Once In A Lifetime

The day of Jordan's wedding had finally arrived, and the morning was filled with hectic preparations for the ceremony. Despite the chaos, Sophie's thoughts were elsewhere. Ever since their near-kiss, she had called Ryan, but it was evident that she was avoiding her. Sophie wasn't even sure if Ryan would attend the wedding. To make matters worse, Kate’s plane had landed and she was on her way to the wedding.The guilt weighed heavily on Sophie. She knew she had to tell Kate the truth, and end their relationship, but she wanted to wait until after the wedding. Sophie didn't want her personal drama to overshadow her sister's big day, unaware that her preoccupation was already having an impact.

"Sophie!" Jordan called out to her sister, trying to get her attention. She sat in the hair and makeup chair, while Sophie was supposed to be ensuring everyone else stayed on schedule. However, for the umpteenth time that morning, Sophie's mind had wandered. She watched her sister by the window, she looked breathtaking but her heart ached for her sister. 

Jordan had chosen a beautiful shade of purple for the dresses of her wedding party. The color was beautiful on Sophie. The strapless gown hugged her slim toned frame and draped to the floor. Her hair was styled in an updo with curled strands that hung swept away from her face. A simple but sentimental piece of jewelry draped around her neck and drew attention to her flawless skin. Her beauty couldn’t be hidden, and neither could the sadness that sat behind her eyes. 

"Can you give us a minute?" Jordan asked the makeup artist. Once the room was empty, Jordan eyed her sister through the vanity mirror. "I need you to focus, Soph. I won't be able to get through this day without you. So, do whatever you need to do to get your head in the game. Go talk to her." Jordan was aware of what had happened.

Sophie turned to face her sister. "Jordan, there's no time for that right now. The wedding starts in an hour."

"Mary said she was still coming."

That surprised Sophie. "Alone?" She asked, curious about the status of Ryan's relationship with her girlfriend.

"I don't know, but you need to make some decisions, sis."

"I want her," Sophie interjected. "I'm going to end things with Kate. I just didn't want to ruin your day, but I guess I'm doing that already."

Jordan sighed and stood up. "You haven't ruined anything, Soph. I just hate seeing you like this." She took her sister's hand. "Do you know how I knew Lucas was the one? Because that look in your eyes every time you spoke about Ryan back then is how he makes me feel. He brings out the best parts of me, just like Ryan does for you. If you want her, fight for her," she encouraged her sister.

***

Ryan and Angelique entered the wedding venue, and the knots in Ryan's stomach seemed to triple. She wasn't even sure why she had come; it felt like she was asking for trouble. Although she didn't want to disappoint Mary and Jordan, she knew there was more to it than that. She had avoided Sophie's texts and calls all night, but she couldn't stay away from her. Her thoughts were scattered. Angelique held Ryan's hand, as if to assert her presence, aware that Sophie could be around any corner.

"Are you sure you're not the one getting married today?" Angelique teased, noticing that Ryan's hands were trembling.

"Huh?" Ryan was too preoccupied, scanning the faces of people waiting to be seated to catch the joke.

Angelique gently lifted their clasped hands and nodded towards them. "You're shaking like you're nervous."

Ryan carefully pulled her hand from Angelique's grasp. Her eyes continued to scan the crowded entryway, filled with both anxiety and fear at the prospect of seeing Sophie. "There's Mary..." She quickly spotted her best friend, who was bustling around to ensure that her timeline was followed precisely.

Mary caught sight of them and hurried over. "I'm freaking out, Ry!"

"It seems like you have everything under control," Ryan observed, taking in the small team of helpers skillfully directing guests to their seats.

"Just barely."

Ryan grasped her best friend's hand. "You're doing great, Mar. Everything looks amazing, and Jordan is going to be so happy. Take a deep breath. You've got this!"

"I'm so happy you're here," Mary said, hugging Ryan. Over her shoulder, she saw Sophie in the distance. She knew what had transpired, and could tell Sophie wanted to talk. "I need a quick favor. Can I borrow you for a minute?" She gestured to one of her helpers. "Could you help Angelique find her seat?" She indicated Angelique.

