Gemma

My nerves are on edge today. After Jake and Cassian's run yesterday, we had another meeting with Quail's Gate to go over the final details of our wedding. We also stocked the fridge of the Lake House up with booze and post-wedding snacks. As for the wedding and dining part, I know everything is set up perfectly. This winery is perfection and I will be giving a five-star review when everything is over. 

As I sit in the powder room, I twiddle my thumbs. I'm wearing a silk robe that's a light-pink and is decorated with black lace. Penelope has been meticulously applying my makeup for the past forty minutes and my nerves are beginning to get to me. What if I trip and fall while I'm walking down the aisle? What if I make a fool of myself while we're exchanging vows? There are so many things that could go wrong that I'm beginning to stress. I need a shot of tequila or something stronger to calm my nerves.

"Take a deep breath, Gemma," Penelope murmurs. The brush in her hand glides smoothly over my cheekbone as she contours my face. "Walking down the aisle as the star of the wedding is a lot of pressure to handle, but I know you're going to be great. Besides, I've made a deal with Cassian."

I feel the corner of my mouth twitch. "And what is this deal, exactly?"

She steps back to inspect the lines of makeup all over my face. When she's pleased with what she sees, she nods and grabs a makeup blender from her bag. She begins to blend the streaks of makeup together. "If you fall," she explains. "Cassian is going to come rushing to you and pretend to trip over the grass, falling on his face. It will take away some of the embarrassment."

I snort. Leave it to Cassian to try and make things better. "As much as I love Cassian for trying to help, tell him he doesn't need to do such a thing. It may hurt his ego too much."

"I'm sure his ego can handle it," she muses. "But I'll let him know."

We ease back into silence and my anxiety comes back to the forefront. This wedding has been planned for months, which should ease away some of the tension building up in my system – I've had months to prepare for this day! But while all the other days have gone by fast, today feels like it's inching its way forward. It's painstakingly annoying. Morgane and Hanna have only been gone for about ten minutes, searching for a bottle of champagne that we can split before we all walk down the aisle and before Jake and I tie the knot, but it feels like they've been gone for five hours. Every time I glance at the clock above the vanity, I want to cry. I just want to get this part of the wedding over with and party late into the night with my husband, family, and friends.

"If you keep moving," Penelope says, "I'm going to end up poking your eye out." She steps back and crosses her arms. I know I'm beginning to annoy her, but I can't help myself.

Getting to my feet, I shake out my restless arms and legs, wandering in circles for a few seconds. When I lay my eyes on the door, I realize what needs to happen. I know it's bad luck for the groom to see the bride before the wedding, but I need to talk to Jake. I need him to calm me down before I lose my mind and cause Penelope to throw her hands up in the air, telling me to find someone else to do my makeup.

I turn to her. "I'm sorry, Penelope. I really am, but I need to see Jake. Just for a minute. I'll be right back so you can do the makeup, okay? Please?"

Setting her brush down, she sighs. "Fine. I managed to blend in the makeup, so it doesn't look too gaudy, but hurry back. I need to apply blush and finish off your eyes." She hardens her stare, "And don't wreck your hair or else I will murder you before you have a chance to walk down the aisle and marry the man of your dreams."

I walk over to Penelope and pull her into a tight hug. "Thank you," I murmur. "I just need to see him."

Penelope sighs as we break apart. Just by the look in her eyes, I know she's thinking about Cassian. She always gets this sparkle in them when he's near her or on her mind. "I know how you feel." She squeezes my hand and sends me a smile. "Go see Jake, Gemma."

Smiling at her, I exit the powder room and head down the hallway, tightening the ties of my silk robe. Jake and the guys are a couple of doors down. Through the door, I can hear them laughing about something. I don't want to interrupt their fun, but I'm a mess of emotions and nerves. I'm having difficulties wrapping my head around what's about to happen. There's still a part of me that can't believe Jake and I managed to pull through and work out our issues. We did a lot of damage to each other because of the stupid decisions we made. But we grew up, we changed for the better.

Lifting my shaky hand, I knock and wait for someone to open the door. The laughter on the other side dies down and soon I see Cassian in front of me. There's a glass of whisky on ice in his hand. Behind him, I see Reid, Jake, and Nolan there. My dad is sitting in the corner of the room, too, also enjoying a drink. Seeing all of them together makes a smile blossom across my face. I like that my family has accepted Jake back into my life and into their lives, and I'm thankful they can see how much he's changed. How much the two of us have changed through everything that's happened.

"Gemma?" Cassian asks, sounding surprised. He glances down at my silk robe and then over his shoulder at Jake. "It looks like a case of cold feet if you ask me."

I roll my eyes and push past Cassian. "Quit making assumptions, asshole. I do not have cold feet." I glance around at all the men in this room and then let my eyes settle on Jake. He's leaning against the wall, tapping his foot in tune with the soft country ballad that's playing in the background. There's a glass of whisky in his hands that's hardly been touched. It's a relief to see that he's nervous, too. "But what I do have is a serious case of nerves. I need to talk to Jake."

