Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad by Scarlett Rossi
Chapter 593 -

*Natalia*

Everyone wants a perfect wedding.

I smiled at the bride in the mirror. The clock ticked away slowly as I waited calmly and patiently on this, my wedding day. As calm as I looked, there was an uncertainty inside of me, and not about the wedding or Tallon or even me. I wasn't sure what I was feeling, whether I was nervous, anxious, excited, or happy. I didn't have a single clue and maybe that was the exciting part-not knowing. All I knew for sure was that I was getting married today, to the love of my life. The bedroom was empty except for me, and after a fresh shower, I sat with my wet hair wrapped in the bath towel, my body only covered by the fluffy pink robe Dahlia had insisted I needed.

My mirror image stared back at me, both of us tilting our heads as we waited. The time ticked down painfully slowly as I spied in the mirror my dress, which lay sprawled out behind me on the bed to keep it from getting wrinkled on the big day.

I probably would've been lost in my thoughts for some time if it hadn't been for the slamming of the bedroom door as it hit the wall and the grinning future sister-in-law who stood there, holding a tote bag full of supplies and dark sunglasses covering her eyes.

"Time to get hitched, bitches," Dahlia said confidently.

Peeking out from behind her was Olivia, who gave me a helpless apologetic look, and Mia, who was nearly bouncing up and down from excitement.

"I thought I was the only one getting hitched today?" I asked, amused as they poured into the room, a whole plethora of bags coming with them that they tossed onto the bed and floor.

"Share the love, Nat," Dahlia smirked. "Let me live vicariously through you. There isn't any man strong enough to put up with me, so the very least you can do is let me help doll you up for your big day, right?"

Dahlia, as I was learning, was a very intense and straightforward person. But she was also one of the friendliest people I'd ever met. Despite only meeting me this week, she had quickly been the first to reach out and treat me like we had known each other for years.

It was amazing but also a little overwhelming.

"I'm sure there's someone who will love every part of you," I told her with a smile, "even if it's not quite who you expected."

"Girl," Dahlia pulled down her sunglasses, staring at me with wide eyes. "That's some wise-ass shit. Does getting married make you sound like a fortune cookie for everybody or is that just you? Olive, give me good advice!" She turned to Olivia, who giggled to herself while shaking her head.

"Good advice-let's see. If you really want to replace someone, then I'd start by not leaving your panties all over your bedroom floor," Olivia smirked, crossing her arms.

Dahlia gasped, placing a hand over her heart mockingly. "How dare you out me like that? And here I thought we were best friends?"

"We are," Olivia nodded solemnly. "But good friends know when to tell you the truth, and best friends know when to call you out on your shit."

There was a small pause of silence as we all stared at Olivia and then Dahlia sighed.

"Damn, marriage does run on fortune cookies."

We all laughed.

"Alright, alright," Mia luckily stepped in to cut through the nonsense, with hands on her hips and a stern look. "We've got a bride to dolly up, so let's get to it, girls."

I grinned, feeling lighter than air as they surrounded me. They pulled everything out of their bags as we readied everything and soon enough, I felt like one of the many dolls I'd had as a kid.

It was a bit embarrassing at first, sitting in front of the vanity in only my underwear and a robe as the three girls threw various objects at me. I smiled as I thought of the fancy strapless bra and panty set Mia had helped me pick out. I couldn't wait for Tallon to see it later tonight.

Dahlia got started on my makeup while Olivia turned her attention to my hair. My dress was luckily one I could slip straight into, so I didn't need to worry about it messing up my hair or makeup once I put it on.

But unfortunately for me, as soon as things began to get started, Alina popped her head in with a guilty look on her face.

"Um, would now be a good time to deliver some bad news?" she asked nervously.

"Yes," Dahlia said with a glare at her.

But Alina didn't back down. She just sent me an apologetic look as she quietly said, "The photographer isn't coming. He was in a car accident and is in the hospital. His wife called to let us know."

"You've got to be fucking kidding me," Mia said, blinking rapidly with her mouth wide open. "That has to be a joke."

"Unfortunately, it isn't," Alina bit her bottom lip, all four of the women turning to me with wide, hesitant glances.

I just smiled, my hands tucked on my lap as I told her, "That's fine. Call her back and offer to pay for his treatment. It's the least we can do."

"Uh, right." Alina sent me a weird look but nodded as she ducked back out.

"Natalia?" Olivia frowned, sending me a concerned glance.

But I just smiled, picking up the lipstick tube Dahlia had been about to put on me. "We should finish up. There's only two hours left." I said calmly.

The girls exchanged looks and shrugged, going back to work. But unfortunately, that wasn't the last of the bad news.

As the girls did my hair and makeup, Alina kept ducking in with more to tell us.

"Apparently, some of the guests caught a cold and can't attend, so we're missing about ten or so people from the guest list." And later, it was, "Uh... one of your cousins, Dahlia, got drunk and knocked over one of the flower pillars. The florist is pissed and is threatening to leave."

We thought that was it until she came back later. "The cook just got fired for using contaminated meat." This was then followed two minutes later by a hesitant, "Your mom is now cooking the reception food, which will be two to three hours late now."

While Olivia, Mia, and Dahlia's faces continued to grow darker, their eyes tinted with shadows as they did their best to distract me, I was fine. Nothing could ruin this day.

By the time I was finished, the girls looked ready to quit, and I stood there in my beautiful gown, admiring myself in the mirror.

"You did a wonderful job. Thank you so much," I gushed to them, simply beaming with happiness.

"I'm glad you're happy but-" Olivia shared a look with Dahlia, who huffed in annoyance.

"Maybe you should postpone the wedding after all," Mia suggested timidly. "There's no photographer, the florist just quit, the cook was fired and we're missing a good chunk of people because they're sick. It's like everything that could go wrong, has!"

