Page 88 of Playing Hard to Get

Vivian

I peeked around the open door into the long hall, hoping I’d catch a glimpse of him. All I saw was the dark wood and muted colors of the old church. The occasional guest walked by. The priest stepped into the room on the other end of the hall. But Mitch was nowhere to be seen.

Turning, I looked around the room where we gathered to dress. Frankie and I spent hours picking out every last detail for the day. The gorgeous lavender silk for the bridesmaids’ dresses and the matching vests and ties for the men. The dark gray tuxes with the most flattering cut for all the guys and the lighter gray for the handsome groom. The flowers, in every shade of purple available, were surrounded by white roses and lace. They sat on every table, hung on every pew, clung to the lapels of every man gathered to help us celebrate the wonderful December day. The church had never been as beautiful as it was today.

Frankie smiled at me from across the room, her eyes glowing with so much love it would have made me sick if I didn’t feel the same way. This was the day we’d all been waiting for. The day the two of us never believed would ever come. This was the day where love anchored itself into our lives, pushed out the troubles of our past, and found itself a permanent home.

Daddy swept into the room, taking a quick glance at the platinum watch on his wrist. He stopped before me and tears immediately filled his eyes.

“Vivian. Miele. You look so beautiful.”

He pulled me into his arms, held me close and didn’t let me go. Back before I was kidnapped, I would have pulled away. I would have brushed off his attention as parental duty.

I knew better now.

My father and I and Vinny, we’d cleared the air between us. Daddy told us more about our mother in the past few months than we’d been told in our entire lives. How he met Veronica Carlson at a party in Hollywood back when he was in college. How he pursued her until she gave in and agreed to a date. How he fell for her, fell so hard in love with her, that his life was never the same.

He found out about her depression after his heart was already hers. He begged her on their wedding night to get help. She listened back then. Went to a doctor and got a prescription that made her feel better. But Daddy wanted a family. He wanted to have the love he knew growing up. Wanted a houseful of children running around, experiencing all of the things he wanted to give.

He was devastated when Mom tried to take her life. That she would harm herself was something he couldn’t understand. But when her attempt threatened more than her own life, Daddy knew he had to step in.

“It was always you, my children,” he promised when he told us. “I loved your mother, but the minute I saw your hearts beating on the screen, I knew I’d never be the same.”

Daddy had done so much to make up for all the years he was absent. All the years when he didn’t know how to show us how much he loved us, when the nannies and teachers he hired were the ones who raised us while he sat back and watched. Since I came home from New York, he’d taken more time off work to spend with me and Vinny. We’d all grown closer, learned to enjoy spending time together. Together, we’d all learned a few things about love.

When Daddy finally pulled away, Frankie was at my side. Tears wet her eyes as she reached forward to hug the both of us.

“My beautiful girls,” Daddy whispered as he hugged us to his chest. “You both make me so proud.”

“Mr. Leonetti?” A quiet voice pulled us from the moment. The mousey old lady who worked at the church stood just inside the door. “Sir, you’re needed in the other room.”

Frankie and I both looked at my father and smiled. We burst into giggles as he made a face that was equal parts nervousness and excitement.

“Don’t take too long,” he told us before he headed out of the room.

When he left, Frankie took my hand. She smiled at me, then extended her arms for a hug. With her head against my shoulder, she told me, “I’ve never been happier than I am right now.”

I hugged her tightly, then released her and pulled back to look into her eyes. “You’re not upset?”

“God, no!” she told me. “Vivian, I… I was wrong to try to keep you away from Mitch. I was so worried about losing him that I never stopped to think about what either of you wanted. I love you both so much, and just knowing you have each other...”

Frankie shook her head and took my hands in hers.

“Viv, I hope someday you can forgive me for how I’ve treated you. You have always been there for me. And in your time of need, it was Mitch who was there for you. I’ve wronged you both, hurt you both, and I’ll never stop trying to make it up to you.”

I gave a quiet smile to my cousin. “I love him, Frankie.”

“I know, sweetie. I’m so happy for you.” She squeezed my hands, then glanced over my shoulder. The lady was back, and she smiled at the both of us.

“It’s time.”

Frankie and I walked hand in hand and stopped beside the double doors leading to the nave. We peeked around the door, like little kids looking for Santa Claus.

“How did we both get so lucky?” Frankie whispered near my ear. “In less than two years, we both fall in love with gorgeous, kind, wonderful men.”

“I never expected it.” My eyes fell upon Mitch, standing near my brother at the left side of the altar. On the right stood Frankie’s Corey. The three of them filled my heart with joy.

A swish of silk drew my attention to the side.

“Almost ready!” Jen, Corey’s sister, was smiling at me and Frankie, her warm energy lighting up her face.

Frankie extended her arms and pulled both me and Jen into her arms as the music changed.

“Okay, okay,” Jen said. She brushed a quick kiss on each of our cheeks before she turned to face the nave.

Jen walked down the aisle, her beautiful brown hair hanging in soft curls against the lavender silk covering her back. My eyes flicked up to the front of the church to Mitch, and my throat tightened. I turned to Frankie and smiled as Daddy stepped up and stopped between us.

“Here we go.”

I swept the lavender silk around my feet and followed Jen down the aisle. My eyes grazed over Corey and his best men, Matt and Ramon, as Jen took her spot between them. I looked at my brother, my best friend, before my eyes fell on Mitch.

He was everything I ever wanted and everything I never believed I could have. He was the sunshine that lit my life. The wish made upon a falling star. He was the love I never knew could be mine.

I’d never been one for fantasies. I’d never believed in fairytales and happily ever afters. But in the past year, my life had changed. I learned I wasn’t an evil villain. That I couldn’t blame myself for my parents’ shortcomings. I learned you can’t live to make someone else happy, that you have to think of yourself. Most importantly, I learned that, while hard work can be a good thing, it’s okay to indulge in your fantasies.

You might just find your happily ever after.

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