Chapter 27
Mae
The reception hall was decorated by our mothers and it was lovely. We didn't want anything to over the top, and they followed that idea. I look over and see the cake that Max has made. It's a beautiful strawberry shortcake that is to die for. I have craved these through the who pregnancy, and he made it look so elegant.
Tears flood my eyes as I see all the hard work our friends and family put into this for us. Alex takes my hand and kisses it as he smiles. He knows my emotions are all over the place, and he has been awesome through all of it. Music is playing, and Alex leads me to the dance floor.
This is our first dance ever, and I can't stop the smile that spreads over my face. He twirls me around the dance floor, and I feel like Cinderella at the ball. My prince came and saved me from my dull life.
"You look stunning today," Alex whispers in my ear.
"You don't look so bad yourself. The tux suits you." I say as I lay my head on his shoulder.
We dance for a few more minutes and then sit down to eat. Speeches were made, and embarrassment was given, but we were having a blast. People are up dancing and enjoying themselves. Alex and I are dancing to a slow song when someone taps his shoulder. He turns, and there stands Tanner.
"I only want to talk to her, not cause trouble. I promise. I need closer just as much as she does." Tanner says with a sincere look on his face.
Alex looks at me in question. I know that without a doubt if I said no, that would be the end of it. Alex would keep him away. But, I indeed need closure. I nod, and Alex steps away, giving Tanner the chance to change places.
"I know that you don't want me to ruin your day, and I promise that I'm not here for that. I want to offer my congratulations and tell you that I am truly sorry for all I put you through. You never did anything to deserve being treated that way." Tanner says while looking into my eyes.
"Thank you for saying that," I say, not able to look into his eyes anymore.
"Mae, you were the one great thing to happen in my life, and I was too stupid to see it. I'm not going to try and tare you away from Alex, but know that if I could do it over, I would. You would have been worshiped, like the queen that you are." My eyes snap up to his and see that there is an honesty there that I have never seen before.
"As weird as it sounds, thank you for being a jerk. Otherwise, I never would have met Alex the way that I did. I'm beyond happy, Tanner. I hope that someday you will find that type of happiness too."
We finished the dance and went our separate ways. I felt like a weight had been lifted off my shoulders. I wasn't as hurt as I once was by what he had done, but I felt like I learned some valuable things from it. Plus, it leads me to the amazing man who is now smiling at me, waiting to cut the cake.
He stands there grinning like an idiot, holding the knife to cut the cake. I walk over and join him, and we cut the cake and smile for pictures. When the time comes to eat it, we both have that evil glint in our eyes.
By the end, there is cake everywhere, and people are dying laughing. Alex has cake all over his face and in his hair. I have it all over my face, hair, and chest. Our mothers prepared and took us to get cleaned up. They knew that this would happen is all we heard for the next ten minutes.
The time came for the garter toss. The music turned to a sexy number as Alex danced around me. I, of course, am laughing until tears come out at his antics. He suddenly dives under my dress, and I feel his hands everywhere.
There is no shame in him whatsoever. He kisses up my legs and takes his time. He reaches the garter and pulls it down with his teeth. As he finally emerges from under my dress, I hear him gasp as he reads the garter.
He looks up at me with a blush that I never thought possible on him. My smile most likely looks like it could break my face at how big it is. He shakes his head and looks at his sister, who is laughing. He tosses it, and Declan catches it.
"What in the world does this mean?" He screams, and all the girls laugh.
Alex walks over and explains it to the guys, and I can see them all look over at me and then back at him. Eyebrows rise in confusion until the end. Most of them bust out laughing while others still look confused. When it came time to throw the bouquet I was laughing at all the single ladies trying their hardest to catch it. Erica was the lucky girl. Tom smiled at her lovingly, and I feel great joy in knowing she's happy.
The party continues, and after a while, I feel tired. Alex wraps his arms around me, and I can feel that he is starting to slow down as well. The last twenty-four hours have taken a toll on us both. I look into his eyes silently telling him that I'm ready to go.
Everyone tells us their goodbyes and blows bubbles as we walk away. We are headed back to the hotel for the night. We have decided to put off a honeymoon until after the baby is born and a little older. All we care about is being together.
After everything that happened last night, we are going to need to find another house. As strong as I may think I am, I can't forget what happened there. I don't want to spend my life worried that someone may be around the corner waiting to hurt me.
"Where is my beautiful wife's head right now?" I hear Alex whisper in my ear.
I had been sitting on the edge of the bed since we walked into the room. I guess that with everything going on today and last night, I hadn't stopped and thought about what happens next. I was too concerned with making sure that she didn't ruin the happiest day of my life that, I pushed everything off until now.
"I was realizing, now that the wedding is over, I'm going to have to process last night. I don't want to go back to living in that house. I'm sorry I know that it was your house that you bought, but I don't want to live in fear there." I whisper, praying that he'll understand and not think that I'm being ridiculous. He pulls my face up to look into his eyes.
"I already called a realtor this morning while you and the girls were getting ready. Monday morning, we are going house hunting. Being the tightwad that I was, I can buy a house Monday and be in there by Wednesday. This time we will get what we want, not just me. You can pick all the furniture and decorations and all that stuff." He smiles and pecks my mouth.
"I suck at decorating." I pout.
"Then we can get someone to do it for us." I make a face. "Or someone to help you make it something we would like." He chuckles.
"How do you always know how to make things perfect and safe for me?" I ask.
"Because I was made to love you, Baby! And right now, I'm going to help you get out of this insane dress. Which doesn't look comfortable at all." I giggle at the silly voice he is using. "Then I am going to seduce you and rock your world."
I start giggling more, and I know that he is up to something funny by the way that he is acting. We love each other to the very bottom of our souls, but we still love to have fun with each other. I giggle some more at his antics of trying to get me out of my dress.
"Now, that I finally got you out of that thing, I have just what the doctor ordered. You're tired and overwhelmed with all that has happened the last two days. I have the thing that you desperately need." He says with a wicked grin.
"And just what is it that I need?" I ask with a smile on my face.
" A hot beef injection from yours truly."