Starfire(109)

Love doesn’t always translate into perfect little speeches. What matters most is what you do. Even though I’d run away from Dalton so many times, he never gave up on us.

Now things were going to change.

After always telling myself to keep my eyes open, I was ready to close them and take a leap of faith.

Dalton needed to know that I wasn’t going to run anymore. He didn’t need to chase me, because I was his.

I loved him.

He’d captured my heart, and I didn’t even care that our wedding had been rushed for publicity, or that he had someone else writing his vows, as long as he meant every word.

As soon as he arrived in town Friday, I would make good on my threat. I would run right into his arms, and we’d both find out what kind of man he was.





CHAPTER 39


Friday.

One more sleep.

Assuming I’d even be able to sleep.

Friday afternoon, I was hanging out with my best friends at home, anxiously awaiting Dalton’s arrival.

I was practicing throwing the bouquet to Shayla when I got a phone call from Vern.

Shayla and Mitchell sat quietly, picking up on my nervousness.

Vern asked me a series of questions about the catering, and whether my mother had gotten her shoes dyed to match, but I could tell he was leading up to something.

“Vern, just tell me the bad news already,” I said.

“Mr. Deangelo has been delayed on set and won’t be flying in tonight,” he said.

“Dalton’s not flying in tonight,” I told my friends.

Shayla seemed concerned, but Mitchell looked devastated. He adored Dalton to the point of babbling incoherently in his presence, and now he seemed even more upset than I was.

That made me feel even more uneasy.

Vern had a few more details, and said Dalton would have phoned me himself, but he was on location where they had bad cell phone reception.

“Don’t they have some sort of schedule?” I asked. “They’ve been doing this show for years. You’d think they’d be more organized.”

Vern chuckled on the other end of the call. “I guess you’ve got a few things to learn about the life of an actor’s wife. Don’t worry about the rest of the wedding party. Connor and Alexis are on their way now in a rental car.”

“That wet blanket Connor got to leave on time? But Dalton’s the star of the show. Why does he have to work late?”

“We’ll fly in first thing in the morning. Don’t worry.”

“When people tell me not to worry, it only makes me worry harder.”

He chuckled again, which made it difficult for me to take out my anger on Vern.

“Which dress did you choose?” he asked.

“It’s a surprise.”

“The one with the cupcakes on the bosom?”

I snorted. “Not likely. Dalton’s afraid of carbohydrates. I wouldn’t want him to run away screaming.”

“Hmm.”

I wanted to ask what Vern meant by that non-verbal response, but he said goodbye, excusing himself to drive back to the set in case Dalton needed anything.

I tucked the phone away with a pitiful sigh.

The three of us had been hanging out in the living room of the house, resting up for the big day and eating cut vegetables with dip in a last-minute attempt to be healthy before the big day and all the photos.

Shayla was comforting Mitchell, assuring him Dalton would be coming, and wouldn’t let us down.

Us.

Hah!

I shook my head at how crazy my life had become.

And then the front door of the house opened without warning, and Jake “Big Dick” Blake walked in, his cowboy boots thunking loudly on the floor.

“There’s my girl,” he said.

I jumped to my feet and introduced Dalton’s father to my friends, who invited him to join us.

Jake sunk into the sofa, cozily nestled between Shayla and Mitchell. I took a seat on the chair across from them and braced myself for extreme inappropriateness.

Mr. Blake smelled of booze and cologne, but he looked sober enough, and downright presentable, with most of his shirt buttons fastened.

He withdrew a small box from his pocket and held it out to me. “Sorry to crash your party, but I had to bring you something.”

Speechless, I took the simple brown gift box and lifted off the lid. Inside was a flower made of blue and gold sparkling cabochons.

“It’s just costume jewelry,” he said.

I took the broach out gently. “This belonged to Dalton’s mother?”

“Yes. From his great-grandmother. I don’t know if he’ll recognize the piece, but his mother and grandmother wore it on their wedding days.” He cleared his throat and stuffed his hands in his pockets. “If it doesn’t go with your dress, I understand.”

I blinked back my tears and assured him that of course the beautiful blue and gold flower would go with my dress.