“Not today,” she says. And I look up and see myself on the screen.
“So, we on?” The moment I hear the voice I know it’s not me. It’s him. He lets out a deep sigh and sort of leans over his knees.
“It’s me. The guy you think made your life a living hell, right?” he laughs.
“Well if you think that you’re fucking delusional because without me, Caylen or Lauren wouldn’t be in your life. You’d probably be married to that stuck up bitch Jenna.”
“Cal, come on, you said you’d be nice,” I hear Helen’s voice in the background. He rolls his eyes and huffs.
“Okay, let me get straight to the point. I want to do right by Lauren. I-I left her once because I thought I was doing the right thing. I wanted her to have someone better than me,” he says solemnly.
“Well not better, because let’s be honest it doesn’t get any better than this, but more responsible, reliable who didn’t have the shitload of baggage we do,” he shrugs.
“I never wanted for Lauren to know you. It always seemed like everything in life came so easy for you. I thought you’d be easier for her to love than me,” he continues. It’s one thing for you to hear a recording of yourself and not recognize your voice or remember saying the words but to see it, to watch yourself, it hits you that this is real.
“Since I met her. Before I officially met her, I’ve been trying to fix things for her. Make things right, give her everything she deserves,” he sighs.
“She doesn’t deserve us fighting against each other. Telling her to pick and choose all the time. Confusing the hell out of Caylen when she gets older,” he shrugs.
“You are the responsible one. The selfless one. You could be a good dad. But God, sometimes you’re a fucking pussy man,” he says with a groan.
He’s such an asshole.
“I mean you are, and I can’t leave my girls with someone who acts like a pussy.”
“I want to give her something she always wanted. I sure as hell can’t do it by myself. But maybe both of us together, we can give her her Prince Charming,” he says.
“Helen and I have been talking and I’m starting to think maybe this integration thing won’t suck ass completely. So what do you say, Chris? You in, or you going to pussy out?” he asks cockily.
I don’t care what he says. I’m not a pussy.
Lauren
Six Months Later…
A new start.
That’s what he asked for. I told him no, because I don’t think we need one. Our history wasn’t the best but it’s made us who we are. Each step of the way, though bumpy, has made us who we are today.
When he got on one knee and asked me to marry him again—that I agreed to.
We thought there was no better way to start it than renewing our vows on a beautiful July day on my Aunt Raven’s property. I glance over and smile at Aidan and Hillary who, as it turns out, had been secretly dating since they met at the disaster of a dinner party, at the Scotts. Raven sits proudly next to the man she’s been seeing, who may be walking down this same aisle next. Angela is next to her holding Caylen, whose hand is intertwined with Stephen's. It turns out that I was never his perfect girl but Angela seems to be. I look back at Mr. Scott who did the honor of walking me down the aisle.
It’s funny how time and life changing events can heal wounds. Well, some of them. He and Mrs. Scott are separated, they are working on their friendship even though Gwen plans on proceeding with a divorce. Mr. Scott is hoping she changes her mind. However, I can’t imagine how Gwen can since he’s actively involved in his daughter Willa’s life. I tried to get Lisa to come to the wedding but she respectfully declined. My husband still hasn’t forgiven her so it's probably for the best, even though he has warmed up quite a lot to Willa, who is our flower girl.
“Christopher Calvin Scott do you take this woman to be your lawfully wedded bride to have and to hold as long as you both shall live?”
“I do,” he says. Holding my hand he gives me a wink that still sends butterflies off in my stomach. He asks me the same thing and I nod enthusiastically with a smile as wide as a Cheshire cat.
“Yes,” I say simply.
*
“Lauren will you do me the honor of having this dance with me?” Dexter asks, extending his hand out to me.
“Of course Mr. Crestfield,” I say with a laugh as Helen laughs at me but urges me forward. The band is playing a slow but up-tempo song as we make our way onto the dance floor between my groom and Raven and Mr. Scott and Helen dancing.
“You know when Cal first told me about you, I was worried about him."