Well, I was going to try a different approach, but Ty’s approach appeared effective because Dougy cringed a bit before holding his hands up in apology.
“Dude. Hey, I’m a huge fan. I was just pointing out the obvious. I’m sure you get a lot of pussy on the road, am I right?”
I gasped. He was worse than I remembered. “Are you drunk, Dougy? Because I can get someone else out here within the hour if you aren’t up to the job.”
I wanted to fire him on the spot, but this wasn’t my wedding, nor had he been my choice. This was Talia and Jake’s day, and Jake wanted his friend to be the DJ, so I needed to keep calm and carry on.
“If you say one more fucking thing about me or Ivy… not only will I not pay you, but I will kick your scrawny ass. Shut the fuck up and do your job,” Ty hissed, and the veins on the side of his neck bulged.
“Yeah, you got it, brother. There’s a lot of requests for your music tonight. If you ever need a sound guy or a backup singer on tour, you just say the word. I’m your man.”
Ty turned to look at me and I tried not to laugh. His expression was so puzzled, like he didn’t understand why Dougy didn’t realize he was pissed.
I nodded, letting him know this was completely normal for Dougy-Fresh. I believe he’d taken one too many hallucinogens in his younger years.
“That won’t be happening. And I’m watching you. Stay the fuck away from Ivy. Now and forever, you hear me?”
“Yeah, dude. I like that. Stake your claim, brother,” he said as he nodded like the three of us were the best of friends.
I tugged Ty away and waited until we were out of the tent before I burst out in laughter.
“Is he playing with a full stack?” Ty asked.
“He is not. He didn’t even start the game with a full stack.”
He smiled and I took a minute to take him in in his tuxedo. He looked so handsome he stole the air from my lungs. “If he bothers you, you just let me know.”
“I can handle Dougy-Fresh,” I said over my laughter. “You look handsome.”
“Thank you. I wish you weren’t working this event. I want you by my side.”
When he said things like that, it made me hopeful because there was nowhere else I’d rather be.
“I brought a dress to change into once the reception is off and running. Kathleen is going to try to cover things for me so I can enjoy the reception with you. But I’ll be close by if there are any issues.”
“Well, my issue right now is DJ Dickhead.”
My head fell back in laughter. “Are you really going to start getting jealous over every guy who talks to me?”
“Abso-fucking-lutely. I told you I claimed you a long time ago. Just because I can’t stay here forever doesn’t mean you aren’t mine,” he said, running a hand down the back of his neck.
Well, that kind of pissed me off because that took a lot of nerve.
“You can’t claim me if you don’t want to keep me, Ty.” My tone was harsh, and I raised a brow at him in challenge and crossed my arms over my chest. “I’ve got to go. Don’t worry about Dougy, I’ve got it handled.”
“Hey, what’s wrong?” he asked, as he reached for my hand.
“Nothing. I just want this wedding to be perfect,” I said, but I knew he saw through the lie. The truth was that this was a no-win situation. Loving someone so much and knowing that they were going to leave in a few weeks. It made no sense. And it hurt like hell that I wasn’t enough for him to want the things he used to want. But fighting about it when we only had a limited time together also made no sense. The girls had been talking to me a lot about it. They thought I should enjoy the moment. They pointed out that I also wasn’t willing to uproot my life for him, so I couldn’t be mad that he wasn’t willing to do it either. And as I reminded myself, we were taking things one day at a time. Addy was nervous because she’d seen us together. She’d heard him sing that song to me. She knew how invested I was, and I could tell she worried about the aftermath.
Hell, I did too.
But no sense preparing for a storm on a sunny day, right? I shook off all those feelings and focused. I pushed the door open to where Talia and Beth were getting ready, and I clapped a hand over my mouth.
Talia was a stunning bride.
Her dress was like something out of a movie. Princess style and fitted throughout the bodice, with a tulle and lace train that pooled around her as she stood in front of the mirror.
“You’re perfection,” I whispered.
“Thank you for everything, Ivy. I’m so thankful that you agreed to plan my wedding. There’s no one else I’d rather have in charge of my special day.” She hugged me before her makeup lady called her over for a touch-up.
“How are you holding up, darling?” Beth asked and she reached for my hand.
“I’m good. Everything looks perfect out there. I can’t wait for you to see it.”
“That’s not what I meant.” She glanced over her shoulder to make sure Talia wasn’t listening. “Don’t give up on him, Ivy. If anyone can bring him back to life, it’s you.”
Just then the bridesmaids flooded into the room and gushed over Talia’s gown. I nodded at Beth and snapped myself out of it.
It was time to head down the aisle.
I had a moment of nostalgia wondering how I’d feel on my special day.
And then my chest squeezed, because I couldn’t imagine walking down the aisle to anyone but Ty.
And that was the last place he wanted to be.
Chapter Eighteen
Ty
“You can find love where you least expect it.” Maura, right after graduating from college
I was standing at the end of the aisle as my sister walked toward Jake, and I’d made eye contact with Ivy’s best friends a few times and they kept waving and smiling at me. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t having a hell of a lot more fun being back in Willow Springs than I’d imagined I would.
I looked up to see my father walking beside my sister, and I still felt all the anger stewing in me. He didn’t deserve to give Talia away. He’d been a shit dad to her for the past few years, yet his eyes were watering like he gave a damn.
He didn’t.
He was a phony and I wanted to hate him, but he kept weaseling his way back in. Hell, even my mother thought I should go meet with him tomorrow. Dad kissed Talia’s cheek and he moved to sit beside Shayla in the front row of the outdoor ceremony. My mother and Craig also sat in the front row, but on the other side of the aisle, next to Craig’s parents. Yes, they’d made progress, but they were far from the best of friends.