Lexi started laughing. “Sweetheart, you are asking the wrong woman.”
She blew out a long, slow breath. And smiled. “Okay. I’m ready.”
Zach was cleaned up, dressed up, dosed up, and standing up at the arbor along with Tucker. The sun was setting on Malibu Beach, and fifty of Tessa’s and Zach’s family and friends filled rows of chairs lining the sand. A soft wind blew, ruffling the flower petals and ribbons decorating the arbor and the center aisle. The surf gently washed the shore a few hundred feet away.
The setting couldn’t have been more perfect for his wedding. Lexi’s Advil-Tylenol cocktail had him feeling like himself again—even if he didn’t look like himself. Troy’s girl, Ellie, was sitting on a stool near the arbor, strumming a soothing melody.
Still, Zach couldn’t settle. He hadn’t seen Tessa or Sophia in a month, but he’d gotten a good dose of his daughter as soon as he’d arrived from the airport. And he wouldn’t feel right until he touched Tessa again.
“Dude,” Tucker said at his side. “Chill. Your fidgeting is driving me crazy.”
Zach sucked in a deep breath, stretching his lungs until the stress ebbed, then blew it out nice and slow.
“There you go,” Tucker said.
“You got the ring?”
“That’s the eighteenth time you’ve asked.”
“What’s your point?”
“I have the ring.”
Zach cleared his throat, scanned the guests, breezing over his mother and father sitting up front. His mother was talking with the woman next to her. His father was scanning his phone. Zach was glad they’d come—for Tessa and Sophia. Nothing had changed between him and his parents, but they’d happily welcomed Tessa into the family and were both absolutely bowled over by Sophia. And as long as they treated his girls like gold, he’d let them.
“Did you sign the contract for next season yet?” Tucker asked.
“I’m going to talk it over with Tessa first.”
“If you don’t take it, would you pimp me out?”
Zach laughed. “I didn’t say I wasn’t taking it.” He shrugged and gave Tucker a sidelong look. “But I’ll still put in a word for you—as my understudy.”
Tucker’s laugh carried on the wind. “You fuckin’ big shot.”
Ellie finished a song, slipped off the stool, and handed her guitar over to a young woman sitting in the front row. While Ellie made her way across the sand and disappeared around a bend, the other woman started strumming Here Comes the Bride.
Zach’s blood pressure shot skyward, along with his excitement.
The minister cut his conversation with a guest short and met Zach and Tucker under the arbor with a warm smile. “Beautiful night for a beach wedding.”
“Perfect night,” Zach agreed—to begin the best days of his life.
A collective gasp from the guests pulled Zach’s gaze to the end of the white carpet that had been laid over the sand. Sophia started down the path with a basket in one hand, the other throwing crimson rose petals along the carpet. Zach knew Rubi had gotten her hands on the girl the second he’d seen the elaborate curls tucked into a silver tiara. But he had to admit, her bright smile as she traipsed the carpet made Zach stand taller and smile wider. His heart spilled with joy. This was truly the very best day of his life.
The first couple turned onto the carpet—Lexi and Jax. Followed by Rubi and Wes. By the time Rachel and Ryker fell in behind them, Sophia had reached him. Zach settled his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face the aisle just as Lexi and Jax parted, Lexi turning left and taking up residence on the bride’s side, Jax turning right and standing beside Tucker.
The couples continued to stream down the aisle and part, forming lines on either side of the arbor. After Rachel and Ryker, Grace and Josh started down the aisle, followed by Ellie and Troy, and finally Brook and her ready-to-pop-any-day-now belly accompanying Keaton.
No more than ten minutes had passed since the music had started, but Zach could have sworn it took them half a damn hour to get down the aisle. Sweat collected under his tuxedo shirt and stung the cuts on his face.
The music paused a moment while Ellie took her place on the stool with her guitar. She started singing a song from her latest platinum album, something Tessa had chosen and a song Zach loved, but he couldn’t focus on anything other than Tessa as she stepped onto the end of the carpet where Zach’s father met her and offered his arm.
Her gown was sleek, simple, and sleeveless, with lace from the waist up, dipping in a deep vee between her breasts. Her hair was up, and a fluffy veil spilled out behind her. Christ, she looked beautiful. Radiant. Stunning. A familiar ache churned deep in his heart.
She smiled at his father, and they shared a few words before Tessa looked up and found Zach. He felt the moment their gazes met with a flutter in his gut. The closer she came, the faster his heart beat, until the surf had faded and the music barely registered as a distant hum. Tessa’s smile held strong, even as the shock of his appearance registered in her eyes. And by the time she stood face-to-face with him, she was giggling.
“I know,” he murmured. “I’m so sorry.”