Authors: C. L. Rosado
Chapter 20
Ariana
O
h my word, I never expected him to have a ring. Oh my God. I’m getting married. I’m gonna be Mrs. Gentry Sloan.
OMG I have to call Liv.
“Gentry, I have to call Liv, Omg, we should tell your mom. Oh wow, this ring is amazing…”. I take a pic with my phone and send it to Liv.
“We can tell Momma in the morning,” Gentry informs me in a husky voice. Stopping me in my tracks, he makes slow and steady strides towards me. “I have missed you like the moon misses the sun, destined to chase it till the end of time.” When he reaches me, he dips low and takes a hold of the back of my thighs, lifting me while guiding each leg around his waist. The look in his eyes relays unspoken words of need. With a few more steps, he has my back against the wall in the living room. Hands are everywhere as we get reacquainted. I’m a little nervous and excited— Nervous we will yet again be interrupted and excited that maybe we won’t. Kissing away our hunger isn’t gonna work this time, I’m afraid. When Gentry moves from kissing my lips to my neck,
he loves my neck
. I ask a bit breathy,
“Where is Mona?” He pulls back and searches my eyes, almost as if he is trying to figure out where he is.
“ I don’t want you to stop. I just don’t want to be interrupted or embarrassed.” He helps me to get my feet on the ground and takes hold of my hand,
“ This was not the plan for tonight. I have so much I need to say. It can wait. I need you right now.” He drags me along with him up the stairs and to his bedroom. I can’t help the smile that is spread across my face. I would’ve told him days ago I would be his wife if I would have known I would get this impulsive version of my cool, calm, and collective man.
Letting go of my hand and placing his on the small of my back, he ushers me in his room, shutting and locking the door behind him. Gentry had transformed into a man on a mission. He was naked and undressing me with the speed of man, seeking out his last meal. I didn’t care. I was more than ready to be that meal. Sweeping me up once again and laying me on his bed, I was finally back where I had longed to be for three insufferable days. Looking down at me with hooded eyes, he says,
“Kissing you is always a good thing, but this… making love to my soon-to-be-wife is gonna be so much better than that.” Nipping at my ear he says in a hushed tone, “I love the taste of you.”
He made love to me slowly and he cherished me with his every move. I’m not sure that I ever wanted to be without him. I was so worried this part of us would be lacking I don’t even know why though. He was so in-tune with my body and made every touch sizzle on my skin. When we were both satiated, we lay in bed, and he told me about his fear of losing his mom and why he had waited to take it to the next level with me. Then, just to be sure, we went to check on his mom. Once we were sure she was sleeping safe and sound, we head back to Gentry’s room.
Gentry made love to me two more times before we both passed out from exhaustion. I finally felt at peace, like this was real, and I couldn’t wait to be Gentry’s wife.
The next morning we told Eleanor that we are getting married and that we want to do it on September 19th. That gives us exactly one month, and we can do it before Gentry’s birthday. We have a lot to do, Eleanor makes some calls and we sit down and write out a game plan. Liv showed up early this morning to congratulate us and hasn’t left my side. Mona used to own a flower shop in San Antonio and has connections to get flowers. I have a friend in Austin that can be our photographer if she is available so I send her a text. Gentry talks Peck into staying a couple of extra weeks which makes Liv even more ecstatic. We have a our location which is of course the ranch. We just need to find the perfect spot on the ranch to set up. Liv and I make plans to go shopping the following weekend. Man, what a day! When did my life get so stinkin’ exciting? We make a guest list although it’s very small with approximately fifty guests. It’s perfect for me. I don't need a ton of people there, just the important ones. I called Mom and Dad to let know our plans so that they can add the date to their calendar. While I have them on the phone, Gentry asks,
“Can I talk to your dad?”
“Um, yeah, Mom can you put Dad back on?” I ask.
Smiling I hand my phone to Gentry. I can’t wait to hear what he is going to say—but I don’t get a chance because he walks away.
I can already feel the wedding pressure. Now I have to get ready for my session, wishing I had rescheduled it. Gentry and I haven't had a moment alone since we got up, and we won't until this evening, either.
Chapter 21
Gentry
W
ow, my life had changed in the last twenty-four hours in one hell of a drastic way. I was super stoked. Things were finally looking up for the most part.
“Dude, you got something to tell me?” Peck asked.
“No, why?”
“You been walking around all day with a shit eatin’ grin on your face. I know that look, and it can’t possibly be because you’re gettin’ hitched.”
“Sure it is. What the hell do you think it’s from?” Is he for real? Just because he can’t see settling down anytime soon doesn’t mean I can’t.
