Page 19 of Hot For Teacher
Grinning at her reflection in the mirror as she peeks over my shoulder, I nod. Bobbi crowds in on the other side, the three of us linking arms. That weekend we call came here together after all that happened, it felt like getting a big part of my life back.
Going back to school was the start. Making a choice for myself for the first time in my life. Admitting my feelings for Brenden—and to him—was the second. Fixing the broken bond between us, that was the next step. We had the time of our lives together that weekend.
“Blair is getting married—finally said yes to me,” Brenden announced the very next night while we were all at dinner at a cute café on the beach.
Now here we all are again. This time round there will be no doubts, no fear, nothing and no one standing in the life we both wanted for so long. They all tease me that we can pretend the first marriage was just practice.
I know the truth—it was a lesson learned.
It forced me to take a good look at myself. At who I truly was and what I truly wanted. I wanted to be a teacher. I had for most of my life—I had teachers who looked after me, cared for me, in ways I never got from my parents. I wanted to be that for other children like me.
I also wanted Brenden—had always wanted him and it turns out I had hidden it from no one.
“Of course, I give my blessing.”
Stefan came back to Pine Grove the weekend after we got engaged. I say he knew his son needed him. We would have gotten married without his say, but for Brenden, I wanted him to face his dad. To tell him neither of us resented him or held anger for what had happened.
He is here with his son and will be the one giving me away. It is both a little poetic and a bit petty. The two of us pitting in the faces of people who might judge us for winding up together.
Something else I learned—love will find its way no matter what.
“Come on babes,” I call, a massive, wicked goofy grin on my face. “Blair gets married, take two.”
Laughing, they both fuss over my hair, my dress, and my makeup one last time. Both girls rush out in their bright pink satin dresses, going to meet their guys. Bishop and Noah are groomsmen who will be waiting to escort their girls down the aisle.
Out on the sand, near the spot where we fooled around under the boardwalk, the man I love waits. With his father at my side, a short aisle of pink rose petals leads the way to him. My mother is not here, but as I look at the people who are, I know everyone who matters is here.
“Let him take care of you,” Stefan whispers as we start walking down the aisle, our bare feet sinking into the warm sand. “And take care of him when he needs it back.”
“Thank you,” I murmur as I turn to face him, brushing my short veil out of my eyes. “You were there when I needed you, Stefan. You left when you needed to, never regret that.”
Stefan nods, pressing a chaste kiss to my forehead. Turning us, he walks me to his son, bringing our hands together. Son and father share a moment that takes my breath away. More than Stefan giving his blessing for his son to wed his former wife.
Brenden is, and was always, the man I should have put my trust in.
Because of him, I am seeing my dream of becoming a teacher come true. He had unwavering faith in me, even when I did not. Not only did he have faith that I could put myself through school, it convinced him to take a chance on following his own dream.
We have brought the best out of one another—and isn’t that what love is?
“Thanks, dad,” Brenden grins at him, bringing my hands to his mouth, “I will take it from here.”
The men exchange a look and I smile, looking away from the tender moment. Following him to the arch of bright pink seashells and stunning pink and orange flowers, I cannot wipe the grin from my face. When we stand beneath the arch facing one another, I see he wears a matching one.
“I love you,” he whispers softly before the minister can say a word.
“I love you back,” I can’t help myself when he says those words, I have to give them back.
We stand in the sand under a beautiful setting sun, making our vows. Our best friends and closest family watch us promise one another forever. When the minister calls us husband and wife, I throw myself at him, both of us laughing as he stumbles back as he catches me.
“I love you, Bren,” I murmur against his mouth as he lifts me off my feet, my tiara slipping off as I touch my head to his.
“I love you too, babe. Forever and ever.”
Brenden turns and carries me back up the aisle, telling our friends to follow us to the pier. Hoots and hollers of congratulations erupt as they rush from the beach. Our reception is just all of us having a fun night playing games in the arcade, riding rides, eating corndogs and snow cones, and even skating to our favorite songs.
Twirling in the snowball light of a disco ball to our favorite song, we never stop smiling. I used to believe I had no idea how to take care of myself, no idea how to be a grownup. And maybe I still can’t cook and sometimes I shrink our clothes in the wash, but I am figuring it out.
What I am finding is, it doesn’t matter if I don’t know how to take care of myself. I know how to take care of the man I love. I know he still thinks he is a nerd, but I love talking about his movies with him. He loves watching Saturday morning cartoons with me cuddled up on his lap, as we share a bowl of Fruit Brute cereal.
