Jaded Hearts
Chapter 81

Taylor

“Girls, I need your help here. I don’t know which one to pick!”

We were finally picking out my wedding dress, but Alaia and Morgan were too focused on the cheese, wine, and chocolate the attendant had brought out for us to offer any help.

“What does Matthew like, bella? Do you think he would prefer a ball gown with the fuller skirt, or something more form-fitting?” Giana asked.

She was the only one helping at the moment.

“Form-fitting. Your son is obsessed with my curves,” I said with a smile.

Giana looked at the attendant and winked. “He’s a smart boy. Can we have a few mermaid and trumpet options, please? Maybe stick with strapless sweetheart necklines or something off the shoulder. My future daughter has an amazing body, so why hide it?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll pull some options for you now.”

“Luna, Beta? Would you ladies like to see if you can replace any dresses that appeal to you? They have a lovely bridesmaid section,” Giana mentioned.

“Oh! Yes, that sounds fun. Bring the chocolate, and let’s see what we can replace,” Morgan said to Alaia before she rushed out of the fitting room.

“You’re good at getting people to do what you want, Giana. Well done,” I said.

“It’s something you learn over time. I’m sure you’ll be just as good one day.”

A few minutes later, the girls returned with arm fulls of dresses with the attendant right behind them.

I tried the dresses she bought, but nothing struck me as “the one.”

“He loves my back. He once bought me four of the same dress because of the way it hugged my body and dipped low in the back. Do you have anything like that?” I asked.

I knew I wasn’t giving her much to go on, but I needed this dress to be perfect.

The attendant nodded. “We do, it’s part of the new spring collection.”

“Can I see it?” I asked, full of excitement.

She looked at the clipboard in her hand and frowned.

“It’s a little over the max you put down for your budget. A lot over, actually.”

“Oh.”

I wanted to pay for my dress myself, so I told myself that I needed to be reasonable. I was only going to wear it once, so I didn’t want to pour insane amounts of money into it.

“Please get the dress. We want to try it on,” Giana said with her usual sweet smile.

“Giana, I don’t want to get my hopes up. What if it’s gorgeous, and I can’t afford it?”

“Your future husband told me to make sure you get the dress you want, so that’s what we’re going to do. You’re just trying it on; there’s no guarantee that you’ll even like it, but you’ll never know unless you try.”

Fifteen minutes later, I was looking at my reflection in the mirror as silent tears streamed down my face. This was it, and it was four times my max budget.

“Tay, that dress was made for you. It’s perfect. You don’t even need to do a stitch of alterations,” Morgan said.

“It’s perfect, but I can’t afford it! And I want it!”

“Miss?”

I turned to the attendant, who was beaming up at me.

“Your dress, shoes, and all of your accessories have already been paid for. A very sweet and charming gentleman stopped by about ten minutes ago and provided his credit card information. So, if you want this one, it’s yours.”

“Who was it?” I asked.

“I can’t say, ma’am. He asked that we not reveal his name until you’ve made your purchase.”

“It’s got to be Matt. He did say that he wanted you to get whatever you wanted,” Alaia said.

“But I have his credit card. I was supposed to slip it to the cashier before Tyson got the chance to pay,” Giana sheepishly replied.

“Tyson? It’s weird to buy your girlfriend a wedding dress so she can marry another man, but he’s definitely got the cash,” Morgan stated.

I turned back to the mirror and looked at the dress. Nothing would ever be as good, or as perfect. I had to have this one.

“Well, whoever it was, he just spent a ton of money. We’ll take it.”

The girls gently helped me get back into my clothes while Giana and the attendant packed the dress away in its bag.

When we got to the register, and she rung me up, my eyes almost popped out at the total. When the veil, undergarments, and tax were added, the total was over ten thousand dollars. I couldn’t believe it.

“You’re all set. He asked that we give you this,” she said, passing me a small envelope.

When I opened it up, I started crying all over again.

Sweetheart,

Your father wanted to buy this for you. It was all he spoke about when we spent time together during the baby shower. He wanted nothing more than to walk his little girl down the aisle wearing the dress of her dreams.

I’m sorry that he’s not here to do that for you, and I hope that you won’t mind that I stepped in and took this small burden off your shoulders.

You’re the daughter Giana and I never had, and I want to be sure that when you marry our son, you feel as beautiful as we all know you are.

I love you, sweet girl,

-James

“Holy s**t, that’s the sweetest thing I’ve ever seen,” Morgan said as she wiped her eyes.

“I see where Matt gets it from now,” I replied.

“That’s the charm that got me to marry him after just two weeks. He’s still got it,” Giana said with a smile.

