Page 118 of The Very First Night

For the first time in my life, I am eager and excited to look ahead instead of dwelling on the past.

FIFTY-NINE

THREE YEARS LATER

KAT

“Sweetheart, you look amazing.” Tanner holds my gold strappy heels up as I fight to get out the door of our hotel room to head down to the wedding of two of our best friends. Despite spending the morning with Jenna, she insisted I go up to my own room to get ready because my nervous energy was going to give her a nervous breakdown.

I glance at the clock and panic sets in. I grab my mascara wand and touch up my already thick lashes. My mom’s bracelet glints on the dresser, a reminder of my maid-of-honor duties: Jenna’s something old. I take one last swig of champagne, hoping it will calm my nerves before heading down to the hotel lobby.

Tanner knows what today is—it’s the day we stop rewriting history and start completely anew. Over the past three years, we have built a life together, created new memories and traditions with our families. My mom’s warm hugs and his parents’ delicious dinners are now a regular part of our routine. Happiness radiates from every corner of our home, and it is a dream I never thought could become a reality. I’m so excited to see what comes next.

My business is booming. I’m now utilizing Cheyeanne in a capacity I was terrified to at first. She’s incredibly talented, but I initially struggled to let go of the reins. However, she has proven she’s competent and then some, so when I asked if she would like to shoot the wedding I’d booked long before Jenna and Marcus officially set a date by herself, she instantly jumped at the opportunity. Luckily, the bride was completely fine with it.

Once I’ve fastened my heels, I look down to find a drop from my coffee sitting in the middle of my chest, the red lace of my dress stained a deep brown. “No,” I sigh as I pick at the discolored spot, anxiety over potentially ruining Jenna’s big day washing over me.

“I’m sure she has a stain remover pen,” Tanner says. “Let’s go.” With every passing second, he grows more irritated by my insistence on not leaving the room.

I turn to him, contemplating my options. “Maybe I should just change?” I suggest, mentally scrolling through the other dresses I brought along for the wedding. Jenna requested an eclectic look when it came to our attire as long as it incorporated shades of pink or red. Since this time there are only two other bridesmaids, changing my dress shouldn’t disrupt anything too much.

Tanner lets out a heavy sigh and turns to face me, his frustration barely contained. “If you want to change, do it now. We only have five minutes until we’re supposed to be down there,” he says sternly. Then his gaze travels up and down my body, taking his time. My pulse quickens as I feel his intense desire for me spark between us. “But honestly, you look stunning, even with the small blemish,” he adds with a sly smile before stepping closer to me. “Whatever you decide, though, we have to go.”

“You’re right—I’m sure someone has a Tide pen.” I nod, finally pushing out of our hotel room.

As the elevator doors open, my eyes immediately take in the grandeur of the hotel lobby. My gaze is drawn to a massive chandelier made of solid gold hanging from the ceiling, but my focus shifts quickly to the room off to the side of the reception hall, where I’m supposed to meet Jenna.

As I move to walk away from Tanner, he grasps my hand tightly.

“What is it?”

“You actually have an hour,” he chuckles nervously, causing me to look down at my phone to reveal that it is indeed an entire hour before I agreed to meet Jenna.

“That was a dirty trick!” I smack his arm.

Tanner flashes me a mischievous grin. “No need to worry, it’s just a harmless one,” he says before letting go of my hand and playfully swatting my backside. He pushes me toward the bridal suite where Regina is rushing through the door with a sewing kit. “I’m sure she has some stain remover; why don’t you take care of that, then we can go for a walk?”

In the bridal suite, my eyes lock on Jenna sitting on the couch against the far wall. “You look stunning,” I say, gesturing dramatically toward her.

She rolls her eyes. “Thanks—I looked exactly like this an hour ago,” she retorts.

“Oh, right,” I reply with a laugh. “Sometimes I forget just how beautiful you are.”

Her lips curve up in a small smile. “Flattery will get you far with me.”

“I know,” I tease before turning to the room. “Anyone have a Tide pen? I spilled coffee on my dress earlier.”

“Brown purse, side pocket,” Regina responds without looking up from her work.

After quickly fixing my stain, I head toward the door. “I’ll be back soon.”

“Where are you going?” Jenna asks, a hint of concern in her voice.

“Tanner wanted to take a walk before we need to get you dressed,” I explain.

Her face lights up at my words. “Oh, okay! Have fun!”

Suspicious of her response, I step back into the stunning entryway and spot Tanner leaning against the garden door, his tawny suit perfectly tailored to accentuate his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His white button-down shirt is crisp and neatly tucked in, with just a hint of cologne lingering in the air around him. He had fought hard for the groomsmen to wear brown instead of traditional black or blue, and Marcus finally caved when Regina pointed out that it was predicted to be a popular trend in the upcoming bridal season. As always, Marcus prides himself on being just a little bit better than the masses.

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