“Dude, you got laid,” he declares. Oh wow. I hadn’t even considered that being the cause for the high I was currently on, but I guess it was totally part of it.
“Maybe.”
“Dude, you're holding out. I’m gonna have to fly home and catch up before for the wedding. I’m feeling like a monk.” Is he for real? Yes, he for sure is. I’ve not been myself for months, but Peck is used to getting some tail a few times a week, also not good for my cousin.
“Let’s change the subject, ok? I need to run to town. Wanna go?”
We spend a few hours running some errands, and I notice a sign for custom boots. I step inside, and I’m greeted by my buddy Roper from high school. We catch up a bit and I ask him the turn around for a pair of custom boots,
“Oh ‘bout ten or twelve weeks, regularly. When ya need’em?” Roper asks me.
“Well, maybe like the third week of September? Guess that’s out, huh?”
“Nah, not at all. I can do a rush order as long as it’s nothing too intricate for ‘bout seven hundred. What do ya say?”
“I say, you got yourself a deal. I just want a simple inlay that says Mrs.Sloan with 9-19-15 on it, both in baby blue.” I explain everything to him, and he gives me a ticket and says he’ll have them ready by the 4th. Peck and I head into the western store next to see what we can find for Peck and I to wear for the wedding, per Ari and Liv’s instruction but come up empty-handed. Guess the four of us can go shopping together this coming weekend.
The wedding was just weeks away. It’s not like we had time to spare. Momma had been doing well lately, and we asked the home health nurse to attend the wedding. We need her to also take on a few more hours to be with Momma and make sure she rested and didn’t over do it while we were busy getting everything ready. She agreed.
We shopped for clothes, decorations, and the girls made things we couldn't find while shopping. Aunt Claire and Aunt Mona were crafting beasts, so I wasn’t surprised when it came down to rehearsal to see the old hay barn transformed into a country wedding setting. Just off of the back of the house is where the old barn stood. We picked the location so Momma wouldn't have to go too far. Ari was amazing in every way, letting Momma help make decisions and asking her advice about this or that. I’m sure she wished her mom was here to help, but her parents weren't able to be here until the day of.
Tomorrow I was marrying the girl of my dreams. Tonight Peck was making me go to Austin for a bachelors’ night out. It’s not like it was a big fuss because all our friends were back in Florida, so I didn’t see the point, but Liv was making Ari have a Bachelorette party, too but they were staying in town. I didn’t understand why we couldn't go out together and still spend the night away from each other. I think I hated that damn rule worse than any of the other wedding traditions, and I was pretty sure Ari did, too. Some controlling bride or her parents must’ve come up with the no-seeing-each-other-before rule. It sucked nuts. Being without her one night and full day was more than enough to have my craving for her maxed out, for sure.
Chapter 22
Ariana
I
wasn’t sure how we had pulled it off, but we had, Gentry’s aunts, with the help of Liv and myself had made the barn look just like I envisioned. Mason jar chandeliers hung above us on every rafter. Cal and the other ranch hands had fabricated an alter setting that Mona and Claire had decorated with sunflowers and burlap, tying it all in. Perfection. There was no other word.
Liv and I were gonna spend the night together. Apparently Gentry and I couldn’t see each before because of the age old tradition. Liv said it was practically an arranged marriage, and she didn’t want me to change my mind, as if that was gonna happen. I was already plotting how to sneak out of my own house to go see Gentry, and then that punk friend of his informed me that they were spending the night at a hotel in Austin, so no cheating. Oh, I was gonna kick his and my best friend’s asses when this was all over. Ugh.
“Today’s the day. I can’t believe my best friend is about to become my favorite cousin by marriage. I could just scream! How do you feel, soon-to-be-Mrs. Sloan?” Liv has been going on all morning about us being family. I feel like we were always family, but I get it. Who doesn’t want there best friend to marry someone in their family?
“Um… I’m a nervous wreck I still can’t believe this is happening.”
“I know. It’s crazy. When you and Gentry first met, and I said, ‘what if ya’ll got married’, I had no idea that it would be a reality in mere months… You look stunning, by the way.”
“Thanks, I have this awesome friend who helped me find the perfect dress, and she did my hair and make up because she is the best friend in the whole world.” I was wearing a vintage style gown that we found while dress shopping in Austin. It has capped sleeves and a plunging v-neck that stops just above my ribs, showing more than enough skin and leaving little to the imagination. The bodice was covered in delicate lace that flows along the pale blush tulle of the skirt, ending in a soft pool at my feet. My hair is in a up-do with curls cascading down one side. Liv had done an amazing job on it, and my make up. I felt like a princess. I don't remember ever feeling so feminine, bringing me back to the here. Liv says,
“I have something for you.” She is holding a small gift box in her extended hand. “It’s from Eleanor,” she explains.
