Page 161 of Harrison's Wedding

“Sorry, Seb, but I’m going to say no to that. I’ve had enough of drinking and clubs over the last five months to last me a lifetime. I certainly don’t want some Vegas bachelor party with strippers or whatever.”

The smile slips off Sebastian’s face, and he says in a sober voice, “I didn’t say anything about strippers. I’m not a fucking asshole. But I get it.” He sighs, then smiles a little and asks, “Party at my place?”

“Can we come?” Heather asks. “We could do a combined bachelor and bachelorette party.”

“Would I ever turn down the chance to see you in a party dress, lover?” he grins at her.

We all laugh, and I couldn’t be happier. I have great friends and a wonderful fiancée. I couldn’t ask for more.

* * *

Two weeks before the wedding,I’m sitting at the computer reading through emails about some new brand deals that we’ve been offered while Heather is at Serenity with Ariana and Ally for a final bridesmaid dress fitting.

The response to the interview has been largely positive, and brands are more than happy to work with us again. Sebastian cynically said that he thinks they’re hoping to benefit from the sympathy that the truth engendered from the public, and I can’t say that I disagree with him.

There’s a knock at the door, and I ease myself out of the chair. My ribs are slowly healing, but they still hurt frequently. I’m no longer on the ‘good drugs’ and just have to take over-the-counter painkillers if it gets too bad, as well as icing them if I need to.

We’re hoping that I’ll be recovered fully by the wedding, but just in case, we decided to delay the honeymoon for two weeks so I can get the all-clear from the doctors before we leave.

Open the door to see Hayden waiting on the other side. He’s dressed up for tonight’s party and I smile at him.

“Hey, come in. I was just looking at the Chordible brand deal info.”

“Oh, I saw that one, but haven’t read it yet,” he tells me.

He follows me back to the study, and we sit together as we look over the information from the lawyers.

“I know it wasn’t the point of the interview, but it’s certainly had a positive effect on our reputation. This offer is better than anything we were given in the past.” He shakes his head.

“True. It’s a nice side effect. I just hope that Maddy’s life has improved since then,” I cringe.

I haven’t read a huge number of articles since the interview aired, but the ones I have read did seem to paint her in a more positive light. There have been a few opinion pieces discussing the treatment that she and Heather received at the hands of the media, too, which was satisfying to see.

We leave the study and head to the living room, where we sit and talk for a while. Hayden is sitting on the sofa, and I’m heading to the kitchen for a painkiller when the door opens and Heather enters the apartment. She rushes over and comes to a dead stop in front of me, clearly remembering at the last second that I’m still recovering from broken ribs.

“Hi, angel,” I say, and smile as I wrap my arms around her.

“Hey, honey,” she says, turning her face up to mine for me to kiss her.

I love that she calls me ‘honey’. I love that she wants me to kiss her. I love that I’m going to marry her in two weeks.

“Hi, ladies,” I greet Ariana and Ally when my lips are free to talk.

They smile at me from where they’ve seated themselves on the sofa, with Ally having chosen to sit next to Hayden, who’s smiling at her right now.

“Oh, Hayden. I didn’t see you there, sorry, darling!” Heather says, finally looking over at him.

“You did seem slightly distracted.” Hayden laughs. “I’ll forgive you, this time. They don’t call me Sebastian Fox. He’d never stand for you ignoring him like that, Heather!”

Heather follows me over to the sofa as Ally shakes her head and says, “I still don’t get the joke!”

“What don’t you get, Ally?” I ask, slowly easing myself onto the chaise section.

“The jokes about Heather and Sebastian having an affair. The stuff they say to each other, it surprises me that you’re comfortable with it.” She gives us a confused look as Heather settles herself next to me and links her hand with mine.

“‘Wildly inappropriate,’ she called it, Harrison!” Heather sticks her tongue out at Ally.

“It is!” Ally protests.

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