As the hairdressers and makeup artists worked their magic on the two of us, we sat in silence, perhaps both contemplating the fact that our father was moving on today. He was making it official. And in some ways, I was proud of him; it was the right thing for him to do. I needed to start to value people's happiness above all else, even my own. I considered checking my phone to see if Levi had called me, but I knew if he hadn’t, I would just be more upset, and today wasn't my day. Charity’s sister was already being a bitch; she didn't need me to be an emotional wreck too.

“I don't really think my hair works like this. Can we try something different?”

The hairdresser looked frustrated, and sighed for the fourth time since starting Charity sister's hair.

“Leslie, I think it looks fine. And, I mean, really it doesn't matter what we look like; it's all about Charity.” Mackenzie was just trying to help; she didn't realize that her phrasing would only make it worse.

“Start over. I want it lower on my head; this isn’t a nineteen eighty-five prom you know.”

The stylist started to unpin her hair, and Mackenzie gave me a look that said, “Let's not talk to her anymore.”

I nodded. Crazy cat lady had struck again. It took over two hours for all of us to get ready, but when we stood side-by-side in front of my bathroom mirror, I realized that Charity really had done a great job picking out those black dresses. We looked beautiful. Mackenzie's long blonde hair was pinned up in tendrils at the nape of her neck, my typical brunette mess had been made into a sleek bun on top of my head, and Leslie had gotten her way with a small braided bun sitting just above her neck. We all looked unique, but the dresses tied us together. Charity was sitting in the hairdresser’s chair when we walked in, and the look on her face was priceless. I may not have liked her very much, but it was clear that she loved my father, and that this was the happiest day of her life. Her gown with simple, with a plunging neckline in the front and a stark dip in the back. It had a lace band going around the waist and down the back. But the rest was a simple satin; it made her look elegant. I could just barely see her baby bump, but only because I was looking for it. Her family wouldn’t notice, and that was probably for the best.

We took a limo to the church, very Charity style, and the church was beautifully decorated in huge bouquets of baby pink roses. There was white fabric draped from each pew, and a long white carpet that ran down the aisle.

Mackenzie and I walked down the aisle together, hand-in-hand. We supported each other, and, as we arrived at the front of the church, I even saw Leslie tear up. As I stood at the altar and saw the smile on my dad’s face when he saw Charity for the first time in her dress, I knew that he had made the right decision. I realized that it probably been over a decade since I'd seen him that happy when he looked at my mother, and while that broke my heart, I was glad to know that he had finally found someone that he was truly happy with. He loved Charity, even though she was crazy and high strung. But we all have our faults; it's what makes us human.

The reception was amazing. There was a giant white tent out behind the church in the Rose Garden. Charity hardly had to decorate because of all the beautiful natural flowers, but, of course, she went over the top. All the tables were draped in white linen with beautiful light pink roses in the middle of each table. She only used roses, and many of them she had inserted dazzling gems into the centers of. It was like a magical forest. Each chair was draped in white linens, as well with a light pink bow tied to each one. And they had a sweetheart table, which was nice for Kenz and I, so we wouldn't have to sit with them. There were about a hundred guests; everyone was milling around, drinking, and listening to the live band as they played some slower tunes before dinner started. My dad had asked me to give a toast; he said it only had to be short and sweet, but I wanted to make sure it was genuine. I held a small folded piece of paper in my hands, and turned it over and over as I waited for the toasts began.

“What did you write about?”

“Whatever I could think of about Dad. I mean I don't really know much about Charity, so I figured I’d just write about him.”

Mackenzie smiled. “That makes sense. You probably know him better than most people.”

“You could say that. But, I mean, I haven't really been around him the past few years, I think he's changed.”

Mackenzie raised her eyebrows. “We all have. We've grown up these past five years. A lot has changed.”

I thought about it all; a lot had changed and not so much. The way I felt about Levi hadn't changed; even though all day I had been thinking about letting go, I still hold onto some hope. I heard the clicking of glasses behind me, and saw Charity and my dad kissing at their table. There were servers starting to fill up the buffet trays, and I knew that my moment would be soon.

“The toast to the bride and groom!” Charity’s father said as he raised his glass.

Leslie spoke next. It was a nice speech and short, highlighting some of their best memories together as sisters. I looked at Mackenzie, thinking that one day I would be giving the same speech for her. But as she twirled her hair on her finger, I was glad I had at least another ten years before that happened.

