Submitting to My Best Friend's Dad-Chapter 837 : Rehearsal

*Cat*

I stayed home after Elio left with the security team bright and early in the morning. I was confident nothing would happen, especially since I’d seen firsthand how thorough Elio was being. The cathedral had better security than the White House, I swear.

I felt wistful watching him leave, part of me wanting to grab him and cling to him. It was probably because I was feeling so emotional about the wedding tomorrow, but it had hit me hard all of a sudden.

Multiple times I’d broken into tears, staring at my phone as I thought about calling Elio just to hear his voice. I was excited and overjoyed to be marrying him, but I also wanted him by my side twenty-four-seven, even though I knew it wasn’t realistic.

I knew how important it was to both Elio and myself that everyone felt safe at the cathedral tomorrow, and the more preparations they did today, the smoother the actual wedding would go.

So I sucked it up, busying myself as Olivia and Mom came over to help as well as Anna. They all played pass-around-the-baby the whole morning. I, on the other hand, split my time between getting the brunch I was hosting for the wedding party ready and checking my phone for updates.

Our wedding manager was an expert as she directed the team at the venue, but she texted and called me with frequent updates, so I knew everything was going exactly how we’d discussed.

“One-Eye? Butcher Bundy? Greedy Gamlet? What is up with all these names, Cat?” Anna sent me an incredulous look as we made our rounds around the rehearsal dinner tables.

“They’re mafia members, Anna,” I whispered. I chuckled, pointedly showing her the placeholder I set down titled just, ‘Beans.’ I had yet to meet them but like the rest of Elio’s ‘relatives,’ they probably had an interesting story behind the name.

“Thank God you have me helping you with this cause jeez, anyone else would think this is the setup for a pet cemetery,” Anna joked, pointing out the absurdity.

She was right, I thought. Anyone else would think something fishy was going on considering they didn’t know the whole story.

Elio’s family was massive and not all of them were blood relatives, but family was family, which was was what he told me when we first made the list. Many had used just their nicknames or titles, or even aliases, even when it just came to the placeholders.

Pinpointing their family relations was even more difficult, so we just ended up putting ‘Aunt,’ ‘Uncle,’ or ‘Cousin’ on a lot of them. Elio probably had about fifty extra aunts and uncles than he thought he had, and a hundred more cousins.

“It was even worse during our wedding. The family had been even bigger. You’re lucky a good percentage couldn’t make it this time,” Olivia spoke up with a smile, grinning proudly as she held Emilia in her arms like the precious treasure she was. Having won the fight over who got to keep Emilia for the next hour, Olivia was looking really smug. 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Anna and Mom were both still sulking.

“I can’t even imagine that,” I laughed, shaking my head.

Almost two-hundred guests were attending from Elio’s side since we had so many plus-ones being accounted for. And only two people plus two plus-ones were from my side of the family.

It was absolutely insane.

“Ugh, finally!” Anna placed the last name, giving me a triumphant look as she looked across the massive hall where we’d be holding the rehearsal dinner. “I am so ready for to go home and get dressed for this dinner. I have a killer dress just calling out my name.”

“That’s great, except–” I gave her a sheepish grin as I pointed over to the back wall where over a hundred centerpieces were still sitting on the floor in rows. “Each table needs its centerpiece, too, plus all the silverware and utensils we haven’t set up.”

“Oh, come on!” Anna threw her hands in the air and I laughed.

“Less complaining and more working,” Mom said teasingly as she passed by her, holding a centerpiece in both hands. She set up both tables easily. “My baby only gets married once, so you better put everything you’ve got into this.”

“Okay, okay,” Anna huffed, but she sent me a proud smile as she went to help Mom and me with the centerpieces. “I’m just as invested in this wedding as you are. I just don’t see why we have to set it up. Didn’t you hire people for this?”

Speaking of, I felt my phone buzz in my pocket as soon as I gently set one of the centerpieces on the table. I pulled out my phone, grinning as I saw the update from our wedding planner.

“Yeah, but everybody is over at the cathedral getting it ready for tomorrow, so I volunteered for us to finish setting up the rehearsal dinner. I thought it might help me keep my mind off of getting married tomorrow,” I explained. Not that it was helping all too much. “Looks like the florist is going to be arriving really early tomorrow morning with the fresh flowers, but all the trellis, vines, and everything are done. They’re just working on seating now.”

“Oh, I still can’t believe my baby is getting married,” Mom sniffed as she came close to see the pictures. “It’s beautiful, Cat.” She pulled me into a hug, and I could feel her tight grip around me like she didn’t want to let go.

“It’s not like anything will really change, Mom. It’s just a piece of paper,” I laughed. “Elio and I are practically married already, plus we have Emilia.”

“Who’s going to be the most adorable flower girl tomorrow, isn’t she?” Olivia chimed in sweetly, bouncing Emilia in her arms, who laughed as she swung her beautiful rattle like a weapon.

“You know what? I think that is the number one most common thing people have said about the wedding since it was announced,” I smirked, not even kidding one bit. Both Elio and I had said it over and over any chance we got, and once Elio’s family had arrived, they had all flocked over to Emilia to greet her.

If I didn’t know any better, I’d think they were all coming to see Emilia as a flower girl instead of me and Elio getting married.

“That’s ‘cause she’s just so cute,” Anna gushed, using her baby voice as she tried to sneak Emilia away from Olivia, but unfortunately, her grandmother wasn’t having any of it.

“Ah,” Olivia smacked her hand instantly, giving her a stink-eye. “I won, so get back to work.”

Anna held her hand, pursing her lips unhappily and grumbling under her breath, but she slunk off to finish helping anyway.

Meanwhile, I was struggling to detach myself from my sniffing mother as she held her bigger baby in her arms tightly enough that I felt like I was never going to be free again.

