Page 33 of My First Mistake
“I will. Thanks.”
“I can’t wait to see you work your magic, Firefly.”
After Chase left,I immediately set to work, pleased that the hotel had indeed provided me with all of the extras I needed, including all the string lights my little heart desires. Ten minutes after I started work, a waiter came in bearing a tray of water, juice, pastries, cookies and fruit, which was very thoughtful, and I suspect Chase’s doing. The eucalyptus sprigs have been particularly mischievous today and the table centerpieces took longer than I’d anticipated, but I’ve made great progress, and the entire room looks fit for a wedding now.
I stand on the stage where the band will be playing tomorrow night and admire my handiwork. The cream silk organza tablecloths and chair covers make the room look elegantly classy without detracting from the rustic theme of the lodge. I don’t like to blow my own trumpet, but the flowers look truly beautiful. The whole room is blooming with white silk cala lilies and ranunculus, with a sprinkling of ruby-red roses for just a pop of color.
“Am I allowed to come in?” Chase calls.
“Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
“Then you may enter.”
He steps into the room, already dressed in his suit for dinner and I realize I’m probably not going to have time to shower and change now. I check my watch and realize dinner is only thirty minutes away. Dammit!
“Wow! Addie, this place looks incredible.” Chase’s awestruck voice reminds me why I did this. So what if I attend the rehearsal dinner in a different outfit than I intended to? I’m still wearing a dress, even if it is a sweaterdress. I’m already wearing heels. I can freshen up in my parents’ room and borrow a little of my mom’s mascara. “Seriously, this is fucking beautiful.”
“You haven’t seen the best part yet,” I tell him. Then I flick the switch on the stage and the entire room lights up with thousands of twinkling lights.
“What the…” He stands in the center of the room and spins around. “How did you even do all of this on your own?”
I shrug. “I told you, it’s what I do.”
I step down from the stage and join him. The room truly does look beautiful and I feel a rush of pride. “Later all of the jars in the middle of the tables will be lit too.”
He swallows. “Brax and Eva are going to love it.” Then his bright blue eyes find mine. “This is something else. You are fucking incredible, you know that?”
I blush. “Thank you. How wasgames day?”
He pinches the spot between his brows together. “Jesus Christ. It was brutal. You know how competitive your dad and his brothers get. And then your aunt Irene accused Eva’s cousin of cheating at charades. It was quite possibly some of the worst few hours of my entire life.”
I giggle. “Well, at least it’s over now. And you look very handsome in your suit, by the way.”
He smiles. “Thanks.”
“I hope you don’t mind sitting next to me when I’m a little dusty,” I laugh, brushing some from my dress.
“I hope you don’t mind that I went back to the cabin and got your dress and your red heels. I also picked up what I think was your makeup bag but I didn’t look inside to check. They’re all in your mom’s room. She has some warm ginger tea and a hot shower waiting for you. And your aunt Irene says it will take herlike three and a half minutesto curl your hair. And the caterers have confirmed we can push the dinner back by fifteen minutes if we need to.”
My heart swells in my chest. “You arranged all that for me?”
He steps closer and does that thing where he rests just one finger under my chin and tips my head up, yet I feel his touch over my entire body. “It was the least I could do while you were doing this for everyone else.”
“Thank you, Chase.”
“Before you go.” His throat works as he swallows. “I need you to know that I didn’t mean any of it, Addie.”
And now I’m confused, but he goes on speaking before I have a chance to ask what he’s talking about. “The things I said to Freddie are unforgivable, but they were also outright fuckinglies. That night I spent with you was…it was the best fucking night of my life, Addie. And no matter how scared I was feeling, or how much I thought I’d already fucked it up between us, I had no excuse for saying any of it. That you’ve believed what we did meant nothing to me all these years hurts me more than I can fucking bear, but I know that’s not even a fraction of the pain you must have felt. I don’t deserve your forgiveness, and I’m not asking for it, but I would hate to never get the chance to tell you how truly fucking sorry I am.”
My heart is racing so fast my head spins. I don’t even know what to say to that, but I do know I believe him. “I wish you’d told me that a long time ago.”
“I do too, Firefly.”
“Lightning bugs in a jar,” I whisper.
He smiles. “Remember when I used to catch them for you?”
