The Unexpected Series (Unexpected #1-3) (56 page)

Standing up, she makes her way over to me and wraps her arms around my waist.

“I’m so sorry, Trent. I don’t know what else to say.”

She doesn’t let go. I don’t either. I close my eyes just enjoying the calmness of her embrace in such a shitty fucking time.

“I’m not pregnant.” She breaks the silence.

I squeeze her tighter. “I know.”

“I should have waited to sleep with you.” Her voice muffled in my chest.

“I don’t regret it and I hope you don’t. I just hate knowing you slept with him.”

“I know.”

I was thinking on the way over how unfair life was to Alex. She didn’t have the best home life and even though she left Jason when he was a baby, she didn’t deserve what she was dealt. I thought about how I want to be with Noelle but feel like right now I can’t give her my heart when it’s broken. She deserves better.

I kiss her head and pull away. She looks up at me, her blue eyes darker than normal. “I want to be with you, Noe, but I need some time to heal. I need time to focus on Jason. His first two years of life she wasn’t around then all of the sudden she is everywhere. Now, she’s been taken from him again. So, just time. Can you give me that?”

She nods. “I can wait, Trent. I know this,” she says tapping my chest. “Is worth it. You’re worth it.”

As she stands up on her tiptoes, and she kisses me quickly.

“I just don’t want to start us off like this. I want to give you my whole heart and not during a time like this.”

I look down at her, knowing that I want to see this face when I’m old and gray. I’m so in love with her. We’ve put each other through the ringer and now I’m backing away once again. I know that if we can make it through the stuff we have this summer than we can damn well make it through postponing the start of our relationship.

~~

T
he memorial service was three days after Alex died. Jason had asked for her a couple of times. He didn’t understand that she was up in Heaven. It’s been tough on everyone. They say the younger you are the more people are at your funeral. Alex grew up around here and most of her high school and college friends attended the service. They had their families in tow, and the church was filled to the brim. People were lined up on the edges and the back of the church.

I said a few words about our last couple of months together. The things we did, the places we went and the talks we had as well as her love for Jason. Her parents spoke as well. They talked about her childhood. What a vibrant, artistic child she was. They touched on her absence, telling the congregation that she doesn’t believe in regrets but if she had one, that would be it. Her father talked of the late night movie and popcorn dates. Her mother broke down when Jason started giggling, commenting that he was her greatest accomplishment and she will be looking down on him at all times.

The luncheon was for close friends and family only, so about fifty or so of the attendees made their way to Erin and Walker’s house. They had it catered and let the kids run outside in the backyard. Everyone shared their own stories of how Alex had touched their lives. All I could do was stare at Noelle and rub my fingers along the note I had in my hand. It was from Alex. I found it inside the paperwork we had for her cremation. She must have put it there after I filed it away knowing I would find it immediately after she died. It read:

Trent:

What would you do if you only had one day left? Would you sit in the dark and wallow in your insecurities or would you spend it with the light that brings you out of the darkness? Noelle is your sunshine...make her Jason’s too. I love you both.

Love, Alex.

Noelle didn’t know it yet but I was going to take Alex’s three rules for life and abide by them. I vowed to fight for Noelle and me to work, love her with every fiber of my being and have zero regrets.

T
he big day is finally here! My best friend is getting married. I’m astonished as Erin sits completely calm in the hotel room getting her hair and makeup done. I’m a complete wreck. Not only do I have maid of honor duties but I have wedding planner duties as well.

“Noelle, you have to stop tapping your foot like that. It’s making me nuts!” Erin scolds from across the room. Her hair looks beautiful, flowing in loose curls and pinned to the side with a small white flower. Her eye shadow applied in a purplish shimmer and mascara that makes her lashes pop. She is a vision.

“I’m just nervous,” I reply back straightening out my fire engine red bridesmaid dress. It’s stunning and Erin picked the color because she loves me and she said I look good in it. Its straps intersect across my chest, hugging my torso and flows down my waist, over my hips and hits above my knees. As if I wasn’t tall enough, she has me wearing black stiletto heels that strap around the ankle.

She laughs. “There is nothing to be nervous about, Noe. Hadley took over for you already and since I’m your best friend, if anything goes wrong, I will make sure to blame her.”

Our eyes meet and we both start laughing.

“Unless,” she starts again. “You’re nervous about seeing Trent.”

I throw my head back frustrated, earning myself a ‘tsk tsk’ from the hairdresser who just finished putting the waves in my hair thirty minutes ago, and sigh. “Maybe.”

Over the past month I’ve seen Trent quite a few times. The co-ed bridal shower was at his mother’s house and he would always find a way to touch me. He’d gently brush over my hand when I’d reach for something or graze my leg as he sat down. I’m trying to let him have time. It can’t be easy dealing with what he got dealt but there is no way he is making it easy. A few times we would find ourselves in a room or the hallway alone and he would pull me in for a hug and then gently kiss my ear. He stopped in my office a few times and he helped me with the rehearsal dinner last night, where he would conveniently get me alone and replay his torturous touches. Last night at the rehearsal dinner he told me he had a gift for me after the wedding. It was the first time I had seen him smile in so long.

So, here I am, more nervous on my best friend’s wedding day than her because her sexy as hell brother has a surprise for me.

“Earth to, Noelle!” Nicole yells. She wasn’t too happy about me being the maid of honor until Erin asked her to be the matron of honor. She and her husband, Brad, were on the fast track to divorce and recently worked things out. When he moved out he realized what he had. There was a lot of begging involved but they seem very happy now and I’m happy for her and the kids.

“Yea, sorry.” I apologize and stand up. “Is it show time?”

