Page 21 of Beautifully Used
I swallowed the boulder lodged in my throat, managed a smile, and spoke as best I could. “You look beautiful, Gabrielle.” Except it came out as barely a whisper. I couldn’t move. I couldn’t pull my eyes away from her beauty.
She lowered her head and looked at her dress as her hands went to her sides. “Thank you.” I wanted to wrap my arms around her and draw her in to me. For the first time since Gabrielle had arrived, I was truly sorry for the way I’d acted last year, and finally realized that the guilt was the reason I hadn’t been sleeping around for the past two weeks. I was beginning to really like her, and I cared what she thought of me. God knew I had my reasons for my promiscuity, but I didn’t want Gabrielle to think that’s who I was. Tearing my eyes from her, I glanced back at Lena, who stood smiling at the both of us, and I remembered why I was there. Sticking my hand into the box, I pulled out Lena’s bouquet.
“Jackson had this designed for you, Lena.” It had turned out exactly the way Jackson had described it, though he hadn’t seen it yet. It was a beautiful mixture of white posy calla lilies, and white roses with cream hypericum berries interspersed. The stems were wrapped with white satin ribbon.
“Oh, my. It’s gorgeous.” She waved her fingers in front of her eyes. “Oh, God, I’m going to ruin my makeup,” she said as Gabrielle handed her a tissue. Lena took the tissue and blotted under her eyes then took the bouquet from me. “I couldn’t have asked for a better arrangement. I can’t tell you guys how happy Jackson has made me.”
“Don’t worry. We can see it,” Gabrielle said and that was true. Jackson and Lena were perfect for each other.
I turned back to the box. “I had a hand in designing this one,” I said, pulling out the other slightly smaller bouquet and presenting it to Gabrielle.
“That’s right, he did. Well, actually, he designed all of it. Brodie, take credit where credit’s due. All I did was offer my vote of approval,” Lena confessed.
The bouquet of pink roses matched her dress, and was mixed with a spray of darker hypericum berries and a couple of white calla lilies to match Lena’s bouquet. Gabrielle took the delicate bouquet, wrapped her slender fingers around the pale pink satin wrapping the stems, and lifted her eyes to mine. “I don’t know what to say? This is so beautiful, Brodie. I love pink roses, and calla lilies are my second favorite.”
“A rose for a rose. I know, clichéd and corny.”
“I don’t think so. Thank you, it’s lovely.” Taking in the scent of the flowers, she closed her eyes and smiled. A gorgeous smile. One I think I’ll remember until the day I die.
Chapter 16
Gabrielle
* * *
An evening wedding in July had been an excellent idea on Lena’s and Jackson’s part. The sun rested lower in the sky, making its descent toward the horizon. Though the air was still warm, the evening breeze kept everyone very comfortable.
The tables had turned out gorgeous. Thank God Brodie had come out to help me decorate. I never would have been able to get it all done in time without him. He was turning out to be quite a different guy from what I’d thought he was when I’d first arrived. The weird part, he didn’t seem to be the big sex hound Lena claimed him to be when I’d first met him last year. In fact, he’d stayed home every night since I’d been there, and as far as I knew, he’d slept alone.
“The wedding turned out perfect and beautiful, just like a fairy tale,” I told Lena as she sat down at the long table next to me. Huffing a little after a rather fast dance with Weezer, she brushed a stray curl from her forehead and took a sip of her champagne. Jackson, Lena, Brodie and I all sat at one long table to eat, and the rest of the guests sat at the twenty other round tables. Jackson had hired a DJ, telling his bandmates he’d rather have them enjoying the night and celebrating with him, but the band, being the band, insisted on playing a few tunes anyway. Particularly, for Lena and Jackson’s first dance as a married couple. They’d also played while Jackson sang Lena’s Song to her during the ceremony. It was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen or heard.
“It was, wasn’t it?” Lena smiled. “I’m so glad you were able to be here. You know, you are the only friend I really have, well, girlfriend, that is.”
“I wouldn’t have missed it for the world, and come to think of it … you’re the only ‘real’ friend I have, too.”
“Have you decided what you are going to do about school?”
“Yes. I’m not going. At least not this year. I want to focus on my writing for a while and see what happens with that. Journalism was always my mother’s dream, not mine. And I decided I could finish courses online if I need to, or I could even go back next year if I want.
“So, you’re not even going to go to Chico?”
“Not right now. Maybe next year.”
“Then what are you going to do? I mean where do you plan on living?”
“Somewhere around here, I think. For now. I love the beach, but I can’t afford that right now. So, since you are my only friend, I thought it would be great to live around here.”
“Really? That is so fantastic. I’m so glad.”
“Me, too.”
“Will you need to go back down south to get your stuff?
“No. I didn’t have much, just some clothes that I hardly wore anyway. I told my dorm roommate she could have them.”
“We should be back from our honeymoon in two weeks. If you need a place to stay while you’re looking for an apartment close by, you’re welcome to stay at the house. In fact, I can give you the key and you can stay there while we’re gone, too.”
“What? I couldn’t do that, Lena. I don’t want to impose on you and Jackson. You’re newlyweds. You need your privacy. I’d only be in the way.”
