Chapter 15
Mae
I sit waiting for the service to take place in what can only be described as a fairy tale wedding. I never asked Chelsea anything about the service because I wanted to be surprised. I know that it was a gamble with the cake design, but my intuition has never been wrong.
There are so many guests that I am shocked that we are all fitting in this room. Everyone who is of the upper-class society of this city is here. There are also a few celebrities here which honestly shocks me. I knew that these people were influential, but I had no clue to what extent.
I feel completely underdressed in my department store dress that I had to save up to get. For me, a dress that costs this much is something that is considered a luxury and not something that happens very often. Alex, however, seemed to love it and was giving lust-filled looks ever since I stepped out of the bedroom with it on.
A woman comes and sits next to me with a small smile on her face. She has rather kind eyes and I feel like she may be the only person in this crowd that I could talk to.
"Hope you don't mind me sitting here. My sons are in the wedding, and I couldn't help but want to see them. They have been friends with Xavier from the time that they were in diapers."
I feel my heart stop. This is Tanner's mother. This is the woman who gave birth to the man that ruined my life at one time. She seems so calm and kind, so it is shocking to know that those two are her children.
"It's perfectly fine. My boyfriend is in the wedding as well." She smiles at me and raises a brow in question. "Alex. We have been dating for a while now."
"Thank goodness. That boy needs someone to love. I only wish my boys would find someone as lovely as you."
Hearing her say that sends a shiver down my spine. At one point in time, her son did have me, but he chose to throw it all away. Well more like it was never real, to begin with. I smile back at her and push back any of the awkwardness I may be feeling.
The service begins, and I see Xavier and Alex standing at the front looking handsome. Alex looks for me and gives me a big toothy grin when he finds me. As the groomsmen walk down with the bridesmaids they all lineup. Tanner looks over at me, and then his eyes get huge when he sees who I am sitting next to.
I can tell that he is starting to get nervous with me here next to his mother. Sweat starts to pop up across his forehead, and my inner self is laughing at his fear.
The service is beautiful, and the bride looks happier than I have ever seen her. I make my way over to where the reception is being held, and it looks amazing. My cake is looking perfect and many guests are standing around it taking pictures. I feel proud that I was able to create something so beautiful for their special day.
I look for the table with the seating chart and find that I am at the table with Alex and the rest of the bridal party. With a deep breath and a pep talk, I make my way to my seat. After being there for a few minutes I feel lips against my neck and I know that Alex has found me.
"Have I told you how gorgeous you look today?" His breath fans against my ear as he talks.
"Only a few times, but I love to hear it again." I wrap my arm around him while he hugs me from behind.
"Then I will tell you that every day for the rest of your life." I smile at the thought that we are going to be living together soon.
Alex sits down next to me, and we begin talking about how amazing the service was. He blushes when I tell him how handsome he looked standing up there. I giggle at his embarrassment knowing that it isn't often that he gets like this. He takes my hand and kisses it while looking me in the eyes. The man is romantic without even trying.
"By the way, I'm sorry I didn't tell you this before, but that cake is beyond amazing. I think that Chelsea is going to love it." He tells me, and I can tell he genuinely means it.
"I hope she does. I really put a lot of heart and love into that piece."
As I finish saying this the DJ announces the couple, and they both come in smiling. The love between them is precious to see. Everyone in the wedding party starts making their way around the room, and the party gets started.
After a delicious meal, the festivities start with the toasts. Alex does an amazing job with his speech, and I can't take my eyes off of him. I keep feeling someone looking at me. I turn my head to see Tanner sitting across from me watching my every move.
He smiles at me and waves, which makes me want to walk over there and throat punch him. Over the years, I have worked hard to get over what happened between us. After yesterday's revelation of the truth of what all happened, I have nothing but anger and hatred toward him. His smile falters when I don't smile back.
Alex comes down from the stage and sits next to me. I smile at him and give him a quick kiss. He smiles back at me, and I see love and happiness in his eyes.
"You good?" He asks.
"Yeah, just slightly annoyed at my peeping tom over there."
Alex looks over at Tanner and finds him watching us. His hands ball into fists, and I see his expression turn to one of anger. He moves as if he is going to stand, and I place my hand on his shoulder.
"Now is not the time. I don't want to make a scene here. Just let him stare. As long as I'm with you, I will be just fine." He looks at me and nods trying to calm himself down.
As soon as the dancing starts Alex pulls me to the dance floor during a slow song. He wraps me up in his arms, and I feel safe and loved. He moves me around the floor with ease, and I feel like I am the princess at the ball. We laugh and talk all while moving to the music. I feel myself falling deeper in love with him as I stare into his eyes.
A tap on Alex's shoulder pulls us both from our little bubble and we look to see Tanner standing there. Alex tenses and I feel the anger rising in my system.
"May I cut in?" Tanner asks as if we would be fine with it.
"Are you crazy? You think that I will let you anywhere near her after all you did?" Alex whispers to him trying to not draw attention to us.
"I need to talk to her to apologize Alex. I deserve that much at least, considering that you stole my girl." Tanner spits out.
I have to hold Alex back from punching Tanner. The fury on Alex's face is something that I have never seen the entire time we have been together. The air is electric around us, and people are starting to stare. He looks at me and I shrug as if saying let's just get this over with.
"If you do anything that upsets her, I will find you and I will beat the shit out of you." He turns and kisses my temple as he walks off the dance floor.
We start to dance, and it strikes me that this is the first time that I have ever danced with Tanner. In all the time that we were together, we never danced. He wraps his arms tighter around me as if he is trying to get my attention.
"I know that you're mad at me...." He starts until I cut him off.
"Mad doesn't even begin to cover what I am." I hiss out.
"I know that I was wrong in what I did. But you need to understand that I was young and stupid. I wasn't ready for a committed relationship."
"Do you honestly think that is a valid excuse? Tanner, we were together for years. We weren't teenagers. You damn well knew what you were doing and you could have care less about what my feeling was on the subject. You lied about who you were. You cheated multiple times. There is nothing in this world that would excuse that." I scoff.
This man has to have a brain the size of a kidney bean. Who thinks that being young is an excuse for those things? I look up at his face again and try to figure out what in the world attracted me to him. I know that people change over time, but there still should be something there that I remember.
The problem is that there is nothing there to find anymore. The man I loved was a lie, so now looking at Tanner all I see is a person I don't know.
"Goodbye, Tanner. I wish you luck in your future but let's not do this again. The only thing that us being around each other brings is pain." I pull away from him and walk off the dance floor.
As I walk off Chelsea stands there at the edge with open arms. She pulls me in for a hug. Who would have guessed we would have become friends.
"It's gorgeous Mae. Thank you. You deserve so much more in life than what you were dealt. Go find your man he's worried."
I smile and walk in search of Alex. He stands near the cake talking to Xavier. Once he sees me he also opens his arms for me. I place myself in them and know that there is nowhere else I'd rather be.