You're in my arms
And all the world is calm
The music playing on for only two

I paced in front of the beautiful white, three tiered fountain behind the bed and breakfast a good twenty times before Jack finally showed up, one hand cusped to his eyes in a way so that all he could see was the ground beneath him. If I wasn’t so angry, I probably would’ve chuckled at how frigging adorable he was being, but instead I said nothing of it, instead grumbling to myself about the good for nothing asshole that had to come and interrupt my fucking wedding day.

Despite being partially blind, Jack could still sense something was wrong, and as he timidly approached me, he began carefully, “Hey, babe...”

“You know, I thought I was ready for whatever shit hit the fan.” I began, not slowing down my pace at all. “I was okay when the flowers had to be changed last minute. I was okay when we had to up the guest list by twenty to fit all of our friends in who didn’t know if they’d make it because of touring schedules and stuff. Hell, I was okay when Jo and Cass thought I was pregnant because I was puking my guts out this morning--”

“You were what?” Jack’s jaw dropped and for a second, I saw his hand waver up so his brown eyes could peek down at me. “Are you sure you’re ok--”

“But one thing I never saw coming was my ex, walking in on my wedding day.” I laughed bitterly, the encounter still a fresh wound in my mind. “Funny thing was, I imagined fucking Emily would break out of jail before he’d show up in my life again.”

At this information, Jack’s face paled, dropping his hand completely as he stared at me in shock. “Your ex is here?” He breathed.

I nodded numbly. “He snuck upstairs and managed to find me.”

His dark eyes grew stormy, his large hands grabbing my upper arm in worry. “What! He didn’t try anything, did he? Because I swear I’ll fuck him up--”

I shook my head quickly. “Don’t you dare get into a fight because of him.”

My lack of reassurance that Derek didn’t try anything didn’t exactly calm him down. Huffing angrily, Jack whisper-hissed, “But you’re my wife, Sally. If he tried anything against your will, I’m supposed to do the husbandly shit and beat the fucker to a pulp.” Jack paused for a second, glancing down at me as he noticed I’d finally stopped my pacing. “Who is this fucker, anyway?”

I sighed, reluctantly giving the aforementioned ‘fucker’ a name. “His name is Derek.”

“Derek...” Jack frowned, shaking his head as the name left a sour taste in his mouth.

“He was my boyfriend before you. Back in high school, remember?”

He nodded slowly, the very brief details of my previous relationship coming back to him. “The guy who you were on and off with junior and senior year? The one who slept with you and then told you he didn’t love you anymore right before leaving for college?”

I swallowed. “That would be the one.”

“Well what the fuck did he want, anyway?”

I laughed bitterly to myself, recalling the very same question go through my mind not ten minutes before...

“What in the--what are you--” I stuttered as I stared at the man in front of me, barely even noticing my sisters poignant glares in his general direction, always my backup if I needed her.
“So it’s true.” His bright eyes shamelessly took in my white formal attire, his face scrunching up as if it physically hurt him to see me like this. “You’re really getting married.”

“Why would you care?” Madison asked bravely, narrowing her eyes towards the man I once thought I loved. You know, back before I even knew what love really was. “It’s not like you ever really cared for her, anyway.”

I cleared my throat. As much as I appreciated Madison standing up for me, cowering behind her like a little girl wouldn’t do me any good. “Maddie, I’ve got this.”

Madison whipped around to stare at me in shock. “What? Are you sure? I can just grab Zack really quick and have him sucker punch this asshole so hard he’ll forget who you are--”

“I’ve got this.” I repeated, glancing up bravely at those electric blue orbs that were currently staring into my soul, making my blood run cold.

“...o-kaaay.” Madison muttered, obviously nervous to leave us alone. “If you’re sure, I guess. But I’ll be just over...” She peered around the empty hallway, zeroing in on an empty guest room. “Over there, okay? And if I hear one damn thing that sounds suspicious...” She narrowed her eyes on Derek, letting him know she meant it, “...I’m sicking Zack on your ass.”

