Chapter 30 The Morning Of

When I woke up in the morning, I was laying on my side and facing Wes who was already awake. He smiled softly at me, his eyes warm and feeling like home. "Morning, sunshine. How are you feeling?"

I scrunched up my face, my eyes still squinting. "Nauseous."

Wes chuckled softly, lifting a hand to brush my hair out of my face and tuck it behind my ear. "You drank a lot last night."

I groaned, covering my face with my hands. "I know," I mumbled from behind my hands.

"Hey," Wes gently took hold of my hands and removed them from my face. "No need to hide from me, love."

I inhaled deeply, feeling the heat rise to my face. "Was I a mess?"

"Not until we came home," he smiled softly. "And you are completely allowed to be a mess with me so don't even start worrying about it."

I huffed out a breath, turning to lie on my back and stare at the ceiling. "I want to go back to campus."

"Lucky for you, the wedding will be over with tonight and then we can head back. As soon as you want to leave, we're out of here."

I glanced at Wes from the corner of my eye, a grin tugging on my life. "You're the best, you know that?"

Wes laughed deeply as he propped himself up on his elbow so he could look down at my face. "No, you."

I rolled my eyes playfully as I got out of bed. "I need a long shower to get this alcohol smell off of me."

"Want me to join?"

I chucked a pillow at him which he easily caught, laughing at me as I headed into the bathroom.

"You look amazing."

I spun around to see Wes grinning, his eyes bright.

I smiled as I walked over to him. "And you need major help with this tie." I reached up to straighten his tie that was all knotted and crooked.

Wes peered down at me, an eyebrow quirked as he looked at me. "You look a little flushed there, sweetheart."

My breath hitched in my throat, my hand lingering by his tie. I was standing so close to Wes that I could feel his breath fanning down on my face.

I exhaled softly, making a bold move to look up at him through my lashes. Instantly I felt my heart skip a beat, my stomach become fluttery once again.

Bad move, Fia. Shouldn't have looked up.

Wes grinned down at me, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Whatcha thinking there, Fi?"

I inhaled sharply, my hands shaky as I reluctantly took a big step away from Wes. From the way my head had started to spin and I forced myself to not glance down at his lips, I knew I was crossing into dangerous territory once again.

"I'm thinking that... you suck at tying ties."

Wes paused for a moment before he started laughing. "You got me there, sweetheart."

I turned to grab my shoes and purse in a weak attempt to avoid having another "moment" with Wes. My head was spinning enough as is. "Come on. We don't want to be late and give Mirah a reason to fight with me on today of all days."

Wes placed a hand on my lower back as he guided me out. "You got this."

We got to the wedding hall that was already filled with guests.

I headed to the bridal suite to check in on my sister.

"Fia," she exhaled deeply when she saw me walk on. Her eyes were frantic and she looked scared, a sight I had never once seen from my sister before.

I rushed over to her, my eyebrows pulling together in confusion. "Mirah, what's wrong?"

She run a hand down her face, staring at herself in the mirror. "I... I don't know. I just feel nervous in a way I never have before."

I sighed as I sat down beside her, reluctantly taking her hand in mine. "Pre-wedding jitters, Mirah. That's normal."

She groaned softly. "Not for me, Fia. I don't get nervous."

I rolled my eyes softly. "Mirah, you don't have to shield your feelings. Not from me."

She looked at me with her features softened. "I'm... sorry I've been so rough on you. I always have been and I'm sorry."

I smiled softly. "It's okay, Mirah. We don't have to do this right now though."

Mirah shook her head, squeezing my hand softly. "We do have to. Everything came so easily to you, Fia. You were always so good at everything and you never even had to try. I just... I guess I was jealous."

I gaped at her, completely taken aback by her words. "What? Mirah, are you kidding?" I couldn't help but laugh, shaking my head in disbelief. "Mirah, you were the golden child. You were the one I had to compete with. Mom and dad always wanted me to be like you."

Mirah shook her head, smiling softly. "That's where you're wrong. I've done everything to please them, to make them happy. I know I've been an bitch to you but I just always felt like I could never do anything as well as you could. I always had to push myself so hard to be as good at everything, things that came to you naturally."

I exhaled deeply, a huge weight lifting off my chest. It was a weight I didn't even know was there to begin with.

I wrapped an arm around my sister as she leaned her head down on my shoulder. "Mirah, I've always looked up to you. Never forget that."

"I love you, little sister."