Wedding Day

Wedding Day
The next morning, Mason groaned as he slammed his hand down on his phone, grumbling irritably as he missed the button to shut the alarm off. I smiled as I danced my way across the room to shut the alarm off for him before taking his hand and placing it on my breast. He groaned again, but this time the frustration in his voice was for a very different reason. He turned his head to look at me with a boyish grin on his face.

“Now this is an alarm I’d always be happy to wake up to,” he told me, making me giggle a little as he shifted his hand to cup my breast.

I sat on the bed next to him and ran my fingers through his hair. “Good morning, Mason.”

“Good morning, my love. How did you sleep?” he asked softly.

“Not at all. Lauren is really struggling.”

He tugged me down beside him, wrapping his arms around me. “I know. We really have to figure out a way to get her and Caleb together. I gave her his card and she put it into her desk drawer. I don't know how else to encourage her to go to the support group without seeming like I’m pushing her.”

“Hmmm, she seems like she is really trying to fight how she’s feeling. I’ll try to convince her. She’s already seen a little of the life that she could have, and she’s completely drowning in the fear that she’ll never have it. We have to convince her that she is going to find her happily ever after. Hopefully with Caleb. Hell, from what I’ve heard about him from Maddie, he’s the kind of the man that Lauren would want to keep around. Or one that would chase her until she’s too tired to fight him.”

He nodded as he closed the distance between our lips. “You’re a good sister, Little Bunny, even though she treated you like shit.”

“It seemed like that, but I knew that there was something deeper going on with her. She never treats me like that. I just wasn’t in the mood to care about her emotions when mine were just as chaotic as hers. Now that mine aren’t so crazy, I can care about what she wants, thinks, and how she feels.”

“Oh? Are you saying your emotions aren’t so crazy?” he teased gently.

I swatted at his arm. “You get on my nerves! I swear, it’s like you think I like you or something.”

He chuckled softly as he pecked my lips. “Okay. What’s the plan for today? Run it by me again.”

“You’re going to go to work, and I’m going to decorate Angel’s backyard with her. You’re going to relax and I’m going to show you that for once, I’m meeting you halfway.”

He sighed deeply as he kissed my lips again. “Listen to me, Laurel, you coming home was meeting me halfway. I don’t need or want you to set up our wedding because you feel like you haven’t done enough. You have, baby. You’ve done more than you know. I…actually, I’ll tell you later. I have to go shower so I can go to work, because my future wife wants me to go to work.”

I smiled softly as he threw the blankets back and got up. As he danced into the bathroom, I walked over to the closet to pull out some leggings, a red top, and some comfortable tennis shoes we picked up the day before. As I was tying my shoes, Mason came out of the bathroom with a toothbrush in his mouth, which he promptly almost choked on when he saw me.

“Holy, shit, Laurel! You are fucking stunning!” he exclaimed.

I shook my head as I went over to kiss his cheek. “Behave! Tonight we’ll celebrate! But only if you’re a good boy and go to work.”

He groaned as I walked away from him. “Tease!”

I looked over my shoulder. “I’ll show you a tease a little later. I love you.”

“I love you too, Little Bunny. Have a good day.”
“You too, White Rabbit.”



9 hours later, I stepped back away from the last table that lined the back side of Angel’s backyard. I smiled as Angel made her way to my side.

“How’s everything look? Up to your standards?” she asked.

“Oh yeah! Everything looks absolutely perfect. Thank you so much, Angel! Your backyard is really perfect for our small ceremony. Also, thank you for letting your family know. I can’t wait to meet them,” I gushed.

“Were you and Mason able to successfully get your marriage license on his lunch break?”

“Yes.”

“Is there anything else we need to do?” she asked.

“No,” I answered, beaming proudly. 

She draped her arm over my shoulder as she began to guide me back toward the house. “Good. Come on. The men will be arriving soon. It’s time to start getting ready.”
Over the next 2 hours, Jane had meticulously done my hair to make it look like a crown on my head along with my makeup, while everyone else got ready as well. By the time they were all done, the only thing that was left for us to do was get me in my dress. I took a deep breath as they unzipped the garment bag that held my dress. I was excited to see it again, even though I had worn it the day before. As soon as my gown lay flat on the garment bag, I let out a shaky breath.

“God, that’s even more beautiful than when I first saw it,” I whispered in awe.

Lauren smiled brightly at me. “Yes, it is. Let’s get you in it and get you down to the man of your dreams. I know he’s eagerly waiting for you.”

“Yes, let’s do it!”

I smiled at her. “Let’s do it.”

Lauren and Ramira removed the dress from the hanger before kneeling at my feet for me to step into it. Once I stepped into the middle of it, they carefully pulled it up my body until the lace sleeves were in place. Lauren zipped me up before coming back around to stand in front of me.

“You look absolutely glorious, Laurel! Just like we always dreamed you would look on your wedding day,” she told me tearfully.

I tilted my head as I studied her face. “You’re going to look just as beautiful on yours.”

She swallowed hard as she nodded. “I hope so, Laurel. I really do. Now, come on, I need to see you marry the love of your life.”

I took her hand, as we made our way down to the kitchen that would lead out to the makeshift aisle. I took a glance out the doors, smiling softly when I saw Mason pacing back and forth in front of the altar. I could tell he was anxious. Hell if I were in his shoes, I would be worried too. I had given him every reason to believe that I was going to run, but I wasn’t going anywhere this time. Or ever again.

“Let’s get started. I don’t want to wait anymore,” I announced.

Angel grinned at me happily before nodding and stepping out the doors to gesture to the small band that Mason found the day before. I gave her a soft smile and a nod, silently thanking her for getting things going. As soon as the band started to play, Mason straightened up, looking at the door expectantly. I backed up to the other side of the kitchen so he wouldn’t see and so everyone could line up in front of me with their partners. Moments later, Lauren opened the doors before guiding Tyson down the aisle and putting him beside Mason, whose eyes still hadn’t left the doors. After the bridal party and their partners had walked down the aisle, I took a deep breath as Jane held her arm out to me.

“Are you ready to go marry the love of your life, sweetie?”

I nodded. “Yes. Let’s go.”

She led me down the aisle to Mason, where she put my hands in his before taking a step back and kissing my cheek.

“Always treat my little girl with respect, Mason.”

“I will, ma’am.”

While the pastor did his initial speech, Mason and I stared into each other’s eyes. When the pastor cleared his throat, Mason’s lips lifted in a smile, knowing that it was time to say our vows. “Mason, if you are ready, you may now recite your vows to Laurel.”