Of course, after the divorce I’d thrown it in the ocean in a moment of overwhelming frustration and sadness. There were very few things I regretted more than that, but it didn’t matter anymore.
We were getting married and I was over the moon.
I’d texted Presley and then dropped a picture of the ring on my left hand in the group chat with the girls from Harmony Place and Mina had been the first one to respond.
MINA: Are you fucking kidding me?! Can you even move your hand? How much does that thing weigh?
HARRIETT: Holy shit—does this mean Paris is a go? I need dates, girlfriend!
BETTY: Oh my goodness, I’m a little teary! Congratulations!
HARLEY: Thanks, guys! I’m excited. Paris won’t be until July or August—I don’t think the European leg of the tour is firmed up yet—but get this: We’re going to elope in Vegas next week!
HARRIETT: What? When? I’ll book a flight.
I hadn’t anticipated that the girls would want to come, but the more the merrier as far as I was concerned.
HARLEY: Give me tonight to get some details with Tommy and I’ll message you guys tomorrow.
MINA: Woot! Vegas-bound, bitches!
BETTY: You guys are crazy… but I’ll be there.
The conversation went on for a little while, but there was no response from Freya. I figured she was probably busy and that was okay, she’d catch up later.
Unfortunately, the one person who wasn’t happy about our impromptu nuptials was Wynter.
“I just started a new job!” she said, throwing up her hands that night when she got home from work. “How am I going to ask for a day off to go to Vegas to watch my sister elope?”
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, grimacing. “I know the timing is awful, but I can’t do this without you. Can you take the day without pay and I’ll give you money?”
“It’s not about money,” she grumbled. “But let me talk to my boss tomorrow, see if we can work something out.”
“Thank you!” I threw my arms around her neck. “I’ll make it up to you.”
“Yeah, by leaving me to go on tour.” She made a face.
“Well, you’ll have this big old house all to yourself.”
“You’re going to keep it?”
“I have no idea what the long-term plans are, but we’re definitely not doing anything like buying a new house between now and when we leave on tour.”
“I’m happy for you,” she whispered. “Truly. You deserve this. I hope you two do better at communicating this time, but I don’t think anyone has ever loved you like he does. And vice versa.”
I nodded, staring at the ring on my finger. “Do you think…Carter would be happy for us?”
“There is no doubt in my mind. He would be happier than anyone. He loved you enough to want you to be happy. You know that.”
“I wish he hadn’t had to die for us to find our way back to each other.”
“Me too.” She squeezed my arm. “But Carter was going to die anyway. You know that. He always had one foot in the grave.”
I swiped at my eyes. “Anyway, I love you. Let me know what your boss says.”
“I need to know exactly what day you’re going to do it.”
“I’ll let you know before bed. Tommy and I are thinking Wednesday or Thursday.”