It was my turn next. After the clapping subsided from Leslie's toast, I stood up with my glass and my crumpled piece of paper that had all my feelings about my dad on it. I took a deep breath. “My dad is a wonderful man. He always taught us girls how a woman should be treated. With respect and kindness, but the best thing about my dad is that he also thinks women should be treated with gifts.” There were a couple giggles from the crowd. “And Charity is lucky to have him, and all the gifts that he will bring to her. But, I know that right now my dad thinks that his biggest gift is a present to him. And that present is Charity.” I looked directly at her. “He loves you, and I hope that you spend the next hundred years giving each other gifts every day. To my father and new stepmother, cheers!” I heard a resounding cheer from the crowd, and some people clinking their glasses together, then the silence as everyone drank the champagne. The music had just begun to play when I heard someone say, “I have a toast.”

I recognized the voice. My head spun around to see Levi standing next to the band in a perfectly crisp black suit and tie. He had a glass in his hand, and a smile on his face. “I know this is unorthodox because I wasn't invited to toast. However, I have some feelings that I think are appropriate. So, I wrote down a few things that I think you should remember when trying to love someone.” My breath caught in my chest. I struggled for air as he crossed the dance floor, and walked to my table. Mackenzie hit my arm, and jumpstarted my heart.

He eyes met mine. “You should always run in the rain, always lie on the beach, look at the stars and dream about being among them. You should hold hands and run through fields in the breeze of Spring. You should swim in the ocean whenever you want to. You should try new things, meet new people, and go new places. But you should always come home, too, where people know you best.” He turned away from me, and looked at my dad and Charity. “You should love one another so fiercely that it hurts to breathe without the other one close to you.” He looked back at me once more. “And you should play. Because it fills your heart, and makes you feel right inside.” At that moment, the keyboard player from the band stood up, and extended his hand to his seat. Levi reached for my hand, and I fearfully gave it to him. He led me over to the stage, and, as I walked onto it, I felt completely overwhelmed by all the people watching me. When I looked at my dad, he just smiled. Clearly Levi had made a plan.

I flattened the bottom of my dress, and sat down, allowing my fingers to find their place on the plastic keys. I had to think of the right song, something that would show Levi that I knew he was talking to me. Luckily, the answer was right in front of me. Sitting on the stand was the sheet music for John Legend’s “All of Me.” I nodded to Levi as he took my seat next to Mackenzie. Slowly, I started to play the ballad, and I moved with the music as it flowed out of the keyboard. I put every emotion I had into that song. I closed my eyes when I knew the notes, and just let it happen. Levi had come to tell me that he loved me, and I was dying inside, trying not to let my heart jump straight out of my chest into his lap. But the music calmed me, and said everything that I didn't know I could. It said how much I needed him, loved him, and how I would make up for every wrongdoing that I had done to us. For every truth we both had omitted over the years. I had missed him so much. As the song came to a close, and the audience erupted with applause, I could only see one person in the crowd, Levi. He remained seated with a smug smile on his face. Charity and my father came up to me and hugged me tightly, clearly thinking the whole event had been planned. The band started playing again, and servers began ushering people to the buffet. I walked back to my table, but Levi was gone.

“Kenz, where did he go?”

She nodded her head toward the garden. “Gazebo.”

As I turned to go there, she stopped me. “Lila!” I turned back around. “Tell him. Tell him you love him. Because he’s clearly crazy about you. Also I hear Japanese food is awesome.”

I walked onto the grass, and my heels sunk just a little bit, as I made my way to the gazebo. Levi stood with his back to me, looking out into the night over the garden. There were twinkling lights dangling from the top that gave the whole place a nice little glow. “You came.”

He had his hands in his pockets, and he turned around to greet me.

“Of course I came. A girl doesn't just tell you that she wants to try again, and you let her go.”

I shook my head. “But you did let me go last night.”

“I had to figure some things out, make some changes to my plans.”

“Like what?”

“Japan.”

“Levi, no. You can’t give up football for me. That’s crazy.”

He sighed, “Okay so what if you came with me instead?”

My mouth dropped open. “To Japan? With you? But what about keeping your head down and focused on the game? What about all eyes on you? Our arrangement?”

