Fulfillment by Golland, M. (best large ebook reader .txt) 📕

learnedthat to calm one’s nerves you needed to regulate your breathing.Breathe in through your nose while imagining the air to be cool andrefreshing. Then breathe out through your mouth, your exhale warmand comforting. Bullshit! Icy cold air in, and warm soothing airout? Pfft, calming, my arse. Whoever came up with that crock ofshit needs to experience a day in my life, then practice thatbreathe-in breathe-out bullshit and tell me it works. It doesn’t,it doesn’t fucking work.

“Somebody getme a gin and squash, please.” I begged, as I paced the room in myMaggie Sottero wedding gown. The A-line fitted, capped sleevedivory lace dress with a keyhole back and corset closure drapedelegantly down my nervous body. It was simply elegant, and I lovedit. “Gin...Somebody...Please!” I implored.

“No, you don’tneed any more alcohol, Alexis. An intoxicated bride walking downthe aisle is never a good look.” My mother was fixing anivory-coloured, rose garland on top of Charli’s head. “I don’t knowwhy you’re so nervous, you’re never this nervous.”

“Mum, look, weare both princesses,” Charli beamed, as she tried to twirl herdress which was of the same material as mine.

“Charlotte,keep still,” Mum barked.

I turnedaround from my position at the top of the step which led into thelounge area, careful not to catch my heel in the fishtail train ofmy dress, which finished in scalloped edging and was delicatelysprinkled with Swarovski crystals.

“Mum—”

I was about toargue my need for a drink when Tash interrupted.

“Awww, Mrs. B,a little Schnappies won’t hurt,” she said mischievously, as sheslipped me a small shot glass of Baileys and Schnapps while singingin a high pitched whisper, “Schnappies!” She then proceeded to walkaround the room and hand out shot glasses to my bridal party: Jen,Carls, Lucy, Lil, Jade and Steph. All seven of them were wearingstrapless mushroom-coloured chiffon dresses, the hem stopping justabove their knees.

“Oh, for thelove of God, please do not spill any of that on your dresses,” mymother whined, finishing with Charli’s hair and taking anappreciative stance.

“Mrs. B, here,down this.” Tash handed Mum a shot. “Drink up, bitches!” shehollered, and we all knocked them back.

Mum juststared at hers.

“Go on, Mum.Trust me, it helps,” encouraged Jen.

Mum put herglass to her lips and slowly tilted her head back, all of uswatching in anticipation for her reaction.

She loweredher head back down with that screwed-up, squinty-eyed,I-just-stuck-my-finger-in-a-powersocket look, then casuallysoftened her expression. “Actually, that was quite nice,” she saidas she licked her lips.

I let out aloving giggle then walked out onto our balcony, 43 stories abovethe ground. If there were any place that could calm my nerves, itwas the balcony—that or my shower, and I was not about to go andhop in there.

Two years hadpassed since Scott tried to kill the both of us by blowing up theapartment, and it had since been completely renovated and now feltmore like our family home. Bryce had tried to convince me formonths after the fire to move into a house in the suburbs or by thebeach, but I hadn’t wanted to. City Towers held such sentimentalmemories for me, and I couldn’t bring myself to abandon that. Okay,so the building also held some pretty devastating memories, too,but I was of the mindset that you didn’t run away from your fearsand demons; you faced them head on. You addressed them, dealt withthem, conquered and quashed them. Only then could you honestly moveahead.

I’d alsodecided that I wanted to get married at City Towers, because again,let’s face it, the place was sentimental. It was where Bryce and Ifirst met, where we first kissed, where we both first said ‘I loveyou’, and it was the place where we shared our lives together bothpersonally and professionally—for me it was the perfect choice.

My friends hadthought my choice was crazy, because...well...it was no secret wepretty much had all the money in the world. But I wanted somethingfamiliar, elegant and private. I wanted something intimate. Theglory and over-the-top hype that was involved with weddings justwasn’t my thing. City Towers was the perfect setting, I waspositive of that.

It wasFebruary in Melbourne and relatively warm, but I liked summer. Forme, it was the perfect time of year to get married. Our ceremonywas to be held in the Garden Terrace which was located in theprecinct area. It was quaint and offered both an outdoor freshnessand an indoor feel with the luxury of air conditioning—very muchneeded for the summer season.

I took in theview from the balcony like I had so many times, and like thosetimes, its serene calmness and beauty washed over me and settled mynerves. Mum was right, I was never this nervous, I guess it showedjust how happy Bryce made me, and because of that, I wanted thisday to be perfect.

“Lexi, yourphone just beeped,” Lucy said with a snide smile as she handed memy phone then turned and headed back inside.

I looked downat the screen and noticed a message from Bryce:

29 minutes and 13seconds - Bryce

I shook myhead a little just as my phone beeped again:

28 minutes, 19 secondsand counting,

until you make me thehappiest man alive - Bryce

I typedback:

27 minutes and 21seconds until I become

Mrs. Alexis Clark -Alexis

I can’t wait. -Bryce

Neither can I -Alexis

Well then hurry up -Bryce

I love you, you know.- Alexis

I do. - Bryce

Aren’t you supposed tosay that in

25 minutes and 33seconds. - Alexis

That’s it, I’m comingup there to get you. - Bryce

I giggled.Shit! He probably would.

Okay, okay. I’m on myway. ♥ - Alexis

You better be ♥ -Bryce

“You lookbeautiful, Baby Girl,” Dad’s voice sounded from behind. I turnedaround to see my father suited in a tux with a rose button holepinned to his breast pocket.

I tilted myhead to the side and gave my dad a bashful smile. “Thanks Dad, youlook pretty smashing yourself.”

Dad hatedsuits. Hated them. He was most comfortable in a pair of tracksuitpants, overalls and Blundstone boots.

He tugged athis tie, uncomfortably. “Hmmm,” he muttered, with falsefrustration.

I steppedforward and adjusted it correctly for him.

“I know thisis your second time down the aisle, Sweetheart. But let me tellyou, I’m just as