As my sister walked away in a huff, a nervous laugh escaped Derek’s lips. “I don’t know who Zack is and at this point, I’m not sure I want to. He sounds scary.” His eyes widened slightly as he added, “He’s not your fiancee, is he?”

I raised a brow, unimpressed with his attempt at small talk. “What the hell are you doing here, Derek?”

He sighed, glancing down at his informal attire in a frown. “Sorry I didn’t dress up for the occasion, but I had to see you, okay?”

“You had to see me?” I repeated, highly doubting this. “It’s been five years and you choose now, on my wedding day, to ‘see me’?” I used my fingers to add air quotations to show him just how ridiculous I thought his reasoning was. “Well, fine. You saw me. Now get out.”

“W-w-wait!” He stuttered, throwing up his hands as I attempted to shoo him out. “Christina, please--”

“You’re a real piece of work, you know that?” I scowled at him.

“I know, and I’m sorry, okay?” Derek apologized. “I’m sorry I left you the way I did, and I’m sorry I was a shitty boyfriend, but I’ve changed, okay? I want you to know that I’m not the same person I was--I’m better now.”

I shrugged, rolling my eyes as I honestly couldn’t care less whether on not he’d changed. He was a part of my past, not my future. “Good for you. Now could you--”

“I still care about you, you know.” Derek blurted out, halting me mid-shoo.

He what?

“I know I said I didn’t love you and I was a scared idiot back then, Chris but I--” He took a shallow, uneven breath before admitting, “I never stopped loving you.”

I don’t know how long I stood there in that damn hallway, my heart beating in my chest at the nerve of him. How dare he. How dare he come to see me on my wedding day, about to marry the love of my life and tell me that he still loved me as if we were a part of some Nicholas Sparks movie or something.

I honestly think he expected me to say it back, from the way he was looking at me so hopeful. Like he expected me to just leap into his arms and kiss him, leaving everything I’d grown to know these last few years like it meant nothing to him. You know, just like he’d done to me shortly after graduation.

But then, the anger and annoyance took over and it was like all that pent up anger I had towards the man in front of me for leading me on all those years ago was out, full force. “No. You don’t get to do this. Not today, Derek. Not ever. I’m in love with Jack, okay? I’ve been in love with him the minute I laid eyes on him four years ago and I’ve never looked back wondering ‘what if’ like you obviously have. He and I, we’ve gone through hell and back several times over and if that isn’t the universe telling me we’re meant to be...” I paused then, taking a few deep breaths as I laughed, repeating, “Derek, you need to leave before--”

And that’s when, with one last crazed look of desperation, Derek rushed forward and pressed his lips against mine, catching me off guard. For a millisecond, my brain flew to the only other time I’d been kissed against my will, back when Jack and I were still dating. That time I was too slow.

This time I wasn’t going to take it.

I pushed him off almost instantly, and sliver of sympathy I had for him gone as I punched him squarely in the jaw.

“AH, dammit Chris! What the hell?!” He hissed as he pressed palm tenderly to his bright red cheek, while I meanwhile shook my right hand, cursing to myself as there was no way I’d be able to hide my swollen knuckles from my family.

“Don’t you ever try to kiss me again, got it?” I snapped, too angry to pay attention to how much my hand was already burning in anguish.

“Damn,” Derek continued to complain as he moved his jaw around, probably to double check I hadn’t broken anything. “Since when do you hit people for kissing you?”

I shrugged. “What can I say, you had it coming.”

“I had it comi--” Derek shook his head, biting his tongue as the shock of my stark response sank in. After all, the girl he knew four years ago never would have even thought of punching anyone in the face. “Christ, you’ve really turned into a bitch, you know that?”

I flinched at his name calling, but snapped back with a quick jab of my own. “You kissed me without my consent, asshole.”

“I just needed to see if there was still a spark--”

I rolled my eyes. “You left me and I moved on for the better. Why is that so hard to accept?”

“Because I still lo--”

I shot up a finger, silencing him before he could finish his sentence. “Nope. Don’t you dare say that.”

He looked hurt. “It’s true.”

“You just called me a bitch a second ago. Not exactly words of love.”

