Page 15 of Heavenleigh

Around us, the other patrons laughed, offering well-wishes to Warren while the girls continued to bounce around.After another round of shots, we left, a driver already waiting on us.

An hour later, following a stop at the hotel for Yara’s dress, we stood on the yacht deck, the captain in front of Yara and Warren as the two of them exchanged their rings.Above us, the crescent moon glowed as waves crashed melodically against the boat.With the tropical breeze blowing lightly, the air felt as magical as Ven predicted it would be.

Watching my baby sister become my best friend’s wife, seeing how happy they both were together, I felt a lump fill my throat.

Not everything was perfect for them.They still had obstacles in their path that were going to take time to clear, but they could do it together.

When the captain pronounced them husband and wife, something shifted inside me.I wanted this with Ven.Her as my wife, my life partner.Very, very soon.Just not too soon, so I didn’t freak her out over all the baggage that came with me.

Warren pulled Yara close, then dipped her back, causing her to giggle.She cupped the side of his face, her smile so bright it outshined the moon glowing down on us.In that moment, I was confident that my little sister was going to be just fine.No matter what the future held, Warren would take care of her.

“Hello, husband.”

“Hello, wife,” he rasped and kissed her.

When I turned my head from the sight, my breath caught at how beautiful Ven looked.Her hair was down, the ends curled, her eyes brimming with tears for the happy couple.

“Champagne, anyone?”the first mate offered, stepping forward with a tray of glasses for everyone.

The newlyweds came up for air, and I grabbed a glass for Ven and myself.I needed more alcohol to get rid of the thoughts in my head.Marrying Ven too soon was a stupid idea.She wasn’t ready for the chaos that would come with being my wife.I needed to prepare her for what being a Wilson would be like.The constant spotlight and intrusiveness of not just the media, but my mother as well.

No, I told myself, swallowing another glassful of champagne without tasting it.I had to be patient and ease Ven into my life so I didn’t scare her away or overwhelm her with my family.

Music began to play.Claude had a full staff on each of his yachts, and although this was the smallest one, it didn’t lack amenities.The chef had started cooking as soon as Claude had alerted the captain to expect us.There was even a cake.It wasn’t white, but Yara didn’t appear to mind as she and Warren cut it.He fed her a bite, and she smiled at him with her whole heart in her eyes.

“I think this is my favorite wedding,” Ven commented, taking a forkful of cake from my plate.As she chewed, her gaze was on the bride.“Every other one I’ve been to always felt like such a big show, like they were making some kind of statement.I’m not saying it was a bad statement, just that it was…I don’t know, loud, maybe.”

She had a smear of icing on her bottom lip.After wiping it away with my thumb, I licked it clean.Ven’s blue-gray orbs darkened as she watched.At the base of her throat, her heartbeat began to flutter visibly.

Clearing her throat, she took a big drink of her champagne.“I never imagined my own wedding, but I think I would want something like this.Small, intimate.Just a handful of people.”

“I can definitely work with that,” I agreed.

Her eyes widened, not mistaking what I was saying in the least.Quickly, her surprise shifted into something else, her smile turning thoughtful.“This morning, you were all grumpy over what I told my mom.Now, you’re alluding to a future wedding.Jacob Wilson, do you like me?”

“So fucking much.”Grasping her elbow, I tugged her closer, even though she was only a few inches away.“If your definition of ‘like’ is that my heart is no longer mine.At this point, it doesn’t even live inside my body, little bunny.You stole it right out of my chest the first time you smiled at me.”

Heavenleigh

Harsh sunlight glaringthrough the window felt like a laser drilling directly into my brain.Groaning, I grabbed for a pillow to shield my eyes, the headache pulsing inside my skull an unwelcome reminder that I was very much alive.

My first time experiencing the joys of a hangover, and I had to say, the results were not worth it.I barely remembered anything from the night before, just a few random clips that weren’t clouded by the haze of alcohol.Peer pressure wasn’t something I’d ever suffered from.No meant no with me, and I’d never been tempted to fall under the influence of other people.Yara had always respected my boundaries, and if I was fair, Warren hadn’t pushed any either.

But he’d put that shot in my hand like it was second nature, and I’d only thought about the consequences momentarily before tossing back the drink.It was one night, I’d told myself as I’d swallowed the liquor.We were celebrating, and for once, I threw caution to the wind.One shot turned into… Fuck, I’d lost count.

Then Yara started talking about getting married by moonlight, and sometime later, we’d been on a megayacht.Yara in her wedding dress, while Warren silently cried with the most adoring look in his eyes.Jake beside me, watching me like he wanted to eat me whole.There had been cake—that was a very clear detail that my pulsing head remembered well enough.Along with Jake basically telling me he loved me.And then…

Nothing.

It was all a blank, like someone flipped the off switch in my mind and my brain quit working.

Yeah, I was never drinking again.

I had a sour taste in my mouth that needed to be dealt with.Carefully, as if I were trying to avoid detonating a bomb, I pulled the pillow away, slowly exposing my eyes to the blazing sun filling the room.Which was a mistake.Slapping my hands over my eyes, I rolled to the edge of the bed.Peeking through my fingers, I took a few blinks before I could determine which direction I needed to go to get to the bathroom, and then I had to take a little extra time to psych myself up to stand.

It was absolutely as bad as I thought it was going to be—the pain in my head, the nausea roiling around in my stomach, that taste in my mouth…gross.Somehow, I stumbled my way to the bathroom without causing myself bodily harm.Leaving the door open and the light off, I fumbled on the sink in search of a toothbrush.At this point, I didn’t care who it belonged to.I needed that taste gone or I was going to make it worse and start blowing chunks.

Brushing my teeth was a chore all on its own.The sound of the water made me flinch.My arm seemed to weigh a thousand pounds as I struggled to scrub the filth from my mouth.Once the taste was gone, I sat down on the toilet with a small moan of relief, completely exhausted.