Moving across the country was the best decision I’d ever made.
I’d found my future. Nothing was ever going to change that.
Life in LA fucking rocked!
Chapter 20
SUTTON
The day I’d been counting down to had arrived. Today, I’d marry Flint. But instead of glorious sunshine and endless blue skies, LA had delivered wild wind and raging rain. It had begun last night during our rehearsal dinner. I’d checked the weather app every hour and there’d been no sign of it easing.
Of all the days to rain!
I’d gone through every emotion...from being distraught, devastated, and frustrated, to elated, ecstatic, and carefree.I am getting married! Who cares about the weather?But it was torrential.There was too much time to kill until I walked down the aisle. My nerves played Tetris in my stomach. I fidgeted with the tie on my slinky white dressing robe with the word‘Bride’embroidered across the back and paced the length of the living room. The girls and I had slept at Kyle and Gemma’s house in Pacific Palisades last night. We’d get dressed here for my big day since it was only a short drive to Malibu. The guys had stayed at Andy’s mansion—our wedding venue.
“Sutt, will you stop worrying? There is nothing you can do about the rain.” Maddy threw me a reassuring smile as she sat at the dining table, getting her hair styled into a high bun of barrel curls. Her stunning makeup of glittery eyes and soft pinklips highlighted her beautiful face.Totally gorgeous.
I loved I got to spend almost every day with Maddy now she worked onAngels in LA.She’d been on the show for two months and had fitted in from day one. Having her by my side meant the world to me.
“I’m not worried, Mads.” A little, but not a lot. Nothing would stop me from marrying Flint. Not even this insane downpour.
Liliana, our hair and makeup goddess, and her assistant, Prue, had already worked their magic on Tia and me, and had nearly finished Maddy and Ava.
Ava closed her eyes for Liliana to dust glitter on them. “Isn’t it supposed to be good luck if it rains?”
“It’s not just raining, though.” I thrust my hand toward the window. Gutters overflowed. Rain hammered the panes. The wind whipped through the trees. “It’s a one-in-one-hundred-year event.” I honestly didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“It’ll make the day memorable, won’t it, Winter?” Tia cooed as she sat her daughter on her lap, rubbing and patting her back after feeding. Winter yawned wide. Her little eyes fluttered, as if she was totally milk-drunk and ready for another nap.Lucky her.I’d barely slept last night. Too excited. Too anxious. Too concerned about the weather.
So much for a sunset wedding!
But everything would be fine.Yes . . .No . . . Maybe.
I’d been out of bed since seven o’clock that morning. The girls and I had been pampered all day...manicures. Pedicures. Massages. We’d had a fabulous champagne-and-chicken-salad lunch. It was now three. Three hours until the big event. I’d been on my cell phone throughout the day, talking to Quill about plans A, B, C, and D. His meticulous planning, calm manner and being prepared for every scenario kept my anxiety on a leash...just. He took rearranging the day to accommodate the weather in his stride. Not sure he’d even broken a sweat. He’d texted threetimes before lunch with progress reports, reassuring me his crew were working overtime to set up more tents, and getting more space undercover for our guests.
Total miracle worker.
I’d called Flint several times, but he hadn’t answered. He hadn’t replied to my messages. Had he lost his phone? Forgotten to take it with him? Was he hungover? Passed out somewhere? Stuck out-of-town thanks to the weather? Visions ofThe Hangovermovie flashed through my mind. What had the guys done last night when we’d left them? Flint had promised me they were going straight to bed. So where the hell was he?
My blood pressure inched higher as the weather worsened. I’d put on a brave front, laughed, and tried not to let the rain get to me. But with each passing minute, it did. As my bridesmaids were being attended to, and Kara, Gemma, and Lexi floated around getting ready, I needed a moment to pull myself together.
I’m okay. Yep. Absolutely . . . maybe . . . not!
“You girls look amazing. I’ll be back in a few minutes. Just ducking to the bathroom...upstairs.” I didn’t need the toilet—I just needed somewhere quiet to clear my head. Walk. Pace. Refocus. The weather was out of my control. There was nothing I could do about it. Flint would be okay. His cell phone location said he was—well, his phone was—at Andy’s house. I just needed to breathe.
But the second I walked into my room upstairs and closed the door, torrential rain bucketed down in thick curtains, slamming onto the roof with deafening pelts and overflowing the downpipes. I stepped over to the window. Waves of water flooded the pavements. Rivers ran down the driveway and along the curbsides. Puddles the size of reservoirs formed on the lawn.Shit. As I turned away from the deluge, I caught sight of my beautiful wedding dress hanging on the front of the closet door. My chin trembled, and I burst into tears. It wouldbe ruined in the wet.Shit.
I sank onto the window seat, covered my face with my hands, and sobbed. I was allowed to be a little emotional, wasn’t I? It was my fucking wedding day.
I just needed to have a cry, release my frustrations over Flint not calling, and erase my disappointment in the weather. Then I’d be okay.
Yep. I’m good.
Absolutely.
I was strong. I got this.
I sniffled, sucked in a deep breath, and dabbed my eyes with my fingertips.Yep. Better.I didn’t want red eyes on my wedding day. I didn’t want to ruin my makeup.