“Oh, those old bats love it,” he teased. “Look what happens when they have creative freedom. They’re very talented!”
“As are you,” I winked.
He was gracious enough to accept with a nod and we were turned around by more guests. Martin and Rodrigo!
“Harper, you are sight! Aphrodite herself would cast you down in jealousy,” Martin said, hugging me tightly, then Callum. “Congratulations.”
“Thank you, Martin,” Callum said.
We heard the buzz of a microphone somewhere and Charlie’s complaining that no one could hear him.
“May I have your attention?” He said into the microphone. “I’m sure you’re all as hungry as I am but I’ve been told by that lovely red head over there,” he said, pointing at Cherry. She blushed and shook her head, “that I need to ‘suck it up’ because Callum and Harper’s first dance as a married couple must, and I quote, be while the sun completely sets.”
Everyone laughed and clapped as Callum drug me to the dance floor and swung me in a tight circle as Barcelona’s Please Don’t go began to play. He held me firmly and slowly guided me around the stone dance floor, my hand in the palm of his as he held it securely to his chest, my other hand around his neck. I leaned my face into the side of his neck as he sang softly into my ear the wonderfully delicious lyrics.
Suddenly, the strung lights Kelly had arranged for burst on over the dance floor. It was incredible and left us awestruck as we heard the ooh's of the guests around us.
Callum stopped and whispered in my ear, “I’ve never seen a woman look as beautiful as you do right now, Harper Tate.” My breath caught in my chest, striking me mute. “Shall we give them a little show?” He teased, a glint in his eye. I gulped, expecting him to kiss me but was disappointed only for a moment when he didn’t because my heart rate picked up as he lead me around the dance floor dramatically, like a professional dancer, making me forget all about my missed kiss.
“Kelly made me take lessons with her last year for a role she was trying to get. She didn’t, by the way,” he offered my dumbstruck expression as he effortlessly guided me around the stone.
At the last note, he dipped me dramatically and kissed my neck. The guests howled in elation. He picked me up and I felt dizzy, gripping tightly onto his forearms.
“Thank you, Mrs. Tate,” he winked and led me to our seats.
Cherry led us straight to a sweetly decorated table with the most gorgeous little cake I’d ever seen. It was fairly small, but enough to feed about fifty, two tiers, simple butter cream frosting but you can tell Cross’s girlfriend arranged to have Tom envelop it in flowers. Flowers seemed to be the theme for the evening. We cut into our cake hand in hand, completing yet another tradition, and fed each other lemon cake respectfully. Callum was taken back that I remembered his favorite was lemon and rubbed my hand in his with a wink of appreciation.
The food, the champagne, the flowers, the dress, the guests. Everything was more perfect than I could have ever imagined. I felt so undeserving of it all knowing Callum never planned on continuing on. I felt sick at the thought.
“Hey,” he said, noticing my face. “Are you okay?”
“Yes. It’s just, I feel very guilty for pretending.” For many reasons.
“Are you?”
“Am I what?”
“Pretending,” he said, glaring hard.
“Of..of...of course I am,” I lied.
“I’m not,” he said with conviction.
“You’re not?” I asked, hopeful for the first time in weeks. My heart beat in my throat.
“Not tonight, I’m not.” Not tonight? What does that mean?
“No, I...” He started to say, leaning into me, making me breathless again. I felt butterflies wrestle in my stomach.
“Excuse me,” we heard a voice from behind us, “but may I have this dance?” It was Cherry.
Callum stood and took her hand, squeezing my shoulder.
As Cherry and Callum danced, I studied the way he carried himself around her. It was the same way he carried himself around all girls. All girls except this girl. I felt a twinge more hope knowing he was way more intimate with me than he was with anyone I’d ever seen him with. He wasn’t a shameless flirt. He was genuine and wonderful and...my husband.
The food was plentiful, the champagne flowing, the night lasted for hours. At two a.m., we could still feel the bass bumping around us but Callum and I both felt tired and ready to leave. We’d planned on using some of our money from the week to rent a hotel room but Charlie surprised us with a room at The Chatwal as a wedding gift.
We thanked everyone profusely, hugging each of our friends five or six times a piece. I lingered a bit at Charlie and Cherry and we were on our way, escorted yet again by the humble and talented Tie-Dye Tom.
The Chatwal was unlike any place I had ever been. We stood in its opulent lobby, waiting for the elevator and felt more pampered than we ever had and we hadn’t even made the room yet.
Callum
Harper and I stood at the elevator, our key in hand. Charlie assured me everything was taken care of, our bags were already in our room, he had checked us in. All we had to do was enter the door. We entered the elevator in an amazing mood, riding all the way up to our floor in flirtatious smiles and teasing pokes. We stepped into our hall, passing an older couple. The woman gasped and briefly held her hand to her mouth.
“Congratulations!” She exclaimed passing us by, arm in arm with her husband. “You have a very beautiful bride, groom.”
“I know,” I said, “and thank you.”
We reached our room and I unlocked our door. Harper tried to step forward but I swung her back, scooping her up in my arms and carrying her across the threshold. The door clicked behind the us. The windows were open, bathing the room in moonlight.
“We’ve gone this far,” I teased. “Might as well finish this thing.” As soon as I said it, I turned beet red, setting Harper on the ground again.
I covered my face trying to hide my humiliation but her laughter brought me back out into the open and I peeked between my fingers.
“Please,” Harper said, grabbing my hands and pulling them down, “I knew what you meant.” I smirked and shrugged my shoulders. “It was funny, though,” she said and I couldn’t help but laugh with her.
“So,” I said, suddenly realizing we were alone in a very posh hotel room with absolutely nothing to do.
“So,” she copied.