"Wow," Reid drawls, tossing back his drink. He sets the glass down on a rustic coffee table. "I never thought I'd see the day when my sister actually admitted to being nervous."

"Reid," Dad warns. "Don't heckle your sister." He stands up and walks over to me, giving me a small hug. "We'll give you as much space as you need, Gemma. Take your time."

While Dad is hustling everyone but Jake out of the room, I stand in the middle of it all, my gaze still locked with Jakes. When the door closes and everyone is gone, I rush over to Jake, knocking the drink out of his hand. The glass shatters across the hardwood, but he doesn't pay attention to it; he scoops me up in his arms instead and pressed a kiss to my forehead, avoiding any contact with my hair. "What's going on, Gem? Is everything okay?"

"I'm nervous," I reply. "What happens if I trip and fall? If I screw up the words? Jake, I don't know if I can do this."

He chuckles and guides us away from the mess we've made. We sit down on a plush white couch. "You're going to be fine," he smiles. He takes my hands and brings my knuckles to his mouth, kissing each one individually. "Me, on the other hand? With the way that robe is riding up your thigh, I might not last long."

Embarrassed, I quickly adjust the robe. I can only hope that the robe was covering everything when I walked in here. I probably should have gotten changed, but I was too out of place to even think about doing so. "Sorry."

"Don't apologize for showing off your hot body, Gem," he teases. He cocks his head to the side and stares down at my ass. "Seriously, though. Are you wearing a thong?"

I give him a shove. "Shut up, Jake."

He glances down at our conjoined hands and smiles. "I have something for you," he whispers, looking up at me through his lashes. He pulls out a small box from the pocket of his shorts and sets it down on his knee. It balances there, looking a little intimidating.

I raise an eyebrow in question. He sounds extraordinarily bashful at the moment, almost nervous. "What is it?"

"Open it and you'll find out."

After I've let go of his hands, I carefully pick up the box and open in. Inside, against black velvet, are two beautiful diamond stud earrings. A small gasp escapes my lips as I pick one up, watching as it reflects the golden sunlight that's seeping through the window. "Where...Where did you get these?" I ask in awe. "They're beautiful."

"They were my mom's," he replies. "I wanted you to have them. Dad gave them to Mom the night of their wedding, and because they can't be here with us, I think you should wear the earrings. They'll be a good representation of my parents." 

I glance at up at Jake, a sudden wave of tears threatening to pour down my cheeks. I knew this day was going to be hard for Jake, but I don't think I prepared myself enough for it. I can't possibly understand what he's going through right now by not having his parents here to support him and show him unconditional love like mine are. But I can imagine that it feels like there's this big, empty cavern in your heart that can never be fully healed. I set the earrings down and pull Jake into a tight hug. "I wish they were here," I whisper. "I wish they were here to see you and support you and tell you how proud they are of you."

"Me, too," he chokes, tightening his arms around me. "But I'm happy that Hanna and Cassian are here. Reid, Morgane, your parents. Everyone that's attending the wedding tonight is my family now. Especially you, Gem."

"You still have the right to miss your parents, though," I murmur. I kiss the soft spot on his neck, right beneath his ear. "But I'm glad you're optimistic about all this."

"How can I not be?" he laughs. "I'm marrying the girl I've been in love with since second grade. Something good always comes from bad things that happen." He pulls away from me and looks down, capturing my gaze with his heated one. I wish he would just kiss me right now. I need him to eliminate all my irrational concerns. "You're going to be beautiful, Gem," he continues. "You are beautiful. Everything about you is. Even if you fall, even if you mess up, this will still be the best day of my life. I love you because you're you. Don't let the fear of messing up get in your way."

I smile up at my fiancé and begin to lean in. Before I leave with the beautiful earrings he gave me and the words he's said close to my heart, I need him to kiss me. But before he can do that, the door swings open wide.

"Gemma Jocelyn Alder!" Morgane says. "What the hell are you doing? We need to finish getting you ready for the wedding!"

Jake gives me a sardonic smile and then flicks his gaze up to Morgane. "Good afternoon, Morgane, how are you?"

Morgane rolls her eyes and storms over to us, grabbing my hand. She yanks me to my feet and begins to tug me towards the door. "You will have plenty of time to act all gushy around Jake after the ceremony is over. Until then, we need to make you look perfect."

"She already looks perfect!" Jake calls after us.

"Shut up, Swift!" Morgane says.

"Wait!" I exclaim, ripping my hand away from Morgane's. I rush back into the room, and grab the small box from the coffee table. I also lean down and press a quick kiss to Jake's lips. "I guess I'll see you at the altar?"

He smiles and presses one more kiss to my lips before Morgane shows up and begins tugging at my arm again. "At the altar," he confirms.