Chapter 193
Chapter 193
Rainey's POV
The engagement photos had been exhausting. Four hours of "tilt your chin this way" and "look at him like you're madly in love"—which honestly wasn't hard, but doing it on command for a photographer was a whole different thing. By the time we'd finished, my face hurt from smiling and my feet were screaming in those heels Ava had insisted I wear.
"You okay?" Ava asked, nudging my shoulder as we settled into the plush velvet chairs at Vera's Dream. The entire boutique had been cleared out for us—just the four of us and a small army of staff. Very Sunny, to arrange something this extra.
"Yeah, just tired." I watched another model glide down the tiny runway in a mermaid-style gown that probably cost more than my entire childhood. "How many have we seen now?"
"Like, thirty?" Chloe whispered from my other side. "That one with the lace sleeves was gorgeous though."
Lily leaned forward, eyes sparkling. "I'm still voting for the one with the cathedral train. Very princess bride."
The classical music floating through the air was supposed to be soothing, but combined with my exhaustion, it was more like a lullaby. My head felt heavy. The past few weeks of wedding planning had been very stressful.
"Rainey?" Ava's voice seemed far away. "You good?"
I tried to answer, but my body had other ideas. My head tipped sideways, landing on something soft and warm. Ava's shoulder, probably. The last thing I registered was Lily and Chloe still whispering excitedly about tulle and beading.
---
When I woke up, something felt different. The shoulder under my head was broader, firmer. The scent wrapping around me wasn't Ava's vanilla perfume—it was something unmistakably Sunny.
My eyes flew open.
He was sitting exactly where Ava had been, one arm draped along the back of the sofa, the other hand resting lightly on my shoulder. Still in his business suit, tie loosened, looking like he'd walked straight off a plane and directly here without stopping.
"Sunny?" My voice came out rough with sleep. "What—how are you here? You said you'd be back tomorrow."
His lips curved into that crooked smile I loved. "Big wedding coming up. Couldn't stay away." He leaned down, nose brushing my cheek.
"You look exhausted," I said, reaching up to touch the dark circles under his eyes. "The deal was rough?"
He caught my hand, pressed a kiss to my palm. "The deal was fine. Missing you was the hard part."
"You're such a sap," I teased, but my voice cracked a little. Damn emotions.
"Where are Ava and the others?"
"Sent them to the café down the street." He nodded toward the boutique manager hovering nearby. "Told them we'd catch up after we finished here."
I sat up, suddenly aware of the models still parading past us. "Wait, you've been watching the whole time? While I was asleep?"
"Someone had to pick your dress." His eyes glinted with amusement. "You were out cold, baby. Snoring a little, actually."
"I do not snore!"
"Sure you don't." He stood, helping me up. "Come on. The manager's been waiting to take your measurements."
The manager—a elegant woman named Patricia—stepped forward with a warm smile. "Mr. Hayes has excellent taste. He selected three gowns for you to try."
Three. Out of the dozens we'd seen. I glanced at Sunny, who was looking way too pleased with himself.
"This one," Patricia continued, gesturing to a mannequin, "is our signature piece. The lace and embroidery work alone takes our master craftsmen several weeks. We'll need to start immediately to have it ready for your wedding date."
The dress was beautiful. Simple, elegant lines with intricate detailing that you only noticed up close. Not overdone. Not trying too hard. Just... perfect.
"It's beautiful," I breathed.
Sunny's hand found the small of my back. "Try it on?"
---
Twenty minutes later, I stood in front of the three-way mirror, and holy shit. This dress. It fit like it had been made for me—which, technically, it would be after alterations. The fabric skimmed my body in all the right places, the neckline elegant without being too revealing.
"That's the one," Sunny said from behind me. Not a question. A statement.
I met his eyes in the mirror. "You're sure? You barely saw me try the others."
"I'm sure." He stepped closer, hands on my waist. "You're stunning, Rainey."
Patricia reappeared with her measuring tape. "Perfect choice, Ms. Ellis. Now, let's get your exact measurements so our team can begin the alterations. With the complexity of this dress, it'll take our fifteen best seamstresses working overtime to complete it in time."
---
Sunny's POV
Rick had been blowing up my phone for three days straight.
"You're getting married in a week, man! You HAVE to have a bachelor party!"
"I don't need one," I'd told him for the fifth time that morning.
"Bullshit. It's tradition! One last night with the guys before you become a married man. Come on, Sunny. Look, I already rented out the club. Already invited people. You gonna make me look like an idiot?"
That's how I ended up here—in this overpriced private club in downtown Millbrook, surrounded by trust fund kids I barely knew, music so loud it made my wolf ears ring even in human form.
The place reeked of expensive whiskey and too much cologne. People everywhere, laughing too hard at jokes that weren't funny.
I sat in the corner with a glass of water, eyes closed, trying to block it all out. In about twelve hours, I'd be a married man. The thought made my wolf settle, content in a way it rarely was. This party felt like a waste of time I could be spending with Rainey.
"Yo, Sunny!" Rick's voice cut through the noise. He dropped onto the couch next to me, shoving a glass of whiskey in my face. "Come on, man. Give me something here. You look like you're at a funeral."
"Feels like one," I muttered.
"Jesus Christ." He sat back, studying me. "Look, I know you'd rather be home doing whatever boring domestic shit you and Rainey do. But this is your last night as a single man! Don't you want to mark the occasion? Celebrate?"
"I'm already celebrating. Mentally. Very enthusiastically."
I opened one eye. "You do realize I'm happy about getting married, right? This isn't some tragic loss of freedom."
"I know, I know. You're disgustingly in love. It's nauseating." He pushed the glass closer. "But come on. One drink. Then maybe join us for a few games. These guys keep saying you think you're too good for us."
"I do think I'm too good for them."
"Sunny."
I took the glass, studying it.
"Fine," I said, tossing back the whiskey in one go. "One drink."
Rick's entire face lit up like I'd just handed him a winning lottery ticket. "Yes! I fucking knew it!" He jumped up, shouting to the crowd, "Hayes is in, you losers! Pay up!"
"You bet on whether I'd participate?"
"Made five hundred bucks just now." He hauled me to my feet. "Come on, boy."