Without a word, I take the gift and remove the lid. On top of the tissue lining is a note card.
My Dearest Ariana,
Today you will walk down the aisle and marry my son, making me the second happiest woman in the world. You have blessed me with this, something that I would have otherwise only dreamt of. In this box you will find your something old. It has been passed down through my family from generation to generation. Today you become part of that legacy. Thank you for being all that you are.
With all my love,
Eleanor
My eyes wet with tears, I hold the note to my heart. This woman has come into my life and rearranged my heart and soul. I didn’t know what I would do when she was gone.
“Hey, don't cry. You will mess up your make up,” Liv complained, taking the note from me to read while I looked into the gift box. Inside the box was an antique diamond necklace with matching earrings. I turned to my friend and asked,
“Can you help me with these?” She dabs under her eyes and takes the box from me.
“Oh. My. God. Ari these are gorgeous. I’m so jelly.”
There was a knock at the door, and before we had a chance to answer it, my mom was cracking the door and making her way inside.
“Mind if I come in?” Mother asked already fully inside. I smiled and nodded.
“ I was just helping her put this on. Here, I will let you, Pamela. Just do not make her cry, or I will hurt you,” Liv said handing the jewelry to my mother. When the necklace and earrings were in place, I turned to look in the full length mirror. We were in the guest room at the ranch house. All the guests had arrived and waited in the barn.
“Ariana, beautiful girl. You could be on the cover of a bride magazine, and that man of yours… wait until you see him.” I definitely couldn't wait to see him. I haven't had a night without him in the month since he proposed before last night when Liv made me go out and sleep at my own house. Peck took Gentry to Austin, probably to some strip club. I didn’t even wanna know. Pulling me into a tight hug, my mother said her goodbyes.
“I will leave you two beauties to it. I will go get in place Dad’s just outside, waiting for you, honey.”
Once my mom is gone, Liv starts her “Maid of Honor checklist.” “Something old-check; something new-check; something blue-check; Dress-check, hair-check; make up— surprisingly good-check; shoes…. We need to get your boots on, Chica.” Liv helps me get into my wedding boots, a present from Gentry, customized with Mrs.Sloan and our wedding date. They actually double as my something new and something blue. I guess that didn’t matter to her checklist. I have no clue how he got them back so quick, but I’m sure he will let me in on the secret soon enough. My mom gave me her handkerchief to carry for any stray tears.
Liv is stunning as well with her chocolate brown lace dress that stops at her knees. Aunt Mona made mine and Liv’s bouquets with the help of Liv’s mom. They were perfect, filled with my favorite—sunflowers, wrapped in burlap. Once we were out the door, Liv hand me off to my dad and went to let the pastor know it was time.
“Fancy meeting you here,Sir,” I say to my dad.
“Yeah, I was just waiting for my little girl. You haven’t seen a little girl running around here, have you?” He questions.
“Your little girl is all grown up, Dad.” I say, in a hushed voice in order to keep my emotions in check.
“That she has…that she has. You look so beautiful Ari. Your Mom and I are so proud of the woman you’ve become.” he tells me and gives me a long hug. Liv returns and it’s time to go.
“You ready, Pumpkin?” Dad asks, patting my hand. I just nod afraid to speak. God help me make it to Gentry. I’m a mess of nerves.
When I walk through the barn doors and see Gentry waiting for me, I have to say it is the most unbelievable feeling I have ever felt. He looks handsome. I thought he was sexy the first time I ever saw him, but that was no comparison to the man standing before me now in his gray slacks that hug his thick muscular thighs. The cream pearl snap shirt he is wearing is doing wonderful things for his broad shoulders, topped with a brown leather vest and a continental tie. He is easily the hottest southern gentlemen I have ever seen. I have to keep reminding myself to breathe, counting to myself over and over to help. I feel like I am losing my mind. I couldn’t get to him fast enough. I held on tight to my dad’s arm to keep from falling.
The pastor says, “Who gives this woman away?”
“Her mother and I,” is my dad’s reply. He hands me to Gentry, and I take my place in front of him.
We didn’t prepare our own vows. I wasn’t that brave. That was for people who had known and loved each other for years. I assumed, anyways. Gentry and I neither one were good at expressing our feelings, so we opted for the traditional ones.