Page 88 of Season's Schemings
Dallas gives the person the middle finger, then turns his eyes back to the camera. “Anyhow, I made this video for you because, apparently, it’s bad luck for the bride and groom to see each other on their wedding day, which I think is dumb, because these are pre-recorded videos and—”
“Get on with it!”
“Oh-kayyyyy. Jeez. Anyhow, Maddie. My boy Seb was all bummed that you didn’t get a big romantic wedding like you wanted, so we all decided to throw you one. Tonight. Instead of the New Year’s party. Be there or be squa—”
Dallas’s face suddenly disappears and there’s a huge tussle off-screen, coupled with a lot of yelling. I’m still attempting to process what on earth is happening. And then, a new face pops up.
My husband.
The sight of those blue eyes makes my heart leap to my throat.
“Mads.” His voice is soft. “I love you, and I want you to have the romantic wedding you always dreamed of. Tonight seemed like the perfect time to do it… I want to ring in the new year with a celebration of falling in love with you. The guys keep telling me that it’s bad luck if you see me on our wedding day, but I don’t care. We don’t need luck. I already got luckier than I could’ve ever imagined when you became my wife, and now I want you to be my bride, too. So I hope you enjoy every moment of today, and I cannot wait to see you at the altar tonight.”
The video ends, and I look up at Jax in shock. “You knew about this?”
“Briefly.”
“Is this”—I squint at the sign with the swirly lettering above the mint-green door. All my best girl friends are standing, waiting outside—”a wedding dress boutique?”
“Yup.”
I shake my head in absolute wonderment. Sebastian, once again, has gone to every length to make sure that I know he loves me. That I’m cherished.
I’m at a total loss for words, so I just hug my brother. He actually hugs me back.
“Today’s your wedding day, little sister.” Jax’s voice is gruff as he ruffles my hair, and the reality of the moment washes over me. A whole jumble of emotions—excitement and love and anticipation and abject happiness—tangle in my stomach.
“Will you walk me down the aisle?” I ask him, looking up at my brother with a hopeful smile.
“It would be my absolute pleasure.”
His voice cracks slightly on the words. And all at once, I get the sudden and unexpected sense that there may just be hope for his future love life, yet…
“Now, get out there. All those screaming girls are waiting for you.”
So I do. And we have the entire boutique to ourselves, and I feel like I’m in one of those dressing room montages they always show in movies.
My proper, real life, main character Sandra Bullock moment…Finally.
After trying on a few options, I fall in love with a scalloped lace fit n’ flare dress with a dramatic plunging neckline that my mother would hate, but that I love.
Seb’s always said that I have great boobs, and he’s right—the dress fits like a glove and accentuates my curves perfectly. The girls all cheer and hold up signs with “Perfect 10” written on them when I emerge from the fitting room, and I shed a little tear or two when I see my own reflection.
I’m a bride.
Sebastian Slater’s bride.
With the help of my girls, I pick out gorgeous, satin peep toe heels and some teardrop earrings. And when I try to pay for my selections, the lovely store owner assures me that it’s all been taken care of.
A literal dream.
There’s a limo waiting when we get outside, and we’re whisked to a beautiful five-star hotel, where we’re ushered up to a set of grand doors belonging to a suite.
Before we go in, Stef hands me her phone.
This time, it’s Aaron who pops up on the screen. “Hey, Maddie. Uh, I guess, by now, you’ll have your wedding dress… gown? Wait, what’s it called?”
“I dunno, I think either is fine,” I hear Mal say off-screen, right as another voice—which I think is Triple J—yells, “Tell her she better have gotten a cathedral-length veil to go with her dress!”