“Yes! Thank God!” Erin says smiling at herself in the full length mirror. Her dress is beautiful. It’s from the David’s Bridal collection. The key-hole back exposes her beautiful ivory skin and cap sleeves meet a sweetheart neckline. It’s covered in lace and a bright red beaded sash lies high up on her waist and ties in the back, the ribbon falling all the way to the bottom of the dress.

I slowly walk to her, tears welling up in my eyes. “Erin, you look stunning.”

She closes her eyes and shakes her hand at me. “Do NOT cry! I can’t ruin my makeup.”

“Okay, okay.” I relent carefully wiping a tear away. “But I swear to God if I planned this entire wedding and Walker takes one look at you and tackles and has his way with you and ruins the day I’ll be pissed.”

The room erupts in laughter as someone knocks on the door. I open it and my breath is taken away. Dressed in a crisp tuxedo, bright red bowtie and a fucking smile that is going to make me walk around in soaking wet panties is a brown haired, brown eyed God. I don’t know what I look like but I’m thinking I could resemble a deer in headlights as I just stare at his perfect posture and hair gelled to perfection.

“Hey, Sunshine,” Trent greets me his smirk turning from happy to seductive.

“Noe, let him in!” Emma calls from behind me and I turn to her finding a flirty smile. I narrow my eyes at her but stop as soon as Trent’s hands land on my sides and slides past me into the room.

His breath hitches when Erin comes into his line of vision. “Erin,” he whispers. “I have no words for how beautiful you are. Dad would be a blubbering mess today, do you know that?”

She starts to cry and I rush over a box of tissues to her makeup lady, Cindy. She begins to dab at her eyes but it’s uncontrollable.

“Damn it, Trent!” She sobs. “I didn’t want to cry.”

He walks over to her bringing her into an embrace, and I see tears falling down both of their faces. Nicole joins in and everyone starts to leave the room to give them some privacy. I didn’t realize I was crying just as hard as they were. Nicole turns and grabs me bringing me into the group hug. “You were as much of a daughter to him as me.”

Cindy breaks us up a few minutes later and goes to work on Erin’s eyelids. Nicole and I head to the bathroom to fix ourselves up and before we know it, it’s time to head to the ceremony site.

The entire bride side of the wedding party packs into the waiting limo. The temperature for October is crisp but the bright sun beating down has me hot and flustered, or maybe it’s because Trent is walking dangerously close behind me. Either way I feel like I’m sweating through my dress. I adjust myself before I climb in. Erin follows, with some help from Trent and somehow he ends up right next to me.

My body stiffens with his closeness. I don’t know how to act around him. I almost feel awkward. We both know we want something more, but I’m trying to give him his space, let him grieve. I fold my hands in my lap but he snatches one and entwines our fingers, placing them on his knee. Like a teenage girl, I cannot help the smile that spreads across my face. Erin eyes me from across the limo, quirking an eyebrow at our hands. I shrug and look out the window trying not to overanalyze it.

We pull up to the gardens right before the ceremony starts. The wedding guests are seated and ready to finally see the union of Erin and Walker. Her mom opens the door to the limo anxious to see her daughter again. She had left early and has been taking care of Savannah and Jason while everyone was finishing up getting ready at the hotel. I step out with Trent’s help and hug her giving her a fair warning that she better not make Erin cry.

As soon as Erin steps out her mother’s eyes go wide and you can see she is trying to hold it in. That lasts all of five seconds before she starts crying like we were all doing in the hotel room. This time though Erin keeps it under control.

I allow them their space but am immediately bombarded by Jason as he comes flying towards me. “Little J!” I yell catching him mid jump. He looks adorable in his mini tuxedo.

“Noe! Too!” His cute little voice captures my heart.

I smile at him, kissing his chunky cheeks. “I love you, Jason.”

“Down please,” he asks and then runs to Trent. “Daddy!”

He picks him up but keeps his eyes on me. “You love Noelle huh, little man?”

“Yes. Gamma!” He yells in Trent’s ear and jumps towards Mama Decker.

I can’t look at Trent so I work on smoothing out the invisible wrinkles on my dress.

“Show time!” Hadley calls out towards us and we all follow her to take our places.

All the groomsmen have already taken their places next to Walker so all the bridesmaids are walking down by themselves. Nicole and I are the last two and we walk down together. We take our places and watch as little Savannah, dressed in an adorable white frilly dress, and Jason are pulled down the aisle by Marie, the oldest of all the cousins. Mama Decker pulls them all to the side and quickly turns around to watch her daughter.

The wedding march starts and all the guests stand. I lean over to watch Erin and Trent make their way down. My eyes start to water and Nicole is all out sobbing. When they finally come into view, I see Erin’s focus is on Walker. My knees start to go weak and butterflies take off inside my stomach when I find Trent’s eyes on me. This happens every time I see him. I sway just an inch or two on my stilettos. I can feel his stare radiating through my body knowing without a doubt that I’m crumbling underneath is gaze.

The officiate asks Trent who gives this woman to this man. He replies, “Her mother and I do, as well as her dad up in Heaven.”

When he hands Erin over, Walker whispers something in her ear that makes her as bright as the sash on her dress. Trent walks next to Walker’s best friend, taking his place as a groomsman.

The ceremony isn’t long per their request and in no time Walker has Erin bent backwards giving her a kiss that has everyone cheering and whistling. They are pronounced husband and wife and Mama Decker brings Savannah to them and the entire Prescott family walks down the aisle.

The wedding party starts to make their descent. When it’s my turn I am conveniently paired with Trent. We link arms and he grabs my hand with his. His smile is as bright as the sun and it’s infectious. I can’t help but do the same.

When we exit he turns to me and kisses me chastely on the lips. “Don’t forget I have a something for you later.”

I risk a glance at him, and I’m pretty sure he can see right through my calm façade. “How could I forget?”

~~