He laughed. “I can’t focus when you’re not around. The coach will understand. And our arrangement has been over since the minute I kissed you this summer. I thought I could bury my feelings, but there was no fucking way.”

He took his right hand from behind my waist, and placed it on my cheek, pulling me close to him, and laying a soft kiss on my lips. I flung my arms around his neck, and he picked me up with his left arm, so that my feet no longer touched the ground. When he set me back down, I was breathless. “What are we going to do?”

He smiled at me devilishly. “There’s something I've wanted to do for a long time.”

He backed away from me, and I saw the old blanket from the theater folded on a bench in the gazebo. He picked it up, laid it down on the ground, and sat down on it. “Care to join me?”

He lay down on the blanket, and I pulled my dress up, so I could straddle him. He pulled my face down to his and our lips locked, our tongues intertwining. As I took a breath, he took advantage of my exposed neck, and sweetly kissed the flesh. I slowly sat back, and he pulled himself up so that our chests were touching. He continued to kiss the front of my body as I unzipped my dress. I stood up, and gradually removed the dress, revealing a set of a black bra and panties. He stood and pushed me back against one of the poles of the gazebo.

“Japan is going to be amazing,” he said as he cupped my breasts in his hands. He kissed me again, more forcefully this time, and moved his mouth down my body. As he reached my knees, he pulled down my underwear. He teased me with them, stopping a few times over my legs, and kissing the tops of my thighs. Once they were finally off, he took my right leg, and put it over his shoulder, my heel just hitting his back. He licked my mound slowly. Then he kissed it, sucking on my juices. I moaned as I felt my pussy start to tremble from the pleasure. I put my hand in his hair, and ran my fingers back and forth. My other arm supported me on the pole. He slipped two fingers into my wet pussy, and began pounding me while sucking on my clit. My whole body started to shake as the orgasm flowed over me.

“Fuck, yes!”

It was a fast build, and I could hardly breathe when he stopped. Levi had the effect on me. My whole body was left unsteady and trembling.

He kissed the inside of my thigh again before putting my leg down. He stood and held out his hand. I took it, and we walked back over to the blanket, where he laid me down. He removed his jacket, and slowly undid each button of his shirt. As he pulled off his tie, he threw it at me. “Cover your eyes.”

I gave him a side smile, and obliged. I tied the fabric around my head so I couldn’t see anything. I felt him spread my legs apart, and slip a finger between my folds again. Then I felt him turn my body, so that I was lying on my right side. The roughness of the blanket rubbed against my skin. He pulled his finger out and dragged it along my curves. He kissed my neck, and sucked on my ear lobe. My skin tingled under his touch. I wanted more of him.

He came in behind me and lifted my leg. I felt him slide his dick into my pussy, and he let out a breath onto my back. He slowly thrusted in and out. When he pulled out, he swirled his member in circles on my clit. I hated not being able to see what he would do next. I felt him push his dick back into me, but this time faster and stronger.

“Fuck me Levi, please,” I begged.

He pushed deeper into me, and at a more rapid pace. I rubbed my clit with my finger, and he lifted up my face to kiss me. “Tell me you want it,” he whispered.

“Please, Levi.”

He turned me on my back again. He yanked down the fabric so I could see him, and I lifted my legs high to give him ample access. He pushed himself in again, but this time, he had a rhythm. He fucked me hard and grunted as he got close to coming. I watched his chest muscles tense as he pushed deeper into me. Damn, he looked good.

I lifted my head, and watched his dick slide in and out of me. Grunting again, he unloaded into me just as I was pushed over the edge in my second orgasm. I felt the hot waves roll through me, and I trembled underneath him. He collapsed on top of me and we lay there for a moment before he rolled over.

“So I think you need to pack this dress and the red one for Japan.”

I shook my head, I was going to Japan, with Levi Jackson to watch him play football. This summer had certainly changed things.

“Why is that?” I asked seductively.

“Because I want to fuck you in them again and again,” he whispered against my skin.

I heard Mackenzie yell in the distance, “They’re cutting the cake!”

“We better go,” I said, dragging a finger along his chin.

He nodded. “As long as you promise we’ll do this again. Soon.”

“Like tonight?”

He smiled. “Tonight.”

We had a long road ahead of us, getting over our past and starting our future. He would play football and I would find time to get back to my music. And our fresh start would be in a new country.

But it was worth it.

It was worth taking the chance to finally mend my broken heart.

* * *