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“Am I missing something…?” she asks, looking between us when she finally puts it together.
“ANYWAY, how was your night?” I ask Kate.
“Well, Austin and I tried this new move where I—“
“For the love of all things good, please do not finish that sentence.” Dakota’s eyes are huge as she looks like she’s going to have a heart attack hearing what her little brother is up to.
“Oh, right. Sorry, Dakota!” Kate blushes with a laugh. I have never known her to be shy but I guess there are some limits with her.
Dakota backs away and starts taking photos of Kate’s dress instead. She hangs it over the bathroom door and styles it with Kate’s shoes for the occasion; her pair of red stilettos. It is definitely her, I don’t see special event go by where she isn’t wearing those. Grace finishes my hair so it’s my turn to takeover, styling her soft, black hair. Kate helps me with her makeup first, matching mine in a similar but not exact way, considering our difference in skin tones.
It’s when we start on Kate that Dakota comes back and is taking candid photos of us. I pour Kate a mimosa as she gets her hair and makeup done and we’re all relaxing listening to music. I almost forget my best friend is getting married today. It feels like I was so worried about everything falling apart and going wrong that I hadn’t considered that maybe everything would go right. So I sip a mimosa, careful not to spill on my bridesmaids dress, which Kate let us pick out as long as the color was black. Which allowed for Grace and I to find dresses that were equally beautiful to our vastly different body types.
A phone starts ringing and we all check ours, only to see it’s Dakota who answered in a hushed tone. She excuses herself outside and it raises a bit of suspicion with me, but I remind myself not to get too worried. If she wanted me to know who it was or what it was about then she would’ve picked up in front of me. Part of me wonders if it was another woman calling her, but Dakota doesn’t seem like that kind of woman. Then again, she did end up sleeping with me after barely a day of knowing each other. I take another sip of my mimosa and finish Kate’s hair, trying not to worry myself.
“Can you please do me a favor and check on her?” Kate locks eyes with me from the mirror. I’d just put the last bobby pin in her hair.
I land my hand on her shoulder. “I’m sure she’ll be back in a minute.” I try to calm Kate but I am having troubles myself being calm.
Dakota left too long ago. Whoever it was, it probably had to do with the wedding and that frightened Kate just as much as me.
“Please, just for me?” Kate puts her hand on mine.
“Okay. I will.” I give her a smile and make my way to the elevator.I don’t see Dakota anywhere so I decide to check on our room, the elevator ride is slower than I anticipated. Making me wish I had taken the stairs but considering my lack of shoes, thinking I was going down the hall, I’m glad I didn’t.
When I find Dakota and Austin standing outside the hotel room arguing with an older couple, I stop. Why were they yelling at some poor older couple? What have they done? But then it dawns on me, I have only seen a photo or two once. But it is clear in their bone structure, the hair and the lack of tattoos. These are Austin and Dakota’s parents. So much for nothing going wrong today.
Dakota
It’s finally wedding day.After a night tangled in each other’s naked arms and the morning we had, the last thing I wanted to do was leave this hotel room. But it was my brother’s wedding day and there was no way I would miss that. Not that I could, as the photographer.
While I mostly photograph models, I do have my fair share of weddings under my belt. And even as chaotic as weddings can be, the degree in which brides turn into bridezillas, and the sheer number of mothers-in-law who think it’s all about them, I’d still choose a wedding over a runway shoot.
Plus, my brother is getting married. What better event is there to photograph?
Violet and I slowly and quietly got ready. I busied myself with gathering my camera and the multiple lenses, flashes, filters, remotes, and the tripod. I’d recently replaced my camera bag with a camera backpack, and I was already in love with my choice.
Despite us getting ready without really talking, it wasn’t weird. There was a calmness between us. Like everything was perfect.
After taking a variety of photos, Violet slips her hand in mine and keeps it there the entire way. It’s such a soft gesture that I’m not used to and it causes all sorts of emotions to run through me.
As much as I used to hate holding hands, I can’t help loving it when it’s Violet’s hand. She softens me and gives me hope that maybe someday, I could be that girl. The one who truly lets someone in. Someone that can balance me.
Look at me, thinking I could settle down. A small huff of laughter escapes my lips.
“You okay?” Violet asks, her soothing voice breaking through my thoughts.
“Oh, uh, yeah. Just thinking about how crazy it is that my brother is getting married. I never thought I’d see the day.”
It isn’t long into getting ready in Kate’s suite before Austin is calling me. I miss the first call, resulting in a string of text messages from him.
Austin: Hey, I need you.
Austin: Like right now.
Austin: Please.
I start to type back, asking what’s up when a fourth message came through that sent a shockwave through my system.