Before either Ryan or Angelique could object, they were led in separate directions. Mary guided Ryan into an empty room.

"Mary, what's…" Ryan's words trailed off when she saw Sophie.

"Please be quick, like ten minutes," Mary cautioned Sophie before closing the door.

Sophie was momentarily at a loss for words as she took in the sight of Ryan. She looked absolutely breathtaking in the soft pink dress that seemed to melt into her petite yet curvy frame. The silk material shimmered gently, creating a striking contrast with her bronzed skin. Her hair was styled in a half updo, with the back section cascading around her neck. A smile threatened to curl on her lips, despite the situation because that's just what Ryan did to her. "You wouldn't answer the phone."

"Because we shouldn't be talking, Sophie. Angelique is here." Her words showed a faux strength because the very sight of this woman in front of her was threatening to buckle her knees. Her eyes were drawn to the necklace that Sophie wore around her neck, an infinity symbol that Ryan had gifted her years ago, whenever Sophie needed to feel close to her. Her body almost begged her to cave to the craving that she had to feel Sophie’s arms around her but she couldn’t. 

Ryan turned to leave, her hand on the doorknob. She wanted to flee, but couldn't bring herself to do it. She sensed Sophie moving closer. They weren't touching, but Ryan could feel her nearness. She struggled against the overwhelming urge to lean into it.

"I'm going to break up with Kate. I can't act like yesterday never happened. I can't pretend that I didn't wish the elevator had stayed broken just a few minutes longer. I can't deny that no matter how hard I try, no one else affects me the way you do, Ryan."

"Sophie..." Ryan's voice was barely audible, a pleading tone. "I can't handle  losing you again..."

"Is it any worse than what we're going through now? We're clinging to substitutes," Sophie stated bluntly. "I care about Kate, but I love you, Ryan. I never stopped." Pain laced her voice. "Tell me you don't still love me, too. Tell me that's not why, since I got here, you've been trying to escape the room as fast as you can. Because you can feel it too. Because it awakened something inside you that you can't ignore. Tell me you won't spend the rest of your life wondering if we could have had everything we ever wanted together if we had just given it another chance."

Ryan felt Sophie's fingers brush against hers, and she recoiled.

"I need to go before Angelique starts looking for me," Ryan said hastily, leaving the room and Sophie behind, unable to call out to her without drawing attention.

Just as she stepped out, Kate walked through the door. "I'm so sorry I'm late," she immediately apologized, having arrived later than planned. "But I made it, just like I promised." Kate embraced her girlfriend.

The hug was tense, with Sophie attempting to rearrange her emotions. She knew she had to clear her mind and focus on something other than Ryan for at least the next few hours, if not for her own sake, then for her sister's.

***

Ryan and Angelique sat in the middle of the aisle, with a perfect view of the bride, groom, and the wedding party. Kate was seated a few rows ahead. Ryan had managed to look everywhere but directly at Sophie. Angelique, on the other hand, hadn't looked at anything or anyone else. This was the ghost that haunted their relationship.

"And now, Jordan and Lucas will recite their own vows," the pastor announced. "Jordan," he nodded towards her to begin.

"Lucas, from the moment our paths crossed, I knew there was something extraordinary about you. Your presence brought light into my life, and I felt a sense of belonging I had never known before. I promise to cherish and support you. I vow to be your partner, your confidant, and your best friend. I will listen with an open heart and an open mind, always striving to understand you and grow with you. I promise to be patient and kind. Together, we will build a life of laughter, adventure, and love, creating memories that will last a lifetime." As Jordan continued her vows, Sophie's eyes swept over the room, eventually finding Ryan's, as if they had been waiting for each other. Ryan could feel the intensity of Sophie's gaze, drawing her in. As their eyes locked, Jordan's words resonated like a song written just for them. "You are my heart and my soul, my one true love. You inspire me; when I look at you, I see the best version of myself. I can't wait to embark on this journey of life with you."