“I only called you a bitch because that’s how you’re acting.”

“I’m acting like this because you piss me off, Derek!” I hissed. “You came here and deliberately tried to ruin my wedding day and you know what, I have every right to be pissed off. You’re manipulative and self centered and you say you’ve changed for the better but I sure as hell don’t see it. If you really loved me, you’d be happy for me instead of trying to kiss me against my will. So if you think that I will just confess my love and run away with you than you’re sorely mistaken because I love Jack with all my heart and that’s not going to change just because you’ve waltzed back into my life.”

“...and then what happened?” Jack asked softly, his eyes wide over the abridged story I recounted for him. “Did he leave? Is he gone for good?”

I shrugged. “I honestly don’t know. I booked it downstairs and texted you before he could respond. Though I guess he didn’t follow me or anything so that’s a good sign...”

Jack shook his head, eyes trailing down to my right hand, which by then was now turning a lovely shade of purple and yellow. I winced as he took the hand into his palm for closer inspection. “I should’ve been there Sally. Then I could’ve punched the son of a bitch myself for kissing my girl.”

“Don’t worry, I got him pretty good.” I chuckled, leaning forward so our foreheads pressed against each other.

“I’m sure you did.” Jack muttered, closing his eyelids for a beat as he took in just being near me, swaying softly in the shaded serene garden away from the chaos. “I just...I really wish he never showed up, Jack. I never wanted to see him again, and I was already feeling shitty from the alcohol last night and the pregnancy accusations--”

“I’ll make sure you won’t have to worry about him, okay, Sally? I’ll talk to Alex and Zack and they’ll keep an eye out for the creep.” Jack assured me, already whipping out his phone to send what I assume was a text to his Best Man.

“Thanks babe. I don’t know what I would do if we start saying our vows and he objects to it at the last minute like he thinks he’s saving the day or something.” I rolled my eyes, knowing all too well that Derek was exactly the kind of person to object to a wedding out of spite.

He shrugged, acting like it was no big deal. “Yeah, of course. I mean, I want the ceremony to run as smoothy as you do. An ex interrupting us saying our vows isn’t exactly ideal, you know? Besides, the sooner it’s over, the sooner we can finally exclaim to the world that we’re married and the sooner we can go on our honeymoon, part 2.”

“Any hints yet?” I peered at him curiously with hopeful eyes.

“Not a chance, babe.” He chuckled, letting a moment pass as we took in our beautiful surroundings. Then, just as I was relaxed he softly added, “Oh, and we’re gonna talk about that one comment, right?” He muttered, eyes peeking open so he could see me once more.

I raised my eyebrows. “Talk about what?”

He shrugged innocently, continuing to sway to the imaginary music as he pointed out, “That’s the second time you mentioned the girls thinking you were pregnant. Clearly it’s bothering you, otherwise you wouldn’t have brought it up.”

“It’s not bothering me.” I protested. “Why would it?”

He sighed. “I don’t know. We haven’t really talked about kids since Melody and now that we’re finally getting married, it won’t be long before our parents start asking about grandchildren.”

“Your mom already has.” Jack chuckled lightly while I explained, “She asked about it the night of our engagement party while you were off celebrating with Alex and Pete.”

“Of course she did...” He laughed, shaking his head at his mom’s blunt request for more grandchildren. He couldn’t exactly complain though; after all the shit he put her through growing up, the least he could do was give her grand babies.

I pursed my lips, watching his expression carefully as I asked, “Do you still want to have kids?”

He nodded quickly. “Yeah, I’d love to have a few little rug-rats of our own.” He raised a thick brow, looking down at me. “What about you?”

I smiled back at him softly, the hell that had been my morning washing away at the thought of my future with Jack. “I’ve always wanted to have kids with you, babe. When I was pregnant last time, all I could think about was how great of a father you would be, and how awesome it would be to have a mini-me running around the apartment, with your crazy black hair, my eyes--”

“I think you’ve got that backwards, Sally. Our kid is gonna have your blonde hair, my brown eyes and hopefully your nose because could you imagine this honker on a baby?” He pointed to his own nose, smiling goofily while I just laughed.