“Are you nervous, Cat?” Olivia asked with a knowing smile. “You’re getting married tomorrow, after all. It’s okay to have a bit of nerves.”

“A bit,” I replied honestly as my mom finally let me out of her death grip. “But I’m mostly excited. I’ve been wanting this for so long, and now it’s finally here. I can’t say I’m not anxious, but I’m ready to be married. Elio has been worth every second of anxiety. I’m just so ready for our future together.”

Even if it wasn’t with the family, I added in my head. But Olivia seemed to have heard my unspoken words, giving me an understanding smile as she nodded.

“Well, we’re all ready for this. We’re all so happy for you and Elio, Cat,” Olivia grinned. “I’m so happy that Elio had someone like you in his life. That he was lucky enough to win your heart.”

“He didn’t need to win it,” I beamed. “He had it from the beginning.”

“Awww, that is so sweet!” Anna tackled me into a hug.

I laughed as I was surrounded by my family, their love shining through. I wasn’t afraid anymore of Junior or any other threat, because this was a time of happiness.

All that mattered was our family celebrating together as Elio and I swore to love one another for the rest of our lives. Nothing else mattered.

We finished up the preparations for the rehearsal dinner and then headed back home to get dressed. Before we had a chance, though, Simona arrived to deliver the wedding dress.

I was in love with the final design. It fit perfectly, just like a glove, and I twirled around for longer than I should have, beaming happily as Simona went over it three times to make sure even the tiniest details were perfect. I was a bit sad to have to take it off as Simona left to deliver it to the cathedral for tomorrow.

She declared she was proudly attending with her assistant, Rory, as her plus-one, even though she could only make it for the ceremony. I was just honored to have her there all. I was even a bit smug to add her to my small section of the bride’s wedding party.

I officially had five sitting there now.

By the time I realized it, it was only a few hours until the rehearsal party and we were rushing to get ready. Mom took over getting Emilia in her dress while Anna and Olivia got themselves ready before helping me with my hair.

Finally, though, we were ready.

By the time we entered, Elio was standing in the middle of the room with Leo and Franky by his side. All three were dressed in fancy suits. Leo had chosen a flashy light blue while Franky had his traditional black. Elio had chosen a cobalt to match my own dress, and I grinned as turned to me as soon as we entered.

His eyes lit up like he’d seen the sun for the first time, and I rushed over to him as fast as I could in my heels, colliding like a tide across the sand. His arms snaked around my waist and he pressed a kiss to my lips, holding me close.

“Hey, stranger,” I said playfully as I pulled back, grinning so wide my cheeks were starting to ache. It had only been a few hours, but I’d missed him so damn much.

“You look gorgeous,” Elio whispered softly. “I can’t wait until I see you in your dress tomorrow.”

I melted in his arms, leaning up to pull him into a deeper kiss, not caring how many people were now watching. It was going to be torture to be away from him tonight.

“Ahem!”

A sharp cough interrupted our moment, and I cast an annoyed look at Leo as he sent us a shameless grin.

“About time we got this rehearsal started, right?” Leo gestured behind us to the full wedding party, who were waiting behind us.

We stepped into a smaller hall, where the officiant was waiting. The rehearsal went quickly, and I couldn’t wait for the real thing tomorrow.

After that, we went back into the main hall, which was quickly beginning to fill with the guests.

I smiled like a loon, holding Elio’s hand as he tucked me by his side.

“Thank you to everybody for coming!” Elio announced. “As this is only the rehearsal dinner, it is not quite as formal as tomorrow’s ceremony, so enjoy the food and drinks and have fun.”

Cheers erupted around us, many raising their glasses already filled with various types of alcohol. I laughed, tucking my head into Elio’s chest as the mood of the festivities was already starting to affect me.

The dinner wasn’t too long, only a few things to go over before the celebration began, and I didn’t drink a single sip of alcohol, making sure I would be fully sober on my wedding day. Elio had much of the same plan.

We managed to dodge all the cheers and drinks as best we could and by the end of the night, we were practically the only two still sober. But the time I was dreading the most came and we had to part for the night.

“I’ll see you tomorrow when I walk down the aisle to you,” I promised him, beaming as he laid a soft kiss on my forehead.

“Then you’ll be my wife,” he beamed, a silly grin on his face as he said it aloud.

“And you’ll be my husband,” I reminded him, taking one last embrace before we reluctantly parted. I was staying with Anna for the night.

***

“You know, I’m just now thinking about it,” Anna said suddenly, her cheeks bright red from blowing up the air mattress on the floor. “But who’s going to walk you down the aisle? Your Dad’s kinda... not alive.”

“Thanks for the reminder right before my wedding,” I said sarcastically back at her, throwing the pillow on top of the air mattress and cuddling up with the blanket I’d stolen from home. It still had Elio’s scent on it, which helped me relax.

“Sorry, sorry,” Anna winced. “I just... wanted to make sure. I can do it if you want. Who cares about gender roles anyway?”

“Thanks,” I laughed. “But me and Mom talked about it already, and she’s going to do it. She’s always been there for me, and she was the only parent to me most of the time. Well, Elio kind of was too, but he’s on the other end of the aisle, and that would just be super awkward.”

Anna cringed. “Yeah, no. That’s a no from me. Matilde is good, she was like your mom and dad in one–a super mom!”

“True,” I laughed as Anna jumped onto the air mattress beside me and I cozied up to her, relishing in having a presence beside me, even if it wasn’t Elio.

“Don’t worry, Cat. Tomorrow is going to be perfect.” Anna yawned, curling up on her side.

I smiled, warm inside from having so many people who loved me all around me. She murmured one last thing before falling into unconsciousness, a sweet reminder that I took with me into my dreams.

“You’ll see.”