* * *

When I got home, Matt and Tyson we’re sitting on the couch watching a football game. I leaned down and gave Matt a deep, sexy k**s, then moved to snuggle up in Tyson’s lap.

“I guess you had a good trip?” Matt asked.

“It was amazing. I found my dress, and it’s beyond perfect.”

“Can I see it?” Tyson asked.

I gave him an incredulous look. “No, you can’t.”

“But why? I’m not the groom. I can see it.”

“Nope. This thing cost ten thousand dollars, though.”

Matt’s eyes went wide. “Are you serious? For one dress?”

“Yes, for one dress. One perfect, heaven-sent dress. Don’t worry, Giana didn’t get to slip your credit card to the cashier like you’d planned.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. But … who paid for it if I didn’t?”

I passed him the note, and once he was done reading, he passed it to Tyson.

“Damn, your dad’s got some real swag. That’s incredible,” Tyson said.

I couldn’t help but smile. “Right? James is the best.”

“He knew I wanted to pay for it, but he slipped in before I could. Sneaky bastard,” Matt mumbled.

“Sneaky or not, it was super sweet, and I’m so thankful.”

“I’m happy you got the dress you wanted, baby. That’s all that matters.”

I turned and looked at Tyson’s face. “Is this weird for you? Watching this whole wedding being planned right before your eyes?”

“No, not really. You were his fiancé before we even reconnected. I’ve known this entire time that you two would be married, so it’s fine. And one day, when it’s our turn, you’ll just have to do this all over again.”

“You say that like you’re so sure that I’ll marry you.”

“Wouldn’t you?”

“Is that your way of proposing?”

“No.”

“So, you don’t want to marry me?”

“Is that your way of proposing?”

“No.”

“So, do you want to marry me or not?”

“Man, I really wish I had some popcorn right now,” Matt cut in.

I looked over to see him intently watching this weird back and forth between Tyson and me. Tyson gently took hold of my chin and turned my face back to his.

“I’m serious, sunshine. And it’s a question, not a proposal, not yet. But would you want to marry me or not?”

“One day, when we’ve reached that point in our relationship, yes. I would want to marry you.”

“Now was that really so hard?” he asked.

Matt laughed, then turned his focus back to the TV. “She likes to be difficult for no reason sometimes. You’ll learn to just go with it.”

“I see that,” Tyson said while looking deep into my eyes.

“Whatever, you two won’t ruin my good mood. I’m going to get some ice cream.” I stood to my feet, and Tyson pulled me back into his lap and captured my lips in a k**s.

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

I stood up and walked by Matt, who also grabbed my h**s, pulled me down into his lap, and attacked my lips.

“Damn.”

“I love you, tesoro.”

“I love you too.”

* * *

“You two have no clue how jealous I am! No clue!” Morgan yelled out.

“Why are you always so loud? You’re going to wake up the babies,” Alaia responded with a frown.

“Sorry, but come on! Having two men at the same time? That is the dream, and both of my best friends are living it.”

“Let me stop you there,” I said. “I have not had them at the same time. I have to work my way up to that. Baby steps.”

“What’s holding you back?” Alaia asked.

“I just don’t think we’re there yet. I’m in two completely different stages in the relationships, and I don’t know if it’s time for them to cross over yet. I’m mean, besides some hugs and k****s here and there, I don’t flaunt the guys in front of one another. I’m trying to keep them separate for now so I can make sure they both get the care they need. Does that make sense?”

“It does. I jumped in feet first with both my guys; engagement and a double wedding, then back-to-back babies. It was so much at once. It’s good that you recognize what you’re comfortable with and set the pace.”

“It’s s*x; just do it already,” Morgan stated, rolling her eyes.

“What are you talking about?” I asked.

“I get that you and Tyson are just boyfriend and girlfriend, while you and Matt are basically married with a child. You and Matt live together, you work together, your lives are very much intertwined. I’m not saying that you should rush to have all of that with Tyson, but come on. Make a meal, drink a ton of booze, then f**k the hell out of both of those men at the same damn time.”

Alaia laughed and shrugged a shoulder. “I guess I get what she’s saying too. It’s just s*x. You’ve done it with them both individually, so why not make it a party?”

“For someone who doesn’t have to take on two men at once, you’ve got a lot of unwanted advice to share on the subject,” I said to Morgan.

“I’m living vicariously through you two. I want to know what it’s like.”

“Alaia can tell you what it’s like, and that doesn’t involve me getting split in half. So there you go.”

“But don’t you want to get split in half?” Alaia asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Maybe….”