I glance over at Cruz, who appears to be in good spirits. I’m glad he didn’t pull a dramatic move like stopping the wedding. You never know what someone may do if they’re still in love with a person they can’t have.
The newlyweds hold hands to walk down the small aisle. The wedding is being held in the same vineyard we went to last night. Only this time, the table is set outside in the large open area which overlooks the winery. Fairy lights line the wooden planks above the outdoor area everywhere you look. They’re mixed and wrapped around the vines, which hang to create an inviting ambiance. It’s crazy pretty and if I admit to myself, romantic to the point I actually miss having a boyfriend.
The sun is soon to set, but everyone makes their way to the pre-drinks area before dinner is served.
“Thank God that went off without any trouble.” Eric lets out a relieved sigh beside me. His Fendi suit is also pale blue, matching our dresses. “You never know what can happen.”
“Nothing was going to happen,” I tell him while side-eyeing Ava. “Masen and Addy love each other.”
“Excuse me?” Eric raises his tone with a serious expression. “Are we forgetting about the complicated besties love triangle saga?”
“There was no saga,” Ava drags. “There was a misunderstanding, or perhaps mixed feelings. A saga would refer to a long dramatic love affair like—”
“Lex and Charlie,” Eric interrupts.
Mom stops walking and turns to face us. “Hey, what did you say about me?”
Eric puts on a fake smile. “Oh, nothing, doll. Just reminiscing about your wondrous love story.”
Annoyed, Mom purses her lips and then turns back around to ignore Eric.
“Phew,” Eric whispers. “Don’t rile the beast. She’s got her period and is pissed she can’t fuck Daddy in the big château.
Ava and I groan in unison, and then my hand reaches out to slap his arm. “I need therapy now. Don’t ever say the D word again.”
Eric raises his brows, then lets out an obnoxious laugh. “Honey, a leopard can’t change its spots.”
“The leopard can learn to at least shut its goddamn mouth,” Ava reprimands.
My eyes shift to Addy, who finishes talking to Aunt Adriana. Quickly excusing myself with a desperate need to forget about Eric’s loose mouth, I make my way over and give her the biggest of hugs.
“I can’t believe you did it!”
Addy raises her hand to show off her gorgeous diamond wedding band, waving it proudly. “I’m a wife!”
“So, Addison Cooper, huh? Or are you going to copy Millie and Ava? Do the whole Edwards hyphenated thing as well?”
“Kinda hard since Masen’s name is technically Masen Malone-Cooper,” Addy informs me. “That would make me Addison Edwards Malone-Cooper.”
Masen wraps his arms around Addy, then gently places his lips on her shoulder to leave a soft kiss. I’m not a romantic person by nature, but that right there was a romantic move.
I take a deep breath, my mind drifting back to the times I’d spent with Cole. It wasn’t long ago, months even, but it sure felt like a lifetime.
When we first started flirting in class, it was the thrill of the chase. Every girl wanted him, but he had his eyes set on me. It went on for weeks at the beginning of my senior year until he finally asked me out.
It wasn’t long before things got hot and heavy. Cole wasn’t a virgin, but I was. I tried to wait as long as possible, but things got more intense each time we were alone. He always wanted more, and my body started to feel the same. The first time we had sex, it wasn’t great. Uncomfortable, actually. He promised me it would get better, and it did as time went on.
I guess it was just hard to juggle his demands as well as school, plus a controlling father.
It’s not like Cole wasn’t romantic at times. He did have a good side to him. Things just moved too fast and too soon.
Then, I found out I was pregnant.
“Alexa,” my name is called by Aunt Adriana. “Away with the fairies?”
“Huh, is that another old person saying?”
Aunt Adriana presses her lips together with a judging stare. “I’m not old. I’ll have you know I’m still as active as the day I turned twenty-one. Though, maybe a sore lower back, but who doesn’t have a sore back these days?”