Page 19 of Vows of Conviction
“Whoops,” I said, and then Dani and I started picking them up and putting them back into the basket.
“What have you done?”Giselle asked her best friend.And from the tone of her voice, I took it that this wasn't a good surprise for her.
Eve held onto her shoulders and attempted to calm her down.“There's a man downstairs who wants to marry you.Very much.So much so that he enlisted everyone to help make it happen.And that man down there—” Eve pointed with her whole arm and hand, “is so freaking full of nerves—” Eve sniffled, blinking her tear-filled eyes, “he's shaking, Giselle.He's so worried you won't have him.I kid you not, an hour ago, I had to talk him down from a full-blown panic attack in the backyard.I was this close to calling an ambulance.”
Now Giselle's eyes were full of tears.“Evie,” was all she could get out.
Eve shook her head and sniffled again.“No, not me.Carlo.You need to go to him.Show that man how much you want to be his wife.Because he wants nothing,” Eve shook her head, “nothing else than to be your husband.”Giselle hugged her best friend ferociously.Then they carefully wiped each other's tears away.
“Ready?”I asked, wiping my own tears.
Giselle gave me a wide grin.“Ready.”
I stood and instructed Dani to start down the stairs.And right on cue, the music started.Dani giggled and waved back at me.I waved at her and whispered, “Keep going.You're doing great.”
I was pretty sure Dani had never been happier or more excited.
She turned and started walking down the stairs again.All eyes were on her as she tossed rose petals here and there.A handful even made its way over the railing and floated to the guests below.
There weren't many guests.But Anna made it.She was more excited than anyone to see her oldest son finally get married.
I quickly stepped into the spare bedroom and grabbed the bouquets.Giselle’s was bigger than mine and Eve’s.The scent of roses wafted up my nose.
“Oh, my gosh.Those are gorgeous.”Giselle’s eyes grew teary again as I handed her a bouquet.“Thank you.”Her lower lip quivered.
“Shoot, hang on.I forgot something,” Eve said in a panic as she raced down the hallway in her high heels.It didn’t take her long to run back completely out of breath—with a long veil in her hands.
It was my turn to start down the stairs, so I slowly began the long trek.Stefan's eyes immediately caught mine.He stood right beside his brother.Nick stood at the end.
Good grief.
The level of hotness in that lineup made my nipples hard.
They were all in tuxes—which somehow made them even hotter.Carlo had even agreed to a haircut.Eve gave him a trim.But it didn't matter how short Carlo's hair was—he still looked like a big, hulking lumberjack who could throw you over his shoulder and carry you off to the woods.
I smiled at Anna on the way and gave her a little wave.The nannies had the kids dressed in white outfits that Eve had somehow arranged.That woman was magic, I tell you.She knew all the little touches that would make this extra special.The candles were my idea, though.We didn't have time for a lot of decorations.But I figured candles would add a lot to the atmosphere down here.We'd hung long swaths of white tulle all over.Getting enough white roses on such short notice wasn't easy.But somehow, we did it.Everything looked dreamy.
I walked up to the front and stood on the other side of the priest, opposite the men.I left room for Eve and Giselle.
Eve was halfway down the stairs.She was beautiful—her long blonde hair flowing over her shoulders as she walked.The tight black dress hugged her in all the right places.Even after having all those kids—her hourglass figure was incredible.
Nick smiled proudly at his wife as she made her way to us.I tried not to think about how devastated he would be once he found out what she was doing with his best friend.
That was a problem for another day.Right now, I needed to stay in the moment.All that other stuff would work out, however it worked out.
The music changed, and Giselle started her march down the staircase.
Carlo gasped audibly.Gosh.
He was sweet.For a great big cheater.
Beads of sweat dripped down his forehead, and that made me silently giggle.Eve had been right.Carlo had been a freaking wreck the entire day.He went from being excited at finally marrying his fiancée—to worrying she'd flat out refuse him.I shouldn't have enjoyed his shifting moods as much as I did.But I figured it was a decent payback for poor Giselle and what she was currently going through with her pregnancy.Not to mention the fact that he was fucking around on her…
Carlo's chest started moving rapidly.
Uh, oh.
Eve noticed right away, too.“Carlo, breathe.Deep breaths.”She gave him a sharp warning.“You are not having a panic attack at the altar.”
