Page 37 of While You're There
She knew what he was doing, what he’d been doing for weeks. He was channeling all his stress and anxiety into any outlet he could find. He was running more. He was obsessing over his calendar more. He was working more. He was drinking more. He was pushing himself to the brink, wringing himself dry in the hopes he wouldn’t feel it all quite as intensely by the end of the day.
Tori was grateful they were going on a honeymoon. He needed an actual vacation maybe even more than she did. She watched him for a few more moments, trying her best to really see him, to see past the in-control mask he wore so well.He’s okay, she decided. And things were only going to get better from here.
She felt him sit up a bit straighter beside her as he ran one hand lazily up and down her bare arm. She wasn’t cold—it was a warm summer night, even this close to the water—but his touch sent a shiver through her body nonetheless.
“You get to make the speech, bro,” Rhett confirmed.
“For real?”
“Yeah, for real. What the hell kind of question is that?”
“Don’t fuck with me right now, Rhett. I’ve had enough to drink tonight that I’m believin’ every word you’re saying. I don’t care if there’s a photographer showing up to take your wedding pictures tomorrow. I can’t be held responsible for my actions if you’re just playing and I have to beat you down in the morning.”
Tori laughed and shook her head. Jake had really let loose tonight. She hadn’t seen him drink much lately, not like he used to at least, so he was probably feeling it. She hadn’t missed how Rhett had been nursing the same beer for most of the night. She wasn’t sure if the guys had discussed it beforehand, or if her fiancé had just instinctively held back once he realized Jake was going to play full out.They had always had that kind of balance to their friendship: one ebbing when the other flowed, one filling in for the other when needed.
“You’ve been my best friend since we were five, bro. Of course you’re my best man.”
“Fuck. Why are youjust nowtelling me this, the night before your wedding?”
Rhett gave him a pointed look across the fire. “Because I know you. And I know there would have been all sorts of shenanigans had I told you sooner. We didn’t have time for any nonsense.” That was the truth: this wasn’t a typical wedding, and with the burden of planning already falling on Rhett’s shoulders, Tori understood his reasoning for keeping Jake in the dark until now.
“Screw you, bro. We missed a major opportunity here. Could you evenimaginethe epicness of a Jake and RhettBachelorParty?”
“I could. And that’s exactly why I didn’t tell you sooner."
Jake scowled as he took another swig of his drink. She knew a lot of his reaction was for show—he was Jake, after all, so there was no way he’d stay mad—but she did worry they may have actually hurt his feelings. Rhett must have sensed it too, because he spoke up again before Jake could get another word in.
“Look, bro. I’ll make it up to you when it’s your turn, I swear. This just all had to happen a certain way, as quickly as possible. A bachelor party was never in the cards for me, but I promise I’ll plan the most baller party ever for your bachelor weekend. We’ll go anywhere you want,” he vowed.
“One problem. Having a bachelor party would require me to get married.”
Rhett cocked one eyebrow in challenge. “It would.”
“That’s so not fair. You know that shit’s not happening anytime soon. Or ever.”
“You never know. Maybe one day you’ll meet Mr. or Mrs. Right. Or you’ll decide you finally want to claim that inheritance.” Tori winced. She knew the conversation was officially over now that he had taken it there.
Jake scowled before pushing to his feet. “Haha. You’resofunny. I didn’t know we were having dinneranda show tonight.” Tori’s face flushed in response to his word choice. Rhett didn’t miss it either, based on the way he moved his hand further up her bare leg and playfully gripped her inner thigh. She had been thinking about his version of “a show” all week. She desperately hoped wherever they were going on their honeymoon had a pool. Or at the very least, a large tub.
“I’m turning in for the night,” Jake declared. “I’ve got to work on a last-minute speech since no one had the courtesy to tell me I was the best man until the night before the wedding.”
“Like you don’t already have a speech written out and laminated,” Lia chided before also standing up. It was only a little after ten, but Tori was glad to see it was going to be an early night.
Jake shot Lia a sly smile, dramatically looking from person to person around the firepit before he responded, “So what if I do?” Then he turned to Rhett and snickered. “Actually, I don’t just have one speech written out. I have three different speeches ready. Three different speeches, all with varying levels of embarrassment. I was just waiting to see how long you were going to leave me in best man limbo before I decided which one I’m using tomorrow.”
A collective groan rose up from the group as everyone started to rise to their feet and gather their things.
Tori couldn’t help but smile at the promise of tomorrow. Tomorrow, she got to marry Rhett in front of all their friends and family. Tomorrow, they would declare their soul-deep love for each other, their commitment to forever, or to however long they got. Tomorrow couldn’t come soon enough.
She squinted one eye open just a smidge as the biggest smile took over her face. She was lying flat on her back, reveling in the lingering blurriness of a really great night’s sleep. She always slept well at the cabin, and she had slept even better than normal in Rhett’s arms. They had forgone the traditional night before the wedding separation on purpose. They both wanted it this way: to fall asleep side by side and wake up together one last time before they became husband and wife.
There was already an excitement buzzing in her body. She opened both eyes and stared at the exposed beams of the cabin’s ceiling. She loved the way the sunlight streamed in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, illuminating the master bedroom and filling the space with light. The cabin was beautifully decorated in white, cream, and linen, with little navy and gold accents throughout.
Today was her wedding day. She hadn’t spent her youth dreaming of the perfect dress, a dream venue, the perfect partner. Yet here she was. She had it all. It almost didn’t feel real. She almost didn’t feel worthy.Stop that, she silently scolded herself. If she let herself think about it all too much, she would spiral.
She had no doubts about marrying Rhett. She wanted him more than she wanted anything. But she had spent so damn long convincing herself it wasn’t fair to him or his future to stake her claim on what she wanted most in life. It was unnerving to constantly have to remind herself that it was okay to want what she wanted, that she deserved happiness, and that their love wasn’t a sacrifice in his mind. She owed it to Rhett to believe that, today and always. She owed it to both of them to let him love her full out and to love him just as fiercely in return.
She slowly rolled to her side to take in her first look of the man who would become her husband later that day. He was sound asleep, lying flat on his back with one arm thrown over his face to block out the morning sunlight she loved so much.
