BK 3 - Prequel Chapter 3 - Wedding
Cat, Trey, Theo, Kitty, Aiden, Roger, and Valerie flew to Las Vegas a few days after Thatcher spoke to Cat. They all felt like they owed Thatcher for everything he did for them, so making sure his and Janel's wedding was perfect seemed like a good way to start. When Cat told them what Thatcher asked, none of them hesitated to jump on the next plane to Vegas.
Cat had already called and made arrangements for the wedding to be held at The Glass Gardens in the Chapel of Flowers. There weren't that many guests, but that didn't mean it couldn't be absolutely spectacular. They booked rooms at Treasure Island and ensured the honeymoon suite would be ready for the happy couple.
After landing and getting settled in their rooms, the men stayed at the hotel with Theo while the women went to take a look at the venue. It was better than they could have imagined.
Inside the chapel, there was a glass ceiling that gave the effect of looking up at a night sky with millions of stars, no matter the time of day. The walls on each side were lined with trees covered in little white lights. Wooden chairs that looked like they were made of ivy were on either side of the aisle. Everything was set up to give the place the look of an enchanted forest.
"Cat, this is perfect. Janel is going to love it." Kitty says, looking around in wonder.
"It really is incredible. Have you decided on a dress?" Valeris asked excitedly. She loved planning weddings and parties.
"That's our next stop. Luckily we went shopping not long ago so I remember her size. Thatcher said he would be bringing a tux with him." They left the chapel and walked several blocks to the dress shop. The men were easy; they had all brought suits with them. Cat, Kitty, and Valerie wanted new dresses.
When they entered the shop, they first went to the wedding gowns. Janel's style wasn't over the top; it was more subtle, so they bypassed all the dresses with too many frills. When they were down to the last rack, they thought they might need to try another shop when Cat let out a little squeal.
"I found it," She exclaimed excitedly. She pulled the dress out and held it up for Kitty and Valerie to see.
"Oh, that's gorgeous. I can already picture Janel wearing it." Valerie walked over and ran her hand over the silky white material. The dress was simple yet glamorous. It was long white silk with sheer sleeves. The dress would fit her snuggly and show off Janel's curves yet make her look classy. They decided against a veil and instead went for a headband with little white flowers that looked like they were woven through ivy. It would match the chapel perfectly.
"She is going to love this," Kitty exclaimed as she admired the ensemble.
"I can't wait to see her face. They'll be here in two days. So everything should work out perfectly. Let's pick out our dresses and then get back to our men so we can do some sightseeing."
Finding their dresses was much easier than picking one for Janel. Cat chose one in royal blue that made her blue eyes pop. It was knee length, short-sleeved, and fit her like a glove.
Kitty's dress was also knee length but had a flared skirt and was emerald green. Valeria went with a floor-length teal dress that seemed to blend the green from Kitty's and the blue from Cat's.
When they were done, they returned to the hotel and entered Cat and Trey's room, where they'd left the men. Walking into the room, they froze and tried not to laugh at what they saw. Trey and Theo were lying on one bed, sound asleep. On the other bed, Roger and Aiden were also sleeping. What was funny was seeing Roger spooning Aiden as they slept. Valerie quickly took her phone out and took a picture.
Trey woke up first and smiled at the women before kissing Theo and getting out of bed. He made a beeline for Cat, but she stopped him, pointing to the other two men. Trey didn't even try to hide his laughter. Aiden and Roger woke up, and when they realized how they were sleeping, they jumped out of bed.
"Wow, you guys were really comfortable. Maybe you should bunk together, and I'll stay with Kitty tonight." Valerie teased, making Aiden and Roger's faces turn bright red.
"You're hilarious. This does not leave this room." Roger tried to use his authoritative voice, but everyone laughed at him. Valerie took out her phone, showing him the picture she had taken.
"Sorry, honey, I had to get proof of what a softy you are." Cat took pity on Roger and Aiden's embarrassment and decided to change the subject.
"We finished setting everything up. Are you guys ready to get something to eat and do some exploring?" She asked as Trey wrapped his arms around her before kissing her forehead.
"If we can get those snuggle bumpkins over there to keep their hands to themselves, I think we're ready to leave." Aiden's face got even redder, but Roger looked like he was ready to explode.
