Callie

I woke up to slick wet kisses on my neck and a weight on my chest. Sadly it wasn't Noah. Valentine did her best to wake me with her enthusiastic tongue. It was the annoying whip of her tail on my breast the pulled me out of my sleep.

I held her and sat up. The sun casted a warm beam across the bed. I pushed the covers off and scooted to the end of the bed and put Valentine down.

I walked to the window and looked at the picturesque mountain range. It would be a similar view when I said I do tomorrow.

A soft knock vibrated through the door.

Valentine yelped.

"Come in."

Dani and Kate both peeked in. They looked like floating heads, Dani's on top and Kate at the bottom. They peered at me, waiting to gauge my mood. My outburst last night was a product of my concussion, I was sure of it. Noah calmed me down in a way that proved quite successful and last night was almost forgotten.

"I'm fine." I waved them in.

I rolled my eyes at their synced sign of relief.

"Here." Dani's hand wrapped around a coffee cup entered first.

"Gimme." I wiggled my fingers and reached for it.

"I told you," She nodded at Kate.

"Cream with coffee, no sugar." Kate spouted my coffee order and wrinkled her nose.

"It's a beautiful day." I pointed to the view.

"Dare I say it?" Dani plopped on the bed. "A good day before the wedding."

Kate held her hands in front of her in prayer. She'd done a lot in a few days to pull the quickie wedding of the century off. The idea that she might have to tell all those people it’s off I'm sure had her up all night.

I felt a little bad.

"Yes." I nodded. "I'm not calling off the wedding.

Kate gasped, but stopped when I help up my hand.

"We need to make a few changes." I pointed next to my sister." Sit.

Kate sat next to Dani.

"What ever you want." she flipped her blonde hair over he shoulder. Her hands rested on her thighs.

"I know I told you to pull off a miracle and you have." I sipped my coffee and sat on the bench by the window. "It just bothered me because I didn't see any of me in the wedding. It was more of what you both imagined I would like, but you don't really know me. Neither of you do.”

“I’m your sister, I think I know you.”

“If you know me, then why am I wearing that?” A fluffy lacy thing from one of Dani’s designers hung in the armoire. “Why is my hair slicked back and straight.”

I held my hand out.

“I’m a professional writer, and I'm the one actually in the relationship,” I shook my head. “Why would I allow anyone else to write my vows?”

“They were just suggestions.” Kate pouted.

“I don't want dad walking me down the aisle and giving me away.” I shuddered. “The idea is misogynistic and archaic.”

“So, we are going for modern romantic feminism.” Dani said.

“If a theme helps.” I waved her off. “I just want it to be about Noah and me. And y'all can watch.”

“Thanks for that,” Dani said.

“Shouldn't you be writing this down?” I pointed at Dani.

She bit her tongue as her face went flush.

“No best man, no maid of honor.” I stood up, “My family stands up for me, Noah’s family stands up for him.” I slap my hands together, “our families join into one.”

“Okay.” Kate stands up. “I like it.”

“I will say some words, Noah will say some words, and 10 minutes, we are on to the reception.”

“Ten minutes,” they said in unison.

I nod and grin, “maybe 15. And one more thing. Nip and Val are coming to the wedding.”

I pointed at Dani before she could finish her eye roll.

“Can I talk to Kate for a minute alone?” I ask Dani.

She nods and stands up.

“Can I at least give my speech?” Dani asked. “I already wrote it.”

“At the reception.” I pushed her toward the door.

I join Kate on the bed.

“I'm sorry.” She said. “I just wanted to make it special …”

She wasn't saying something.

“Go ahead. Say what you were going to say.”

“So,” she shifted on the bed to face me. “I thought I needed to create this fantasy wedding, like one worthy of someone so creative and well, fantasy driven. I mean I thought that’s what was missing. Why you were having doubts about being with Noah.”

I narrowed my eyes. She was kind of proving my point. She didn’t know me at all.

“That doesn’t make sense.” I rubbed my forehead. The headache had decreased considerably. I couldn’t blame this one on the concussion. “I wasn’t having doubts. I love Noah and I want to marry him. I just wanted to make sure he was ready to marry me.”

“What do you mean? He asked you didn’t he?” She scratched her head.

“Yeah, but I kind of think he asked me because he was bored.”

Kate narrowed his eyes.

“I was wrong. Obviously I was wrong,” I shifted on to the bed. “At your wedding, Noah, his behavior, bothered me.”

“That weekend was stressful for everyone.”

“He was the best man, not the groom.” I shook my head. “He didn’t have anything to be stressed about. Instead, he projected all his issues on me and I just watched him transform in front of my face into this person I didn’t really know.”

“I didn’t realize.”

“And then we get back home and I kind of did the same thing to him. Projected my insecurity about our relationship onto him. I felt like I was keeping him from doing stuff he’d normally do in the off season because I was stuck in New York with school.” I picked at the comforter.

“All of your lives are so glamorous and exciting and full of …stuff. I thought maybe Noah needed someone more like that in his life.”

“It’s not like this all the time.” Kate waved her hand. “Stuff like this is still cool to me. I didn’t grow up like this.”

“I know. I get that.” I stared at her. “That’s what I discovered when I was on the side of the mountain. He didn’t ask me because he was bored. I mean, come on, who does that.”

Kate gave me a no duh face.

I giggled.

“He asked me because he loved our life and he wanted to make sure it continued.” I shook my head. “I thought we weren’t communicating, but really, I wasn’t’ listening.”

“So … falling off a mountain knocked some sense in you,” Kate said.

“Maybe. I don’t know. I woke up and saw his face and the worry in his eyes and I realized how much I wanted to be with him.” I shrugged. “I think we still have stuff to work on, but I know that I want to build a life with him because he knows me, better than anyone. He knows me better than I know myself.”

“So, we’re good.” Kate stood up.

“Not quite.” I patted the bed. “Sit down.”

Kate frowned and sat down.

“Our guys have been friends for years, but we’ve known each other for four months. I want to have more in common than our men.”

“Oh, me too.”

“So, I’ve been in a position lately with starting school, I have to learn how to make friends and one of the things I’ve learned is if there is something you don’t know about a person, ask.” I took her hand. “Understand.”

“Okay. I get it.” She squeezed my hand. “And, if I’m too much all you have to do is let me know. I can take it.” Kate giggled.

“Another tip.” I stood up. “I can’t have the first time I meet Justin Timberlake to be at my wedding. It would be so inappropriate for me to be fantasying about another man while standing at the alter.”

“Good point.” Kate headed toward the door. “Aren’t you glad I’m not the narcissistic, self absorbed actress type like you thought.”

I stood with my mouth open.

“I can’t believe he told you I said that.” I rolled my eyes.

“No worries. We all make assumptions.” She waved it off. “Same goes for me. If you want to know something about me, just ask.”

“I have a questions.” I raised my hand. “How did you expect me to walk down a hiking trail in four inch heels?"

“Callie, you are not wearing your old Chuck Taylor's at you wedding.” Kate stomped.

“Something in between maybe.” I nodded.

“I’ll bring you some options.” Kate nodded back.

“And when this is all over.”

Kate looked back.

“Can I write an article on how Oscar winning Actress, Kate Stone, planned my wedding?”

“Absolutely.” Kate left the room.

I heard her giggle as she walked down the hall.