Throwing my head back, I laughed. “I’ve debated it all day today.”
Hitting me on the chest, we made our way back to the hotel. Ava ordered room service and we spent the rest of the evening wrapped up in each other’s arms.
I STOOD AND stared at myself in the mirror.
I’m in Paris.
I’m getting married.
I’m freaking out.
My cell rang on the side table. Quickly walking over to grab it, I saw his name and debated answering.
Nate.
“Hello?”
“Are you sure about this, bro? The whole ball and chain thing? It’s not too late to back out.”
Rolling my eyes, I let out a frustrated sigh. “What in the hell are you calling me for? It’s like three in the morning there.”
“I’ve been at your bachelor party! It was fucking amazing! The stripper we hired … holy shit, dude. She fucked me until I swear she broke my dick.”
Pinching my eyebrows together, I replied, “Wait. You had a bachelor party for me … without me there?”
“Yeah, well it’s not my fault you ran off to France to get married.”
“Asshole, I would have been in the Bahamas today so I still would have not been there.”
The line was silent. “All right, well whatever; we celebrated your dick being owned by one woman for the rest of your life. How does it feel knowing that? God … my body just trembled thinking about it.”
“Someday, Nate, there is going to be a girl who is going to change you.”
He let out a roar of laughter. “Fuck. No. I like the way my life is, thank you very much.”
“What was her name?”
“Who?”
“The stripper.”
A loud crash came from the background as Nate mumbled something about not being able to find the lights. “Hell, I don’t know. Candy. Misty. Rock my world. I have no clue what her name was. All I know is she could fuck.”
I shook my head. I knew this was not the life Nate wanted. He just hadn’t met the right girl to tame his wild ways.
“Listen, I’ve got to go. Nate? Are you okay?”
“Me? Hell yeah. Drunk as hell from that awesome as fuck bachelor party I threw you.”
With a moan, I replied, “Well, glad it was fun. I’ll talk to you when we land in the US.”
“Tell Ava I said hi. And Ryder, I really am happy for you. Ava is a great woman and what she has done for Kate … well, just tell her I said thank you.”
My heart warmed. I knew deep down inside my brother wasn’t a total asshole. “I will, bro. Talk soon.”
After getting off the phone with him, I took one last look at myself and made my way downstairs. The wedding was being held here in the hotel in one of the private ball rooms. When I walked in, I smiled. The room was filled with white and pink roses. Ava would love it.
Straight ahead was a balcony that overlooked the garden. Making my way out I noticed Karen, the wedding consultant Michael had hired, making some last minute touches. She turned to me and spoke in French.
I had no clue what she rattled off. “It looks beautiful. Very beautiful.”
She smiled and gave me a pat on the arm before heading back into the room.
Looking out over the garden I took in a deep breath and slowly blew it out. “I’m getting married. Holy shit I’m getting married,” I mumbled.
A young girl was walking through the gardens that caught my eye. I didn’t pay too much attention to her until she turned and looked up. My heart stopped and my chest grew tight. Wrapping her coat tightly around her body, she stared up at me.
She looked exactly like … Kate.
I closed my eyes tightly and re-opened them. Lifting her hand, she waved. I mindlessly did the same as I tried to get a better look at her.
“Are you ready?” Renee asked as she stepped up next to me.
There was no way I could pull my eyes away from the girl. She stood there looking up at me while I tried to figure out how I could see her face … yet I couldn’t make it out.
“Ryder? Are you okay?” Waving her hand in front of me to drop my gaze, I turned to her.
“Yeah. Um … that girl down in the gardens. She looks so familiar to me.”
Renee turned and looked out over the gardens and frowned. “What girl?”
Snapping my head back forward, my heart dropped.
She was gone.
“She was right there,” I said pointing.
Renee shook her head. “Did you drink too much last night? There was no one standing there when I walked out here. Are you sure you saw someone?”
I continued to stare in the spot I saw the girl. Turning around, I fought to regain my composure.
“I’m fine. Must be nerves.”
With a bright smile, Renee nodded. “Must be. At any rate, Michael is upstairs fussing over Ava’s gown. I think we’ll be ready to start in the next few minutes. Do you need anything?”
“A drink. Something strong.”
She laced her arm in mine as we headed out of the room and made our way to the small bar in the hotel. Even though Renee was from Texas, she spoke perfect French … at least it sounded to me like she did. Speaking to the bartender, he looked at me and chuckled.