“I can, actually. I’ve seen your baby pictures, remember?”

He shuddered. “Ugh, don’t remind me. I can’t believe my mom showed you that one picture with two year old me in my birthday suit and playing in the mud.”

“Hey, I thought that one was adorable!” I defended the picture he was so embarrassed by. “And what’s the difference between that and you streaking for the whole crew to see?”

He shrugged. “They’re my friends. And dudes. You’re my wife who, yes, has seen me naked many times over, but it’s different when it’s baby-me. I hadn’t grown into the hunk of a man you see before you.”

I laughed out loud, never tired of the ways Jack put a smile on my face. “Jack--”

“What, you don’t think I’m a hunk?” He puffed out his chest not unlike a bodybuilder--you know, minus the muscle.

I laughed softly again, pressing my lips to his in a soft, delicate kiss. “You’re the hunkiest of hunks, babe.” I muttered against his lips before kissing him again. “And your my hunk.”

“Don’t you know it.” He muttered, in a daze from the short but sweet kisses I’d left on his lips, having been the first form of affection I’d given him in almost twenty four hours. He leaned in for another peck and was about to succeed when my mother strolled around the corner, interrupting our moment with a gasp and shrill.

“CHRISTINA! WHAT IN THE WORLD ARE YOU DOING? DON’T YOU KNOW IT’S BAD LUCK FOR THE GROOM TO SEE THE BRIDE BEFORE THE WEDDING?”

We pulled a part, startled by my mother’s sharp yelling. “I-I’m sorry, mom. I just had to see Jack for just a second--”

“And what on God’s green earth happened to your hand?” She screeched, yanking my right hand upward so my bruised knuckles were out in the open.

Madison sprinted around the back, out of breath and her formally delicate curls now a beachy mess. “Mom, I told you, Chris just needed a minute!” She breathed heavily, probably having chased my mom out of the B&B and into the garden. “And there’s a perfectly good explanation for her hand, I promise!”

“There better be.” Mom huffed, eyeing me carefully while Jack sheepishly took a step back from me, probably not wanting to piss off his future mother in law any more than he already had. “Come on, get inside and let me wash that hand up. Jack, go back with the rest of the groomsmen and the next time you see Christina it will be when she’s walking down the aisle, got it? Now go before I have to smack some sense into you!”

Jack’s face contorted in a mix of worry and fear, knowing full well that my mom wasn’t kidding. I watched him tense, obviously wanting to spend a bit more time with me, but reluctantly he obeyed my mom, backing away farther from me as he mouthed ‘I love you’, blew me a kiss, and then b-lined it down to the beach where the rest of his groomsmen resided.

Once he was gone, my mother’s features softened slightly, motioning for me to follow her and Madison back inside. I gave her the basic explanation of why I’d disappeared for nearly twenty minutes on my own wedding day, and surprisingly she wasn’t all that mad, at least once she figured out who I’d punched and why I felt the need to do so. As soon as I told her he tried to kiss me against my will, any form of sympathy for the man was shot out the window. “I never did like that boy, Christina. I knew he was nothing but trouble the second you introduced me to him.” She paused as she mended my hand, now clean and bandaged with a fresh white gauze. “Just be thankful you punched him with your right hand, sweetie.”

I stared back at her, shocked she was okay with me sucker punching my ex. “Why?” I asked, not understanding why it would matter which hand I used.

“Because that way, when you give your vows, your left hand will still look beautiful in the wedding pictures.” My mom shrugged. “The other hand we can crop out if need be.”

I just stared at her, shocked that this was the same woman who raised me.

Ignoring my wide eyed stare, my mother clasped her hands together, smiled at me and announced, “Now. Are you ready to see what I put together for your something borrowed and something blue?”

Notes

Yep. Derek is an asshole.

But I actually really like this chapter overall, mostly because of the interaction between Jack and Christina, which I desperately missed last chapter lol.

I'm sorry for stretching out the wedding chapters so much, but there's just so many things around this storyline that are just begging to get out :P

Opening lyrics are from So Close by Jon McLaughlin