
Yes, I will marry you for real.” She smiles and I can’t help but pick her up
and pull her off the chair and into my arms.

“You have no idea how happy I am
right now, Lily. Oh my God, I thought you were going to say no. What a relief!”
I’m laughing and so is she. I stop and look in her eyes. “I love you, Lily.”

“I love you too, Drew.” She
breaks into a smile that melts my heart. I know I’ll do anything to get her to
smile like that forever.

“So, you will marry me for real
on Sunday?”

“I would, Drew, but I
can’t.” 

Now I’m confused. She just said
she’d marry me and now she says she can’t. What the fuck is going on? I start
to ask but she puts her finger on my lips.

“I can’t because there’s a
three-day waiting period on marriage licenses. If we apply for the license
tomorrow, it won’t be processed until Monday.”

“Oh, I guess a wedding planner
would know these things, huh?” I can’t help the relief I feel knowing it’s a
state law that’s stopping us, not Lily.

“Well, we’ll just have to figure
something else out. Don’t worry; I’ll take care of everything. I’m just so
happy you love me, Lily.
Really.
I’m the happiest man
on the planet right now.”

“Since you came into my life,
nothing has been the same. It’s been so much better than I ever thought
possible. I do love you, Drew. Thank you for making my dreams
come
true.”

The only response is to kiss her
senseless. So I do.

Chapter
18

Drew

When I get to work on Friday
morning, I know it’s going to be hard to concentrate. I still can’t believe Lily
loves me back. I hope to get my work done before lunch, so I can spend the rest
of the day planning a surprise wedding in Hawaii for Lily. I want it to be
perfect, and something she won’t forget. There’s a vase of flowers on my desk.
Did Lily send them to me? The thought puts a smile on my face as I reach for
the card.

I’m so glad we got a chance to
reconnect. I hope I can see you again soon. Love, Brandy
. What the fuck?
This bitch is seriously crazy. I throw them in Kelly’s trash can. I know she’ll
ask me about it, but I don’t care. Then it occurs to me Kelly might have told
Brandy where I was having lunch yesterday. Would she really do that to me? I
have to find out. I take the flowers out of Kelly’s trash and put them in the
one under my desk.

It’s about nine-thirty when Kelly
enters my office. “Where are your flowers, Drew? I put them in here last night
before I went home.”

“I don’t have any idea what
you’re talking about, Kelly. There weren’t any flowers in here this morning.” I
look her in the eye and she starts looking around my office, avoiding eye
contact with me.

“There was an arrangement of
roses on your desk. I can’t believe they’re gone. She’s going to be so upset.”

“Who’s going to be upset? Did
Lily send me flowers?” Kelly is still looking around my office.

“No, Brandy sent you flowers
after seeing you at lunch yesterday. Where did they go?”

Now I’ve got her. “Brandy saw me
at lunch yesterday? I didn’t see her. What are you talking about, Kelly?”

She stops looking around and
turns to me. “Of course you did, Drew. She said she found you at Callahan’s and
you guys kissed. Why are you lying to me?”

“How did Brandy know I was going
to be at Callahan’s?”

“She called yesterday morning and
asked if you were busy for lunch. I told her you had a meeting at Callahan’s.
She wanted to talk to you about something.”

“Kelly, you are aware I’m getting
married to Lily this weekend, and you’re also aware I have no interest in
Brandy at all, right?”

“Oh, Drew. Lily is no good for
you. Brandy can give you everything you want. She’s the total package.”

I know it’s wrong to hit a woman,
but I really want to. I can’t believe Kelly is trying to undermine me. I’m
going to have to find a new assistant because I won’t have someone working for
me that I can’t trust. I’ll ask the partners to have her
reassigned .
 . .
or fired.

“Kelly, I want you to understand
something. My personal life is none of your fucking business. You do not get to
decide who I date or marry. You do not get to manipulate my schedule to fit you
or your friends’ needs. You do not tell people where I’m having lunch or
meetings. And, most importantly, you do not talk about Lily!” By now I’m
shouting but I really don’t care. She has seriously crossed a line.

“Okay, Drew. Sorry.” She looks
anything but sorry.

“Get out, Kelly. Get out of my
office. I’m going to talk with the partners about having you reassigned. I
don’t need you messing with my life anymore.”

“Please, Drew, don’t do that. I’m
sorry. I won’t mess with your life again. Please don’t let them move me. I
promise to be good.” She’s begging now. It’s pathetic.

