Vegas Aces: The Wide Receiver Complete Series

CHAPTER 25 TESSA

It’s been about as lowkey a day as I could hope for. Tristan thought of everything—the day started with massages and whatever other services we wanted at the hotel spa. We followed that up with manicures and pedicures, and now I’m sitting in a chair as someone does my make-up. My hair is next, and then it’s time for the dress, pictures, and walking down the aisle toward my future.

“When I got engaged at Christmas, did you ever imagine you’d be walking down the aisle before me?” Sara asks me as Tonia, the make-up artist, sweeps eye shadow across my lids.

I chuckle without moving. “Never. And certainly not to the boy I’d thought I’d lost forever.”

“It just really goes to show you how much you two are meant to be together forever,” Sara says, and I hear someone approaching but I can’t see who since my eyes are closed.

“I couldn’t agree more.” My mom’s voice is calm and comforting.

Tonia finished my make-up, and she has me check the mirror.

“It’s gorgeous,” I say, shocked at how beautiful I feel even at seven months pregnant.

Tonia moves onto Sara next, and my mom and I head into the main living area of the suite.

“Can we talk for a minute?” she asks as we both walk over toward the window and sit in the wingback chairs overlooking the view.

“Of course,” I say.

She takes my hand in hers as she ignores the view to study me. “Are you doing okay?”

I press my lips into a smile. “I’m doing better than I’ve ever been in my life.”

Her lips lift into a smile, too. “That makes me so happy, honey. I just want you to know that not all men are like Cameron Foster or like your father. Some men are like Tristan. He’s a good guy, and I’m just so pleased for you that you found each other again.”

“Thanks, Mom,” I say softly.

“It won’t be without its hardships. No marriage is, but with him in the spotlight, too, you’ll have an added layer of something I have zero experience with. But I have a little secret that helped me through many dark nights, and I’d like to share it with you if you’d like to hear it.”

I nod as my brows knit together in total curiosity over what she’s about to tell me.

“There were times I was angry with your father.” She averts her eyes to the window and then back to me. “There were times I hated him. And, of course, there were good times, too. Everyone says don’t go to bed angry, but the truth of it is that sometimes you will. And on those nights, or in the heat of an argument, or in those lonely dark moments when he’s away, be sure to always ask yourself if the life you’ve built together is worth it. If the answer is yes, then you fight like hell to make it work. If even a single doubt creeps in that the answer is no…then you walk away. You only get one life, but that doesn’t mean you only get one shot to be as happy as you deserve.”

“Did you ever have doubts about you and Dad?” I ask.

“Every single day from the time he sent you to his sister’s house in Chicago up until the day he died,” she admits, and tears heat behind my eyes. She shakes her head and bites her lip as she gets emotional, too. “Don’t cry, honey. Don’t ruin your make-up, but I feel like I need to say this. I wish I wouldn’t have stayed. I thought I was doing the right thing, being a good example by sustaining a failed marriage, but I wasn’t.”

The look on my face must betray my emotions. Why the hell is she telling me this mere hours before I walk down the aisle?

And then it hits me just as she voices it, and just like that, I understand what Christine Foster was doing on my front porch not so long ago.

She was fighting like hell even though she knew it was a losing battle.

“I didn’t marry a Tristan, honey,” she says. “I married a Cameron who never cared about my feelings, who just did what he wanted. He never tried to make me happy. But I see the way Tristan is with you, and I see how you are with him. Just remember that the foundation of a strong marriage is honesty, so make sure you’re always honest with him…about everything . When the time is right, of course.”

I widen my eyes toward the next room. Sara doesn’t know the everything she’s referring to, and she nods as if she understands what I’m getting at.

“I love you, sweetheart,” she says, and I lean over in my chair to give her an awkward sit-down hug.

“I love you, too, Mom,” I say.

A knock at the door interrupts us.

I stand and squeeze her hand. “Thanks for saying all that.”

I make my way to the door, and I throw it open after checking who’s behind it.

“Happy wedding day!” Ellie says, and she practically leaps at me for a hug.

I giggle. “Thank you.”

“Tristan invited us. I hope that’s okay,” she says. She snaps my photo. “You look gorgeous, and someone needed some BTS pics for the ‘gram.”

“BTS? Gram?” my mom echoes behind me.

“Hi Mrs. Taylor,” Ellie says with a wave.

“Good to see you again, honey,” she says, and I realize they must have met during the craft fair, but I was so busy running around that day I wasn’t the one who made the introductions.

“BTS means behind the scenes ,” I clarify.

“And the ‘gram is Instagram,” Ellie says.

“Ah,” my mom says, raising her brows. “Well, I’ll leave you to it. I need to run back to my room to get dressed, but I’ll be back shortly,” my mom says.

“If you want hair or make-up, the girls are in the bathroom,” I say.

“I’d love make-up,” she says. “I ran out the door and did mascara in the car on the way here.”

I laugh. It’s so Ellie of her.

“Tessa?” someone calls from the bathroom, and I think it’s June, the hair girl. “Your turn for hair!”

“You heard the lady,” I say, and we both laugh as we march toward the bathroom for more pampering.

An hour later, it takes both Ellie and Sara to help me into my dress. My mom takes pictures as Sara laces up the back, and then everyone backs up as I stand in front of the mirror checking out the final product.

The dress I chose neither highlights nor hides my baby bump. I went with a high-waisted white dress with lace three-quarter sleeves and lace detail that extends over the low neckline and onto the bodice of the dress. It flows beautifully down to my feet, which are currently snug in a white pair of Keds for comfort, and I both look and feel like I stepped right out of a fairy tale.

“Oh my goodness,” my mom breathes as she stares at me in the mirror from behind. “You are the most beautiful, glowing bride I’ve ever seen.” She swipes at a tear.

I can’t help a small giggle. “The glow is from the pregnancy sweats.”

She offers a little laugh, too, and she squeezes my arm. “Tristan is one lucky boy.”

“I’m one lucky girl,” I murmur.

“A match made in heaven,” Sara says.

Ellie grins. “Now let’s get you two married.”

“Deal.” I glance at the clock. “Perfect timing for photos. Can you check to be sure Tristan is locked away in a room somewhere so he doesn’t see me before the ceremony?” I ask.

“I’m on it,” Ellie says, pulling out her phone to make a call. She confirms that Luke is with Tristan and they aren’t anywhere near the chapel, so I draw in a deep breath, I take a few sips of water to calm my racing heart, and we make our way down.