Page 145 of The Accidental Wife

Cole/Shayla

“Cole!Get your arse up and out of that bed!” I leap out of my sleep and groan when my head thumps unpleasantly.

“Ow.” I groan, holding my head. “What the fuck.” I blink up and see Josh standing over me once my vision clears.

“Bro, Shayla’s gone! Get up!” It took a second for his words to reach my brain. I look up at him with a scowl.

“Gone?” I recite my voice hoarse from a night of partying.

“She took off, man! She saw you kissing some girl last night at the club, and she took off.” I scowl up at him and dart out of bed. “I tried to stop her, but she just wouldn’t listen.”

“What?!” I shout, glancing around the room, confused. I don’t remember kissing anyone last night. What the fuck! “Who did I kiss? What the fuck happened, man?!” I yell, not even caring about my thumping headache. My heart was racing like mad. Oh God, please, please, don’t tell me I’ve lost her again. I grab my jeans and pull them on back to front in my panic. “When did she leave? Where the fuck did she go?!” I shout, yanking my shoes on— both on the wrong feet and fall over on the floor while trying to run to the door. I stop when I hear Josh laughing hysterically, tears rolling down his face. “Wha—” I realise that he’s winding me up and I lean against the door panting, my hand on my heart. “You rotten son of a bitch.”

“Oh man, that was hilarious.” Josh cackles. I glare at him hard.

“Fuck, I have never sobered up so quickly in my life.” I sigh, closing my eyes, willing my heart to stop beating so hard. “Don’t do that to me, bro! I fucking shit myself thinking I lost her again.”

“Nah bro, chill, Shayla is blissfully happy getting ready to walk down that aisle to marry you,” Josh reassures me, and I sigh, finally allowing myself to smile and relax. “Shit, what time is it? We have to go to the airport.” I say in a panic, and Josh shakes his head.

“I’ve already been and got her. Everything is on track, don’t worry. Let’s get you showered and ready. You have less than two hours till we have to leave for the chapel.” Josh tells me, and I nod and exhale. I’m so fucking excited; I get to marry the girl of my dreams today. I can’t wait to see her beautiful face when she sees the surprise I have planned for her. “Are we doing this, bro? It’s not too late to back out?” Josh teases with a smile, and I shake my head slowly.

“Back out?” I intone grinning. “I’m going to skip down that aisle, and no one can stop me,” I tell him and walk to the bathroom to shower. “Last night was crazy. I can’t believe how drunk we all got.”

Josh laughs, massaging his head, “I know, I’m still feeling those jaeger bombs. The highlight of the night, though, Shay’s face, when she saw you on stage with Channing was priceless.”

I grin while I run the shower. “I know, she was so worked up Aimee had to rip us away from each other. She’s real fierce that girlfriend of yours.” I tell him and watch as he grins happily.

“That she is,” He sighs, biting his lip. “I’m falling hard for her man. It’s so fucking fast. It’s only been a few weeks.”

I laugh, “Welcome to the club, my friend,” I state, slapping his back before I close the door and jump in the shower. An hour later, I was dressed and ready to head to the chapel. I look at myself in the mirror in my black tuxedo and readjust my cufflinks. Josh comes and stands beside me, fixing his tie.

“You ready, brother?” He asks, smiling at me. I nod and exhale nervously.

“Like you wouldn’t believe.” I bite my lip. My stomach was in knots. “I can’t wait to see her, I’m so nervous I’m going to faint,” I tell him earnestly, and Josh chuckles and squeezes my shoulder.

“You will, when you see her. She looks incredible. She’s glowing like an angel.” I look at Josh, and I can already feel my emotions bubbling up. I blink back the tears and sigh deeply.

“Let’s go do the thing, and we can head to the chapel,” I tell him, and he nods. We go to my brother in laws room and knock on the door. Sam opens it and looks at me; he smiles and gestures for me to enter. I walk into the room and smile when I see Shayla’s mother sitting on the bed, looking gorgeous in a blue dress. She smiles lovingly when she sees me and stands up, holding her hands out to me. I walk over to her and take her hands in mine, and her eyes well up.

“You look so handsome, darling.” She tells me, and I smile.

“And you look beautiful, Sara,” I say, and just like her daughter, she blushes and squeezes my hands.

“Cole, I don’t know how to thank you. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have had the courage to be here with my daughter on her wedding day. You’ve given me my life back, and I will forever be grateful.” She expresses, her sincerity radiating in her eyes.

“Sara, I didn’t do anything. I only got you the help; you did the hard part and allowed yourself to heal.” I assert, rubbing my thumb over her knuckles. “I’m thrilled Annabelle managed to help you face your anxiety and fears.”

Sara smiles gratefully at me and nods, tears rolling down her cheeks. “My daughter has chosen herself the perfect life partner. I can see why she has chosen to give her heart to you. You truly are a wonderful man, Cole. All the heartache Shayla has been through and growing up without her father hurt her deeply, but I am so thankful that she’s found a man who looks at her the way her father used to look at me.” She cries, and I wrap my arms around her.

“Oh Sara, I’m not a man of faith, but I’m thankful first to God himself then to you for bringing such an amazing woman into the world. Your beautiful daughter has changed my life and continues to do so every day, and I honestly can’t wait to start my own family with her.” I tell her and pull back, and she dries her tears with her tissue.

“I wish her father could have met you,” She sighs, reaching up and touching my cheek. “Oh, before I forget.” Sara walks over to the table, picks up a little box, and walks over to me again. “The rings.” I take the box from her and open it and see the two wedding bands inside. Her and her late husband’s rings. “I hope these rings will bring you both as much love and happiness as it did my Richie and me.” She smiles tenderly, and Sam walks over to us and pats my shoulder.

“We’re giving you the most precious thing to us. Take good care of her, and I have no doubt you will, but make her happy.” He says, and I nod, wiping away the tears that roll down my cheek.

“Your sister is my life, Sam. I will take care of her and do everything in my power to make her happy every single day.” I reassure him, and he smiles before we hug.

“Good lad.”

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