Page 86 of Slow Burn (The Boston Beauties)

She snorted, ‘Yeah, like the PR nightmare that has just landed on my head.’

‘I prefer to think of myself as a dream come true, not a nightmare,’ I tried to break the tension.

‘Are you sick?’ Zoe asked me, looking me up and down as she walked further into the suite and opened up the small fridge, taking out a bottle of wine.

‘No,’ I answered her question, walking closer to her as she poured a large glass and started to drink it. It was uncharacteristic of her but given the circumstances, I got it. I put the bottle back in the fridge and took out a bottle of water so I wouldn’t be offered wine, as refusing would have been uncharacteristic for me. ‘I just exercise and eat right now.’

She smiled for the first time at me. ‘You look good.’

‘A year of self-reflection will do that for a person.’

‘You don’t say.’ She finally put down her wine glass and hugged me. ‘I’m still pissed at you.’

‘I would be too, but I hope once you hear everything you will be a little less pissed,’ I walked to the sofa. ‘Besides, I'm getting married in two days and I need you to come.’

She nearly choked on the wine. ‘W...what?’ she stuttered. ‘You’re getting married.’

Zoe looked to my mother with concern. ‘Is this for real?’

My mother nodded with a smile on her face. ‘But who is he?’ Zoe asked, taking a seat next to me. ‘I mean, Jessa, are you sure?’ She turned back to my mother, concern written all over her face and dripping from her tone. ‘Have you met him, is he a decent guy?’

‘Yes…’ my mother tried to assure her, but Zoe cut her off.

‘Has Breton done a check on him? Like, a good one this time?’

I had to laugh. ‘He checks out.’

‘How long have you known him, and where the hell have you been?’ Zoe demanded, getting feisty.

‘I’ve known Drew for about as long as you have,’ I announced casually taking a sip of my water.

It was fun to watch recognition set in on her. ‘That jerk has a lot of explaining to do.’

CHAPTER 29

JESSA

It wasn’t a big grand wedding, it wasn’t the social event of the season, and it wasn’t even all that fancy. But to me it was perfect and exactly what I had wanted. I had my parents, my two best friends Amber and Zoe, my cousins Breton and Abby, my only surviving grandparents, my aunt Deb, and Zoe’s sister Lana, who was with Zoe in LA, and who Zoe didn’t want to leave behind. Which I was fine with, as I really liked her. We were also able to fly Drew’s sister Nicole, her boyfriend and their daughter, his best friend Ali and his wife over from England. The plans had come together so fast and I didn’t feel right that Drew might not have family or friends present for his big day. He had told me he didn’t care, but I insisted and, in the end, I knew how happy he was to have them here with us on our wedding day. I reminded Drew that I only planned on doing this once, so we better get it right the first time round.

Most importantly, there was Drew waiting for me at the end of the small aisle that was made of flower petals on the grass of the backyard at the villa we had rented. On either side, there were four rows of four chairs, where our family and friends watched me walk down the aisle alone.

My father had wanted to give me away, but I told him that I hated the idea of that, as I was always going to be his daughter and would always be close by to him. We also didn’t have the traditional maid of honor or best man. Drew and I stood alone at the floral and tulle altar, with a female justice of the peace officiating the ceremony. Legally binding Drew and me as husband and wife.

The ceremony took place in the early evening in the backyard where we had fairy lights strung around the trees and scented candles on pillars around the yard, creating a glowing ambiance.

Drew wore a tux that he purchased last summer for a black-tie charity event, while I had on a pleated Greek style dress that started out silvery white on top and gradually became ice blue where it ended mid-calf. I had a silver belt, silver shoes and wore my hair down in big loose waves. My makeup was simple and I had on a pair of diamond earrings my grandparents gifted me, that had belonged to my grandmother. I also wore a new platinum, diamond and sapphire tennis bracelet that my parents gave to me.

Drew and I had a heart-to-heart conversation the evening he arrived in Vegas. Things had been strained between us, and I didn’t want anything to take away from the joy that would be our wedding the following day. We were in bed and I knew he was just as anxious to make love to me as I was to him, but I had to tell him. This was the first time we had been alone all day and the need to tell him was starting to overwhelm me.

I pulled back from him, and he eyed me as if I had just slapped him, ‘Jessa…’

I placed my hand over his and shook my head.

‘Drew, there’s something I need to tell you before we continue and before I meet you at the altar tomorrow.’

He looked pained but not overly surprised. ‘Is there someone else?’

I could see how he might think that I’d been distant since leaving after our month together, but only because I've been so busy with planning this wedding, finalizing all the documentation for the authorities, all while suffering with really horrible morning sickness.

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