“Sounds good,” I say.
We end the call, and I smile to myself. Max was right. They really are making an effort with me and becoming my friends.
I finish getting ready, carefully choosing an outfit that feels right, stylish but approachable, and elegant. I do my hair, curling it and leaving it down, and apply some makeup, before heading back downstairs to meet the mystery guest.
When I enter the dining area, I am shocked to see Vanessa sitting casually at the table, sipping a glass of water. Her head turns, and before I can say a word, she jumps up and pulls me into a hug.
“Congratulations,” she says when she releases me, her smile radiant and genuine.
I step back slightly, confused, my brow furrowed. “Um … thanks? Wait, I don’t …”
Rhett chuckles behind me, stepping closer.
“What’s happening?” I ask him.
“Pippa, Vanessa isn’t my ex-girlfriend. Well, I suppose technically she is, but we dated when we were like eight. Since then, she’s been one of my closest friends. That night in the bar when I came up with the plan to make George jealous, I already knew I wanted to win you from him. I knew you were the girl I wanted to marry, but I knew I had to win you over, so I deviously made up the whole thing about the clingy ex. I knew Vanessa could play the part of the bitchy, clingy ex perfectly. You forgive me, right?”
I burst out laughing, the tension in the room melting instantly. “Vanessa, you should go into acting. You were flawless as the bitchy, clingy ex.”
She grins, waving her hands dramatically. “I’ll take that as a compliment. I did slip up once, though, at the beach, when I found out you were engaged, and I asked Rhett if he was sure this was what he wanted.”
“I didn’t notice,” I say truthfully. “But now you’ve told me, I see it. At the time, I was too jealous to think straight. It didn’t make me suspicious at all.”
Rhett shakes his head, still smiling. “Dinner will be ready soon. You two can sit, relax, and enjoy.”
And enjoy we do. We sit, sharing stories and laughter. Vanessa regales me with hilarious, embarrassing tales about Rhett, some of his childhood mishaps, and some more recent antics. Vanessa launches right in with a wicked grin.
“Did Rhett ever tell you about the time he got stuck in a tree when he was nine? He climbed up it to impress me, of course, and then he refused to admit that he couldn’t get down. His dad had to call the fire department.”
I clap a hand over my mouth, laughing. “No. He most definitely didn’t mention that.”
Rhett groans. “Don’t exaggerate. It wasn’t the fire department. It was just a neighbor with a ladder.”
“Uh-huh,” Vanessa teases him. “And you’ll be saying next that the whole neighborhood didn’t gather to watch? Sure.”
She goes on smugly before he can interrupt again.
“And don’t even get me started on what he was like at college. Once, he thought he’d impress everyone at a pool party by doing a triple flip off the diving board. He ended up belly flopping into it so loudly that the lifeguard blew his whistle and asked if he needed medical attention.”
Rhett shakes his head, though there’s a smile tugging at his lips now. “Be careful, Vanessa, or you’re never coming to dinner again.”
Vanessa winks at me. “See what I’ve had to put up with? You’re a saint for saying yes to him.”
I look at Rhett fondly, unable to stop smiling. “I think I like hearing these stories. They make him real.”
“And lovable,” Vanessa adds, raising her glass. “But don’t let him fool you - he’s always been that way.”
Each story she goes on to tell me paints him in a light that makes me laugh until my cheeks ache. I glance at Rhett, who’s smiling indulgently, clearly enjoying being roasted by his friend. The atmosphere is warm, easy, and full of laughter. By the end of the evening, I feel a profound sense of connection, not just to Rhett but to the people around him. Vanessa’s warmth and humor make it feel like I’ve gained a new best friend.
As we clear the dishes away after we have eaten, I sit back and breathe deeply, my heart full. I feel secure and certain of the love that has blossomed between Rhett and me. No matter what else happens, I know that this is the life I want and the peopleI want in it. That love between Elliot and Camile that I envied earlier suddenly seems like it is also mine.
Chapter Forty-Three
Rhett
One Year Later
It’s the morning of my wedding. Everything around me feels heightened. The crispness of the air, the muted bustle of the staff moving about the venue, and the hushed, reverent tones of friends and family as they arrive. I notice all of these things, but inside, I’m almost unnervingly still. Not calm exactly, but anchored, as though some part of me has been waiting for this day my whole life and finally, finally, I’ve arrived at it.
