AllFreeNovel
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The entire week, I've been full of nervous excitement. To keep up with tradition, I made sure we did the rehearsal dinner two days before and stayed at a hotel last night. The first time Ryan saw me in over twenty-four hours was when I walked out to be his forever. We wrote our own wedding vows, and his words hit me in the heart. Being snowed in with him changed my life, and I owe Mother Nature a big thank you.
After we've cut the cake, Ryan leads me onto the dance floor. His strong hands pull me close, and I wrap my arms around his neck.
"I think I'm going to have to go to the bathroom soon. My bladder is so full," I admit when he spins me around for the second time.
Ryan chuckles and trails kisses across my neck. "I'll find Cami. There's no way you're getting out of that dress on your own."
"No kidding. It's practically glued to my body."
He lifts a brow. "I know, glad I put a ring on it so everyone in the world knows you're mine."
"Trust me, everyone knew before that."
Lifting my chin, Ryan looks into my eyes, then kisses me. I melt into him, wishing we didn't have so many people watching us right now. Right as the song ends, I spot Cami as she's handing Laney over to her mother. Ryan waves her over, and immediately Cami is beside me.
"I have to use the bathroom and need your help,” I whisper.
"Of course!" Cami says and escorts me across the large venue to the restrooms.
"I've been holding it for nearly thirty minutes." I let out a relieved breath.
"You should've found me sooner. I would've helped right away," she scolds, then turns me around and undoes the buttons leading down my back because sitting in this thing isn't easy. Once I'm free, I breathe for the first time since I put it on.
"I don't think I could've lived in the olden days. The dress is beautiful, but I can't say it's the most comfortable thing I've ever worn."
"I know, I felt the same way." Cami snickers, then bends over and grabs the extra fabric and holds it in her arms as we walk to the biggest stall. She turns her back as I finally go.
"I'm so damn happy," I tell her with a sigh. “Today has been perfect.”
"It truly has! Now you're officially a St. James and my sister for life," she says, then helps me stand.
"It certainly has a ring to it," I sing-song as we walk out of the stall, and she buttons me back into my dress.
“Right! I’m happy to have taken Eli’s last name, but St. James just sounds...elegant.”
We laugh, then notice the music suddenly stops, and we hear commotion.
"What is going on?" We rush out of the bathroom and make our way back to the ballroom and see everything’s in complete chaos.
I rush around, looking for Ryan as people head toward the exit. Panic streams through me when I see the expression on Ryan's face. He comes to me and pulls me into his arms for a hug.
"What the hell happened?" Cami bursts out.
"It all happened so fast." Ryan shakes his head.
"What did?" I panic.
"Someone got past security and tried to grab your sister. There was a fight, and the next thing I saw was a gun."
"A gun?" Immediately, my emotions get the best of me. "Where’s Piper now?"
Ryan opens his mouth, then closes it.
Eli comes over with Laney in his arms and tells Cami they have to go. She gives me a tight hug. “I’m so sorry. Text me as soon as you know anything, okay?”
Once they’re gone, I look back at Ryan, and ask again, "Where is she?"
“I don’t know, baby. One second she was there, then the next she wasn’t,” he explains. I look past him and see my parents speaking to the police. My mother is frantic, and my father looks enraged. This definitely can’t be good.
I rush over as Ryan follows me.
"What happened?" I interrupt as my father continues his conversation. My mom takes me over to the side. "I'm so sorry this ruined your night, sweetie."
"Someone better tell me what’s going on right now!" I demand, growing more frustrated.
"Someone tried to attack Piper. Tristan took her. She's okay."
Relief floods through me. "Thank God he was here."
"He was instructed not to take his eyes off her.”
“Why? Did something else happen?”
“She’s been getting death threats. Her stalker somehow hacked into her cell phone and was able to track her. The police have been involved, but they haven't been able to track him down to arrest him.”
"Jesus,” I hiss. “I hadn’t realized it’d gotten so much worse."
"No one wanted to worry you. I wanted this day to be so special for you and now look at it." A tear streams down her face, and I wrap her in a hug.