And it was at that moment when Alina popped her head in again, mouth open for another dose of bad news, but Dahlia just raised her finger at her with a fierce glare. "Don't. You. dare."

Alina snapped her mouth shut and slowly closed the door behind her. Once she was gone, I burst into soft giggles, twirling to face them with a wide smile.

"How can you be laughing at a time like this? Everything's ruined!" Dahlia huffed, crossing her arms as she stared at me impatiently.

"But I have everything I need right here," I told her sweetly. "I have my wonderful husband-to-be, a dress I love, and all of the people we care about here. That's all we really need, isn't it?"

"I guess, but " Dahlia frowned. "Every bride wants a perfect wedding, right?"

I just smiled to myself at that word. Perfect-the idea had driven me for so long but today, I felt a little wild, a little crazy even. I didn't answer her anymore, instead focusing on getting ready with only half an hour before the ceremony. Carefully, I grabbed the veil, swinging it behind me as I carefully pinned it to my hair, the sapphires shining brilliantly under the vanity lights. Olivia reached out to help me as I placed the crown that I had bought all those months ago at the bridal show as the centerpiece.

Something old and something blue....

Dahlia sighed after I went quiet, stepping up to help me put on the new teardrop earrings we had bought. They were heavier than I first thought but looked gorgeous, even under the veil.

The necklace was the borrowed part from Tallon's mother. It nestled upon my chest like it always belonged there.

Something borrowed and something new....

"Oh, you look beautiful," Mia gushed, while Dahlia and Olivia messed with my veil a little more, getting it just right. "Gorgeous." Dahlia nodded in approval.

"A beautiful bride," Olivia whispered over my shoulder, giving me a soft look.

I smiled at her happily, then rose to my feet, strapping on my heels as my outfit was finally complete. I didn't look like most brides. My dress wasn't even meant for weddings, but I still felt beautiful, and that was what mattered. There was a knock on the door and Alina popped her head inside, giving me a beaming look as she caught sight of me.

"You ready? Everything's in place, as best as we could get it, at least," she said sheepishly. Dahlia sighed, slapping her own face into her hand as she slowly shook her head. Alina could be rather clueless at times, but I appreciated her, nonetheless.

"I'm ready," I said confidently.

The girls accompanied me as we headed down the halls to the main living room. The compound had been decorated beautifully today, with garlands of flowers on the walls leading to the garden out back. It felt like a trail to follow, a path made just for me.

Fairy lights dotted the way, accompanying me with every step, and there was a blackout curtain covering the window and screen doors out to the backyard. Mia, Dahlia, and Olivia said their goodbyes, all wishing me luck, with Alina handing me the bouquet before she too departed.

There was a loud chatter when the door opened, and the girls slipped out, leaving just me with my heartbeat racing in my chest.

I took a deep breath. That feeling of not knowing still had its hold on me as I waited.

"Ready, baby?" a hand gently dropped around my elbow, and my mother's smiling face came into view. I beamed, giving her a shaky nod as I took a deep breath.

"You look beautiful, my Natalia." My mother laid a soft kiss on my forehead, winding her elbow around mine as she intended to accompany me down the aisle.

From somewhere outside, I could hear the music playing, and my heart leaped inside of my chest.

"Thank you, Mama." I gripped her arm tightly, my vision going blurry around the edges from unshed tears as the doors opened, the music playing the familiar song, and we stepped out into the garden.

The walk was painfully slow, the stone path covered in a trail of flower petals that led straight to the end of the aisle, ending straight at Tallon. Dressed in a tailored suit, his hair slicked back, he looked as handsome as ever.

He looked at me like the breath just got knocked from his chest. Complete awe and love poured from his eyes as I made my way down the aisle, and it was like the world around me didn't exist anymore.

All I could see was him.

It was all a blur from there, our eyes locked together as my mother gave me away, taking her seat right at the front as her eyes wavered with sadness and hope and joy for me. Around us were all our friends and family, waiting with bated breath as the ceremony began.

Tallon gripped my hands in his, the two of us lost in our own world as the official spoke loudly for all to hear. Despite all the worries and everything that had gone wrong, the garden looked beautiful, even though it was missing one pillar and a good fifth of the chairs were empty.

Even with no florist, no cook, and no photographer, I wouldn't have changed a thing, not even the cloudy, muddy gray skies above us, which darkened the longer the ceremony went on.

I said my vows and Tallon did as well, both of us having written them beforehand, then we exchanged rings.

Just one more part, I thought, and we'll be married.

My stomach fluttered with butterflies, I gripped his hands impatiently, staring deeply into Tallon's eyes as he lifted the veil as the official announced before our entire family, "And I now pronounce you husband and wife! You may now " He was cut off by a loud boom of thunder striking across the sky and I flinched, glancing upward with wide eyes as rain began to pour from the gray clouds.

"Is this a good time for some bad news?" I heard Alina shouting across the garden before three very loud voices cut in with, "No!"

But despite the guests around us immediately rushing out of their seats to head for cover, all my perfect makeup and hair being drenched away by the falling rain that soaked into our expensive clothing, I only grinned widely. "It's raining," I mumbled softly to myself.

Tallon laughed, pulling me closer into his arms. "What a terrible wedding." He pushed our foreheads together, a smirk on his lips as we were drenched in the downpour.

"The absolute worst," I agreed, smiling just as widely. "But you know, you didn't kiss the bride yet, Mr. Groom."

And he grinned, kissing me as fiercely and passionately as our first. The world was drowned out by the falling rain, but I could still make out cheers and applause as Tallon hoisted me off my feet, spinning me around happily. I spread my arms out like wings, laughing as the two of us played in the rain like we were kids again.

Everyone wants a perfect wedding.

And this was mine.