Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven

Chapter Two Hundred and Thirty-Seven
Rose

I spent today watching my best friend get married. It has been the perfect day. She has never looked so happy. I couldn’t believe she was married now, but I am so happy for her. She loves Tanner with every part of her being, and he feels the exact same. Remi looked absolutely stunning in her dress. Tanner looked very handsome. He cried the second his eyes fell on her. 

Remi and Tanner are mingling with guests at their reception. I have never seen my friend prouder than when the words, “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” were spoken. She is officially a Blakely, and soon enough, I will be too, and we will be sisters-in-law! 

I am taking a breather for a moment. It has been a great day, but tiring. I wanted to make sure everything was perfect for Remi. Jayce is talking with some relatives whom he already introduced to me. I am fine sitting by myself for a bit. I spot Penelope coming towards me, smiling. 

“Hey, sweetie, are you okay?” 

“I am fine, taking a minute.” I reach for my wine to take a sip and offer her some. 

“No, thank you,” she says. 

I nod, setting it down on the table. “Today has been perfect. I am so happy for them.”

“Me too. I love that I married Joshua, but seeing all this makes me wish we had done it right.” She sighs. 

“You still can.” I smile. 

“Oh, we won’t be able to, not any time soon.” 

“Why not?” I ask. 

Penelope turns to me, smiling. “Can I tell you something?” 

I nod. “Of course.” 

“But it’s a secret. No one else can know, not right now, especially Remi, because it is her day. I don’t want to get in the way of that.” 

“Is everything okay, Penelope? Is everything okay with you and Joshua?” I ask, hoping nothing is wrong between them. 

She laughs. “Yes, we are fine.” 

I relax. Whatever she wants to tell me can’t be a bad thing. Thank God, I would hate to see them fall apart with everything they have been through to get here.

“Thank God, so what is going on?” I ask with a smile. 

She looks around to make sure there is no one in earshot and leans in closer to me. “I am pregnant. Joshua and I are going to have a baby. We only found out a couple of weeks ago. No one else knows, but I have to tell someone before I blurt it out in front of everyone.” 

“Oh my god, you are. Congratulations! I am so happy for you.” I gush in a toned voice and hug her quickly, not wanting to make anyone suspicious.”

“Thank you, we are excited. We will tell everyone soon, but I couldn’t wait. I know I can trust you not to say anything.” 

“I promise your secret is safe with me.” I grin and pat her knee. 

I thought they would be the first to start a family. I really am so happy for them. Jayce, Tate and Tanner are going to be so excited when they find out they are going to be uncles. I can’t wait to be the little ones’ aunt. It will be spoiled by all its aunts and uncles. 

“Thank you. Are you ready to join everyone else, or do you still need a moment?” she asks. 

“I am ready to join everyone else.” 

I stand and offer my hand to Penelope to help her to her feet. We head to the table where we are all sitting. Most people are still away from it. Everyone will return soon enough. 


Remi and I are outside, enjoying the cool air under the stars. She needed a moment of not talking, dancing and taking photos, so we sneaked out here with a bottle of champagne. Tanner caught us, but helped us sneak by everyone else. He understood his wife was a little overwhelmed. 

“How does it feel being someone’s wife now?” I ask, taking a drink from the bottle and handing it to her. 

“I love it! Today has been amazing. I can’t wait to get my husband alone and have my wicked way with him.” She giggles, taking a mouthful. 

“Yes, first time as husband and wife.” 

A smirk curls on her lips. “Who said it would be the first time?”

“What? When?” I laugh. 

“Between the ceremony and the receptionist in one of the free rooms. We nearly got caught.”

I shake my head. I am not surprised by their doing that. “You are so naughty.” 

“I know, and my husband loves that. Wow, husband, that will take some time to get used to.” 

“It will, but I am so happy for you, Remi. I have never seen you happier or look more beautiful than you did today.” 

“Thank. Thank you for everything. You had a huge part of what made the day perfect, Rose. You made sure everything was perfect, and I was taken care of. I will always be grateful for that. You are the best friend a girl could ask for, and I am so happy you were here today.” She gushes, side hugging me. 

“I will always be here, Remi.” 

“I know you will. I plan on doing the same for you. Not long until it’s your turn.”

“I know you will. No, not long at all, but today is about you and Tanner.” 

“We will be sisters-in-law. I am excited for that.” 

“Me too! Even though you have always been a sister to me, Remi.” 

“Yes, same. I love you, Rose. Thank you for coming to the club with me that night. It was where everything started.” 

“Yes, one night, and it changed everything. Fate really does have a funny way of working. I love you too, Remi.” 

She rests her head on my shoulder, and we enjoy the cool air and the silence. We will need to head back inside soon before people come looking for us. I will stay out here with her as long as she needs me. The reception finishes in about an hour. Remi will be eager to get her new husband back to the hotel room. Tanner is going to love it because she bought him something special for tonight.

“We should head back in,” she says after a few minutes. 

“Good idea. I am sure your husband will be waiting for you to return.” 

“And your husband-to-be will be pouting because you have left him alone.” She snickers.

“Probably. He is so needy.” I laugh. 

Remi nods in agreement. “He really is. He is so whipped for you,” she smirks. 

“Just how I like it.” I wink.

We finish off the bottle of champagne and stroll inside to join everyone else. The second Tanner sees her, the biggest smile rises on his face, and he comes rushing over, taking her to the dancefloor for a dance. He is completely smitten. 

I make my way over to Jayce. “Hey.” 

“There you are, where did you go?” he pouts, pulling me into his chest. 

“I was outside with Remi. She needs a minute. Did you miss me?” 

He nods and dips down to kiss me softly. “Is she okay? And yes, I always miss you.”

“Yes, she is fine. Just needs a breather from talking and photos. I missed you, too. Would you like to dance with me?” I ask, offering him my hand. 

I haven’t been gone that long, maybe twenty minutes. You would think I was gone for days. 

We have only had a chance to dance once. He nods, takes it and leads me to the dancefloor to join everyone else. He pulls me closer, and I wrap my arms around his neck, resting my head against him. I smile as we sway softly to the music. 

“I can’t wait to have our first dance.” He whispers. 

“Me too,” I reply. 

Silence comes between us. It will be our turn in less than two months. I hope it goes as perfectly as today did. I don’t want to be stressed out on my wedding day. Everyone who was invited is coming, which surprised us. It will come around soon enough. But for now, it is Remi and Tanner’s night. 

Jayce and I are flying out to Scotland a week before our wedding, but we are booked into a hotel because our wedding venue doesn’t have any rooms for the week before. We want to make sure everything is as it should be, but we also want some downtime before our wedding. Everyone else will arrive two days before the wedding, so we can have a rehearsal. It gives everyone a chance to see Loch Lomond, too. I am sure everyone who hasn’t been will fall in love with it just as we did.