"Okay, Galloway, you've had your fun. If you were still working for me and weren't married to that wonderful woman, I would send you so deep undercover I wouldn't have to see you again for months." Everyone bursts out laughing, including Roger. He loved Trey despite his endless teasing. After everyone freshened up, they left the hotel. Only a couple more days and all Janel's dreams would come true.
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**Two Days Later**
Janel and Thatcher boarded the plane. She had wanted to say goodbye to Cat and Kitty before they left, but they said they had gone out of town. Her heart broke a little, thinking they didn't consider her family if they could leave without saying anything to her.
"What's wrong?" Thatcher asked, kissing the back of her hand as they took their seats in first class. He knew why she was upset, but he had to play it off, so she was surprised when they landed in Vegas.
"I still can't believe they left without telling me. I thought we were closer than that." He felt terrible that she was so down, but she would get over it as soon as she saw where everyone went.
"Maybe it was an emergency. You know they love you. Neither of them would want you to feel this way." Janel nodded, feeling a little better.
"You're right. I'll have plenty of time to spend with them when we get back." The flight from Sacramento to Las Vegas was quick. Thatcher could hardly contain his excitement as they landed. Cat had texted him before they left, letting him know everything was ready and a limo would be waiting for them.
"Are you ready to say I do?" He asked Janel as they walked off the plane.
"I've never been more ready for anything in my life." They went to baggage claim and got their bags before walking outside, where the cars were waiting for their passengers.
"Why does that man have a sign that says, Thatcher and Janel?" She asked, puzzled.
"A limo is picking us up." Janel turned to him with her head tilted sideways.
"Why did you request a limo? We could have taken an Uber or Lyft." He laughed and shook his head. She didn't like to waste not even one penny on what she considered unnecessary extravagant purposes.
"Today, my love, you will be spoiled. Now don't burst my bubble." Janel giggled in spite of herself. She figured it didn't hurt to splurge every once in a while.
She had never been in a limo. Once they were in the back, she felt underdressed in her shorts and t-shirt. As they passed Treasure Island, she looked at Thatcher in confusion.
"I thought we were going to check into the hotel?" She questioned as they continued down the road.
"We'll go in a little while. Right now, I have a surprise for you." Thatcher had to turn away from her to hide his smile. He could see the others as they pulled up to the chapel, but she hadn't spotted them yet. When they came to a stop, he turned toward her as she looked around.
"Is this where you want to get married? Are we checking it out?" She asks excitedly.
"Not exactly. Come with me." Thatcher opened his door, getting out before holding his hand out for her to follow. As soon as she stepped out, the others jumped in front of her.
"Surprise. Welcome to your wedding." Janel froze, looking at the people in front of her. She couldn't believe they were there. Then she realized what they had said.
"Did you say my wedding day?" Cat walked toward her with a big smile.
"That's what we said. Thatcher told us you were eloping, and we couldn't allow you to say your vows without your family here. So he asked for our help to set everything up for you. Now let's get this show on the road. You have an aisle to walk down." Janel burst into tears as she hugged each one of them before turning to Thatcher.
"I can't believe you did this for me. I love you." She threw her arms around him, pulling his mouth to hers.
"I love you too. Now let's go make you mine."
For the next hour, Janel felt like she was in a whirlwind. There was a bride's room for her to get ready. After she showered, the women helped her with her hair and makeup. She left her hair down how Thatcher liked, and her makeup was light. When they showed her the dress they picked out for her, Janel felt overwhelmed with gratitude. It was precisely what she would have picked for herself. The headband matched her engagement ring perfectly. Once everyone was dressed and ready to go, Roger came to the room, looking at Janel sheepishly.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but Janel, I wanted to ask if you would allow me the honor of walking you down the aisle." She grinned at him before giving him a hug.
"I would love for you to walk me down the aisle. Thank you." Valerie carried little Theo out in his tux with Cat and Kitty following her. They walked down the aisle with their mates and stood on either side, waiting for the bride. Thatcher was beaming from his spot in front.
When the wedding march began, Thatcher's smile got even bigger. Janel walked out in her white dress, holding a bouquet of white lilies. When their eyes met, everyone else in the chapel faded away. It was only them. They didn't write their own vows; they used the ones the chapel had. Janel didn't care about the words; she knew that no matter what was in their future, they would always have each other.