“I don’t believe you. I can’t
trust you anymore and I can’t work with someone I don’t trust. Go back to your
desk, Kelly, and start packing.” She starts to cry as she walks out of my
office. I shut the door and pick up the phone to call Mr.
Clausman’s
secretary.

*
* *

After talking with the partners,
Kelly is reassigned to the secretarial pool. She’s lucky she still has a job
after what she did. Mr.
Clausman
agreed I could hire
a new assistant when I returned from my vacation, and while I’m gone his
assistant will keep an eye on my work.

I spend the afternoon on the
internet researching Hawaiian honeymoon packages. I had a resort picked out but
it doesn’t offer wedding services. I find one that does and it looks beautiful.
It’s right on the beach and some rooms have their own balcony looking out over
the ocean. It’s the perfect setting for our wedding—and honeymoon—and I’m sure
Lily will love it. I also find the information about Hawaiian marriage licenses
and there’s no waiting period in Hawaii. We can get our license and get married
in the same day. This is going to be perfect.

I leave work early and go by the
jewelry store to pick up our rings. Travis is there when I walk in.

“Hey, Drew! This weekend is the
big day, right?”

“Yep, Travis.
This is it. Are
the rings ready?”

“They are, let me get them for
you. Take a look around and I’ll be right back.” I glance in the cases and see
a beautiful diamond necklace. The pendant is round and there’s an intricate
design inside. It’s gorgeous, and I’m sure Travis designed it. When he comes
back I ask him about it.

“Yeah, that’s one of my
originals. It’s a total of 5.5 carats, set in white gold. I’m pretty proud of
that one. Are you interested?”

“I think it would look great on
Lily.
How much?”

“For you, since you’re such a
good customer, fifty grand.”

“Done.
If you could
gift wrap it, I’ll be back shortly to pick everything up. I have to run next
door.”

“Sure thing, friend, I’ll see you
shortly.”

I go to the florist. I want to
bring Lily some flowers tonight. I get three roses: one pink, one white, and
one red. I ask that they be wrapped simply in tissue paper. Then I head back to
pick up the jewelry.

“Congratulations, man. It’s great
to see you so happy. I wish you all the best.”

“Thanks, Travis. I appreciate
it.” This is going to be the best weekend of my life.

*
* *

Lily

When I walk in the door at
Wedding Dreams, Sierra is already there. This has got to be a first. She never
beats me to work. She’s also never smiling this early in the morning.

“Good morning, Lily. We have a
lot to do today so I thought we should get started early. I have coffee for you
and a list of what we need to get done for the bridal shower tomorrow and for
your wedding on Sunday. Please sit down and we’ll go over everything.”

What the fuck is that?
Is Sierra
seriously acting like she’s in charge? I smile and take the coffee, sitting at
my desk like she asked. I stay silent and wait to see what else she says. I’m
sure the next thing will be to find out what she needs to do. 

“When they open, I’ll contact the
bakery and make sure the cupcakes are ready for the shower tomorrow. I already
confirmed the flowers and they’ll be delivered in the morning. When we get to
the maid of honor’s house, we’ll set up the gift table and games. Otherwise, I
think it’s ready to go.”

I can’t help but stare at Sierra.
When did this happen? She’s calm, collected, and confident; three things I
never expected from her.

“Yes, it sounds like you have it
under control. Just remember when you talk with the bakery to remind them they
need to set the cupcakes up on square cupcake stands. The bride doesn’t want
traditional round ones.”

“I’ve got that here in my notes.
Now, let’s talk about your wedding. I’ll pick up your dress from the cleaner
today. I got your mother’s dress yesterday. Do you have shoes?”

“I do have shoes. They’re in the
back on the top shelf.”

“Okay. Who’s doing your hair?”

“I just thought I’d do it myself.
It’s not that hard.”

“Absolutely not!
A bride should
be pampered and taken care of on her wedding day. I’ll call Jimmie and have him
come to the house that morning. We’ll do your makeup, too. Perhaps Max will be
able to swing by and give you a quick massage.”

“Sierra, that’s just crazy.
There’s no
need .
 . .”

“Shut up, Lily. Just stop it. You
know you’d suggest this to any bride that walked in that door. Why should you
be any different? Let me take care of this, and you just enjoy. You deserve the
full package on your special day, and I know Drew wants you to be pampered.”