Chapter 25

Chapter Twenty-Five

“ T his place is paradise,” I tell Alistair, my eyes focused on the ocean waves as they lap at the shoreline. We’re sitting on our own private patio that leads right onto the beach.

When Xavier said he rented out a resort, I don’t know what I was expecting but it wasn’t this. This is next-level luxurious.

We have our own butler. A full-time butler just for our bungalow. It’s insane and a waste of funds, considering neither me or Alistair have called him to fetch us anything. Although I think that might be an addition the De Bellis family threw in.

There’s also a lot of men here. I swear the male to female ratio is at least ten to one. Daisy has been having a fit all weekend, her tantrums aimed at Eloise for allowing her to look but refusing to let her touch .

“It is, but being here with you makes it that much better,” he says.

“Smooth, Mr Warner, smooth.” I laugh.

“I try.” He shrugs.

“I can see why they picked this place to get married. It’s really nice and secluded,” I tell him.

“It is.” He stares out at the ocean.

“You know, they don’t look stressed at all. When I was planning my wedding, it was literally the worst time of my life. I’ve never been more stressed out than while trying to create the seating arrangements for the reception. Too many people who can’t sit near each other, making sure that that one uncle—you know the one who’s bound to take liberties with the open bar—isn’t anywhere near the front. It was a nightmare,” I tell him.

“Why didn’t you just call it off?” he asks me.

“Because I thought I was in love. I thought the wedding was the start of my forever.”

“You thought you were in love? You think differently now?”

“I think I loved him once. I think we were too young. And, honestly, now, I think it was for the best. Hunter made the right choice. Kind of. I mean, he could have broken up with me before I put on the fucking white dress. That thing wasn’t easy to get off. Also, my parents spent a lot of money on a wedding that never happened. I’ve been saving up to repay them but they won’t take a cent from me.”

“It’s not your fault your ex is a dipshit,” Alistair says.

“No, but I should have known something was off. I just thought it was the stress of the wedding. I thought we’d just be settled once it was all over.”

“What about now? You think you’ll put yourself through that again?” he asks.

“Yes. If it’s with the right person, I would. Or maybe I’d just elope. I want to be married but I don’t need all the fanfare of a big ceremony,” I tell him.

“Why? Is it really that important for you to get married eventually?”

“I don’t know,” I say cautiously. I want to have a life partner. I want the commitment. But I’m afraid if I tell him that, he’ll run and I won’t be able to catch him. “What about you? Have you ever thought about getting married?”

“I’m not ever going to get married. I don’t see the point. It’s a piece of paper, and it’s the very thing that often tears people apart,” he says.

“Well, we’ll have to agree to disagree.” I sigh. “Come on, let’s go. We can’t be late.”

Gio and Eloise chose not to have a wedding party. They didn’t want the fuss of having other people standing beside them when they exchange their vows. The ceremony is on the beach, at sunset. It really is a beautiful, intimate setting. It’s simplicity meets elegance and wealth at its finest.

There are around two hundred people here, as Alistair guides me to the front row. Our seats are labelled with our names. Daisy and Claire are already sitting in the chairs next to us. I look around, expecting to see Gio standing at the front waiting for his bride. But he’s not there. My stomach drops. Memories of being dumped on my own wedding day flash through my mind. Maybe Alistair is right and marriage really is not worth the heartache that’s bound to come after the I do .

The music starts and I crane my neck. Surely someone is going to tell Eloise that Gio’s not there. It would be cruel to let her walk down the aisle to find no one waiting for her at the other end. But when I glance back, I see that he’s beside her and they are about to take this journey… together.

Her arm is linked in his. He’s looking at her with a huge smile on his face. It’s obvious these two are head over heels in love with each other. When they reach the front, Eloise hands her bouquet of white and pink roses to me.

The celebrant does a very quick opening speech. “The bride and groom have prepared their own vows. Gio, you may start with yours,” the woman says.

“Eloise, I wake up every morning counting my blessings that you’re next to me. I’ve been in love with you since the moment I first saw you. I promise to always love you, to protect you, and to spend the rest of my life making sure you have everything you ever need or want. I promise to always listen to whatever it is you have to say, even when you’re rambling and don’t make much sense. You’re my other half, the part that completes me. It will always be you,” Gio says.

“Eloise, can you read out your vows to Gio?” the celebrant says.

“Gio, you are everything I’m not supposed to want in life. And, at the same time, you are exactly what I’m meant to want. You have shown me what it’s like to be loved unconditionally, to be accepted for who I am. I promise to always be by your side, to be your cheerleader through life. To be your confidant. I promise to love you despite the red flags, and because of them. I will be forever grateful that you chose me.”

As soon as Eloise finishes speaking, Gio slams his lips onto hers, picks her up off the ground, and spins her around. The guests cheer and call out in Italian. I have no idea what they’re saying, but it sounds hot as sin.

“Why is everything so much sexier in Italian?” Daisy whispers to me, as if she can read my thoughts.

“No idea.” I shrug, trying not to laugh at her dismay while wiping the tears from my face.

It really was beautiful to be able to watch my best friend get her happy ending. She deserves to be loved the way Gio clearly loves her. He may not be the person I would have chosen for Eloise, but I’ve seen how much he adores her. That week I stayed at their house really gave me insight into their relationship. They’re total opposites—that much is evident—yet, somehow, they just have a connection that I envy.

I know I’m falling for Alistair, and I also know that he cares for me, but I don’t think he will ever let himself fully love anyone. He’s so worried about the aftermath of being hurt that he’s got walls of steel around his heart.

As much as I’d like to be the one to break down those walls, I don’t think I am. But I’m going to take a leaf out of Daisy’s book and live for the moment. Things are good right now, so I’m not looking past today… or maybe tomorrow.

Why break something that’s not broken?

I’m prepared to deal with the end of our relationship when and if it comes. I can’t lose that little bit of hope that lingers in the back of my mind that thinks this could be the real deal. That me and Alistair could very well be each other’s forever.