by Laura Burton
Ginny did rave about the best man and that he was the least intense of the four friends.
Maybe I should give this guy a chance.
I pushed the bathroom door and, with measured steps, I headed to what I hoped was the private room they had rented for dinner.
Entering the room I spotted my sister and Enrique sitting at a round table along with a cute guy with red hair. They smiled while continuing to talk while the three bridesmaids and two of the groomsmen turned around and said hello. Two empty chairs remained next to my sister.
She waved me over and said, “Binny, don’t stand there. Come sit here next to me. We’re waiting for the best man, who unfortunately ran into trouble with his rental car. But we can begin introducing you.”
“He’ll be on time so we won’t have to wait long.” Enrique smiled. “Hi, Binny. How was work?”
They introduced me to the red haired guy sitting to Enrique’s right hand, Ian, who couldn’t stop laughing. He was going to be a pediatrician and had the best attitude. The other two groomsmen were Enrique’s brothers, who I had met from before, and we traded small talk.
The group was loud for being only nine people. A phone beeped and I checked my phone. Seven on the nose.
The door opened and a tall, thin striking guy strolled in as if he owned the place.
Dang, he’s gorgeous! And he has that long, wavy hair that I like. It’s dark brown and tied in a neat pony tail but it fits his face with a hint of a five o’clock shadow.
He’s going to be a doctor? Hmm, what type of doctor? I’ve never needed a dermatologist, but if he will be choosing that department, I would love to be one of his first patients and stare at him as he explains what precautions I need to take in order to avoid sun damage.
He scanned the table and when our gazes met his green eyes twinkled like the rough sea on a cold day.
He’s so cute.
He smiled in my direction before he spoke with an apologetic but confident deep voice, “Sorry I’m late, everyone. The rental car stalled as I drove down Coconut. The company took forever to send a replacement car and then they had me complete a bunch of forms. All the red tape when they already have my info.” But it was his baritone, rich voice which stunned me. His carefree look didn’t match it. “I guess I’m sitting next to the lovely lady in red?”
His question sounded more of a statement and my heart flipped a couple of times.
Lovely. He called me lovely and I get to sit with him for the next two hours.
He flashed a smile showing his straight white teeth.
The corners of my lips lifted as I hoped that my brushing removed anything stuck in my teeth.
As he strolled to the empty chair beside me my heart raced. The more that I studied his stride it reminded me of Brenken.
Wait, does he look like Brenken? Nah, eight years couldn’t have changed him that much. Even during senior year he was still lanky, all arms and legs, with glasses and a new round of braces. His hair always looked as if it needed to be washed again, even when it was wet and it was a light blond, not even close to brown.
This guy is total perfection and built with more muscles than Brenken could have ever achieved even when bench pressing ten hours a day.
He must be his doppelganger.
But why do I always compare other men to this boy? My fixation needs to stop. I’m giving this guy a chance. A real chance because he’s gorgeous and Ginny raves about how he’s a perfect gentleman. He must be a winner.
I forced myself to stop staring at him and focused on putting my phone back in my purse so my mouth wouldn’t open wider than when I was fifteen years old at my first concert.
He pulled the seat out and slid into it like a dancer. He said in a deep voice, “So glad to finally meet Ginny’s elusive sister.”
Why would he say that? I’ll have to ask Ginny what she’s said about me. I know I work too much, but elusive? I’m always there for her…I hope.
“Binny, this is Enrique’s best friend from medical school that I told you about. He’s the best man. Your partner,” my sister said with such a conspirator tone that I wanted to hide under the table.
Duh, Ginny, I know that and why did you emphasize the last word? So what’s his name?
She mentioned his name once or twice but she usually called him BM because he would be the best man, I shifted in my seat so I could face him. The ocean breeze blew in from the open door and his scent drifted.
He even smells nice.
“Nice to meet you.” I gave him a tiny wave with a smile as I stared at the top of his shirt, worried that if I met his eyes again my body would become as jiggly as Jell-O.
His knee just barely grazed my leg.
This guy is tall. Taller than him.
“Trust me, the pleasure is all mine. It’ll be fun hanging out doing all these wedding activities together. I’m really looking forward to it.”
The way he said activities together triggered a memory that I wanted to push it away.
It can’t be Brenken. No way is this gorgeous man him.
I raised my eyes to meet his and he smiled. Smiled exactly like him when he had done something that bothered me.
Why did Ginny have to marry his best friend? Brenken, aka pain in my rear, aka guy who made me want to pull his long, wavy light brown hair, aka the one who made my insides percolate like boiling water.
My eyes fixated on the door and I wondered if I could feign a headache. Ginny would have known but she would not have stopped me.
I’ll stay until they serve dinner and then I’ll leave with whatever excuse will get me out of here the fastest.
This is the worst day of my life!
4. Matthew
Binny is Lilliana? Ginny’s sister? How did I never put it together? Enrique told me that Ginny went to Stonehaven High School and that she had a sister my age.
In my defense, neither Enrique nor Ginny had ever mentioned Binny by her real name.
She is still as beautiful as the first day I saw her in the cafeteria. And now I’ll have a chance to show her that I’m not the same kid in high school. That I’ve changed and maybe, just maybe, she’ll be interested in wanting to spend time with me.
Life presented me with an opportunity that I couldn’t mess up.
Not like I did in high school.
But then I wasn’t the same person.
Dating had taught me to watch for signs of disinterest and based on our eye contact and her genuine smile she wasn’t disinterested at all. She even blushed when I called her lovely.
