“I wanted to be here for you to show my support, even though I don’t approve.I think you could do better.”
I can’t believe he came here for this.“I don’t need your approval, Jay.I don’t care what you think.Nick is one of the best men I know, and he would put my life before his own.He is the best father I could ever ask for my son, to show him what a man should be.How a man should love a woman.You insulting him is insulting me.You can leave, I don’t need you here.”He puts his hand on the door to stop me from closing it in his face.
“Cat, wait, I’m sorry!I didn’t want to insult you or make you upset.”
“Didn’t you?”
“No.You’re my baby sister, and I want what’s best for you.I don’t want you to make a mistake you can’t take back.”
“Nick is what’s best for me.If he’s a mistake, which he’s not, he’s the best mistake I’ve ever made.”
“I’ll take your word for it.I’m sorry for the things I said to you.I didn’t mean them; I was angry.Sometimes I say stupid things when I’m angry, things that are not true, and I know that is no excuse.”
“You hurt me.A lot.You made me feel like…I was everything you said I was.It hurt.”
“For that I’m sorry.I was wrong.That’s why I’m here.I would like to be a part of this day, if the invitation is still open and you’ll let me?I was wrong.”
“Fine, stay,” I say after thinking about it.
“Thank you.You really do look beautiful.All grown up.”He smiles and walks away.
I stop him when he turns.“Jay?”
“Yeah.”
“I don’t want a red wedding.This could easily turn into aGame of Thrones-like situation with fists.Please don’t say or do anything that will set Nick off.”
“You have my word.”
“Good.”I close the door and say a silent prayer we will be married and fists will not fly today.Where is Ava?I’m ready for them to start the music already.I’m one hundred percent ready to be Mrs.Nicholas Alexander for the rest of my life.
Nick
Putting my jacket on, Ibutton it, and now all I’m waiting for is Chris’s ass.He went to see if Cat was ready thirty minutes ago—how long does that take?There’s a knock on the door.“Come in.”
“Hello, Nick.”
What the hell is she doing in here?She’s the last person I would expect to knock on this door.She must have the wrong room.“Mrs.Reed,” I say stiffly, watching her curiously.
“I wanted to thank you for agreeing to allow us to be here today.I know it wasn’t an easy decision for you after everything.”
“No, it wasn’t.If I had it my way, you wouldn’t be here.But I only want to make Cat happy, and I don’t want her to have regrets about this day.Like it or not, you are a part of her, you are her family, and if having you here makes her happy, I’m going to give her what she wants.”
“I can see you make her happy.”
“That’s the only reason you and your daughter are here.Me making her happy.I haven’t forgotten a thing.I’m not happy about her spending time with you, but I’m going to tolerate it for her.Don’t hurt her.If you do, I can guarantee you won’t get this chance again.If you’ll excuse me, I have a wedding I need to finish getting ready for.”
She looks at me with a stiff smile, her head held high as ever.She closes the door.I run my hand through my hair and unclench my jaw.She grates on my nerves.I’m not fooled for one second into thinking she wouldn’t turn Cat against me if there was any way possible.The truth is, the only reason I tolerate her having a relationship with Cat is because I know what Cat and I have she can’t touch.We’re solid, she can’t put a dent in it.
“Fuck this.I’m going to see if Cat is ready.”I’ve waited long enough for her to be my wife.I open the door and pull up short.“What the fuck?”
“Hi, Nick.”
“What do you want, Kate?”
“Forget it—I know you hate me.”
I’ve spoken to Kate once, last month.I wasn’t happy, and the things I had to say to her were harsh but they had to be said.Like I told her, if it wasn’t for Cat flat-out refusing, I would have pressed charges against her.She said, “We couldn’t move on and forgive.We would always be stuck in a place of hate and anger.This way we could all begin to heal and move on.”That’s when I made the mistake of making a snide remark with some colorful expletives.“Are we supposed to hold hands like a Coca-Cola commercial and sing I’d like to teach the world to sing in perfect fucking harmony?”She replied with colorful expletives of her own and refused to speak to me for the rest of the day.