Angelique watched Ryan, noticing the look in her eyes that shattered her heart. The unshed tears reflecting the connection between Ryan and Sophie. Ryan ached for this woman. As she felt her chest constrict, Ryan blinked away her tears and lowered her gaze. Her conflicted heart was too much to bear. She knew this wasn't fair to anyone. She loved both women, but Sophie was the one. Ryan glanced at Angelique, her own eyes brimming with tears. She already knew. No words were needed to express what was written within Ryan's eyes.

The following moments of the ceremony, as Lucas recited his vows and he and Jordan were officially announced husband and wife, were overshadowed by the powerful truth in Ryan's gaze. As the couple made their way back down the aisle, the guests remained seated, waiting for the cue to file out and proceed to the reception. However, Ryan and Angelique didn't follow the crowd, they found themselves outside in front of the venue.

"Ang..." Ryan started.

"Not here..." Angelique interjected, raising her hand to stop her. "Let's just go to my place." Her voice was tinged with desperation, as she sensed what was about to happen and hoped to postpone the unavoidable.

Ryan nodded in agreement. "Okay." Ryan didn't want to create a commotion, but the conversation couldn't be delayed any longer. In silence, they made their way to Ryan's car and drove to Angelique's apartment.

***

Ryan stood in front of her bathroom mirror, the remnants of her argument with Angelique fresh in her mind. She'd stormed out 20 minutes ago, and now Ryan was left with the decision of what to do next.

"Angelique, this isn’t working," Ryan began, finally looking at her.

“It was working just fine before she came back,” Angelique pointed out, her tone heavy with animosity.

Ryan sighed and picked up her phone. She knew the reception was probably ending at this point, but she also knew that Kate was in town.

Ryan's Cell: I love you too…

She stared at the message, letting it sit in her drafts, ready to send, but she couldn't bring herself to do it.

"You know, I've tried to change so much for you, Ryan. But it seems like no matter what I did, you were never going to be happy," Angelique spat. “It didn’t work the first time; what do you think is going to be so different this time?” she said, angrily.

Her eyes returned to the mirror. That was the question that was keeping her from hitting send. Her fear that they would end up in the same place, but possibly hating each other kept her frozen.

Meanwhile, Kate and Sophie were in the midst of their breakup. They had gone back to Sophie’s hotel after the reception to talk. Kate had witnessed the same thing Angelique had, so Sophie’s confession wasn’t a shock by the time they'd gotten to this conversation.

“I can’t believe this!” Kate's emotions escalated, and she began to throw a tantrum. "You're breaking up with me for a nobody, Sophie? Really?"

Sophie's anger flared at the way she spoke about Ryan, but regardless, she felt bad that it took her almost being unfaithful to open her eyes to the truth of their relationship. Kate spewed a few more words, and Sophie just let her, until she stormed out. Sophie sat down on the bed and reached for her phone. She wasn’t sure if Ryan was having the same conversation with Angelique, or if she was still desperate to avoid this.

Sophie's Cell: I broke up with Kate. I love you, Ryan. I want to be with you, but I know this situation isn’t easy. If you need time, I won’t push.

Sophie sat and stared at her text message, hoping to see a response from Ryan. Minutes passed with nothing. Finally, she got a read receipt, and it looked as if Ryan was typing and then stopped. 

Sophie sighed and fell back on the bed, feeling the weight of the uncertainty. Hours seemed to pass as she laid there, lost in her thoughts about what to do next, until there was a knock on the door. Her first thought was that Kate had circled back around, but when she opened the door and found Ryan standing there, she was shocked. Ryan had texted Jordan to find out where Sophie was staying. Sophie had texted her that she'd broken up with Kate, and didn’t know what to do next. That’s how Ryan knew it was safe to come.

“You don’t have to push.” Ryan reached up to gently take Sophie’s face in her hands. “I never stopped loving you either.”

A smile curled on Sophie’s lips as hands fell to Ryan’s hips and she pulled Ryan into her. They kissed, years of yearning and passion exploding within their embrace. As they pulled apart, their eyes locked, and they knew they had a chance to make it work this time. Both wiser and more in control of their careers, they understood the value of their once in a  lifetime love. Like the coming of spring, their relationship was ready to blossom and grow, and they decided to spring forward into the future together without fear, embracing the love that had drawn them back to each other.