There had to be some interest there.
I pulled the heavy seat and sat, my leg brushing hers for a mere second. But that brief moment in time brought back memories of all the instances a part of my body touched hers; tingles erupted all through my body.
Nothing had changed in eight years as my body still reacted to hers.
The corners of my lips automatically lifted as her smile reached her amber colored eyes. Maybe she’s even more beautiful today than eight years ago.
When she said those four simple words my mind transported back to high school and all the times we ended up hanging out together. I’m sure not by her choice but sometimes by mine except for Crotchet Club because that was fate.
In response to her voice, the words came out of my mouth before I had a chance to stop them.
I can’t help reacting to her sweet voice and hoping we could get to know each other better.
Those four simple words she said had sounded like heaven to my ears until her demeanor changed once I responded.
Her body stiffened and she lost her smile. She seemed to have reacted to my statement of wanting to hang out with her doing all the activities together and I couldn’t understand why.
Maybe it’s not me? Maybe she thought of work?
One of the bridesmaids asked her a question and she shifted her body to answer, giving me a chance to think about my next words.
I needed to choose the right ones
as I didn’t want to come on to strong but I needed her to know that I was interested in her.
Unfortunately, it seemed as if she wanted to leap out of her chair and escape to a deserted island.
She turned her body again, almost giving me her back, in the direction of the rest of the wedding party but she didn’t participate in the conversation and she fiddled with the napkin.
She’s nervous.
Her fingers fiddling with an item was her tell. The same way she did back in high school the day she admitted to her friends that she hadn’t studied for a Calculus test and thought she would fail; her fingers rubbed the calculator until the teacher set the test paper on her desk.
For about fifteen minutes, I tried catching her attention but she ignored me.
I leaned back and observed as she conversed with everyone.
She was still smart and witty. Her laughter made me want to say something funny so she would laugh with me.
Alas all my next attempts to start a conversation failed again and her back stiffened but she didn’t acknowledge me. She didn’t bother to turn in my direction or roll her eyes as she did in high school.
This is worse than high school and I haven’t said more than a dozen words to her. What can I say to have her speak to me again? Work. But what did Enrique say she did? A consultant of some sort?
Ginny’s eyebrows scrunched and she tilted her head the tenth time I asked Lilliana a question she pretended she didn’t hear. I lifted my shoulders ever so slightly.
The server brought over our meals and the room became quiet. I grabbed my bread and spotted the butter plate right by her and beyond my reach.
It was the perfect excuse to have her at least glance my way, even if it was for a couple of seconds.
“Excuse me, could you please pass the butter.”
She somehow managed to hand me the plate without looking my way.
This is definitely worse than high school. Maybe she’s turned into a snob?
I better think of something to say before the night is over and I don’t see her again for a couple of weeks.
The others quietly conversed among themselves and I waited until she finished her plate and the servers rolled in the dessert tray.
I leaned an inch closer to her and said, “Lilliana, did I hear that you’re a consultant in a small firm dedicated to the insurance industry?”
Not a response.
“Which industry do you specialize in?”
She didn’t budge an inch. Her face remained the same as if no one had spoken.
“Binny, are you hard of hearing? He asked you a question.” Ginny tapped her index finger on the table.
Lilliana took a deep breath and raised her head before she responded. “My company assists large medical practices renegotiate their malpractice insurance and if the negotiations fail we help them become self-insured before their contracts are up,” she said almost through gritted teeth.
“Interesting. Fate must have brought us together.” No response but I kept with my plan to lure her into having at least a civil conversation. “I’ve been thinking about how expensive malpractice insurance is and wondering if I shouldn’t bother obtaining insurance quotes when I start my practice.” I knew it was a long shot but I decided to take it. “Can we maybe have dinner and you give me some insight on the steps I would have to take to establish my practice as self-insured? I’d love some insights into the process. Surface level, of course.”
“I don’t work for free.”
Her frosty tone set me back but I continued like I was that fourteen year old boy in high school trying to convince her to accept me.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to say that it would be a free consultation. I’ll gladly call your office to set up the meeting. It’s just that I like to combine the two because of my schedule but I’ll definitely pay for your dinner in addition to whatever consulting fee you charge.”
She turned to me with a haughty look in her amber eyes. “My firm may be small but we don’t work with doctors fresh out of medical school. First, we don’t know if they’ll be able to complete their residency. Second, and most importantly, they don’t have the resources or the experience to become self-insured. It’s a liability for my company.”
“Totally understand. But I’m not asking to start anything official. I only want information in order to build up the capital before I set up my practice.” I took a sip of water waiting for her response. When she didn’t say a word I took a deep breath. “It would be a pre-consultation for general estimates of the capital needed and other information to avoid making any mistakes.”
Lilliana shifted in her seat and met my gaze. “My company doesn’t work like that and I would never jeopardize my position for a favor. You need to look for another consulting firm.”
She grabbed her purse and leaned in to whisper in her sister’s ear.
Maybe she needs to use the restroom?
She pushed back the heavy chair about an inch. I automatically stood to pull the heavy chair the rest of the way. She pursed her lips but plastered a smile on her face before she said, “I’m so sorry, everyone, but I need to work some more tonight. See you in a couple of weeks. Nice meeting you, Ian. Bye.”
I leaned my forearms against the back of her seat watching her march out of the room. It took every ounce of discipline to keep my mouth from dropping to the floor and to keep me from chasing after her to see what caused her abrupt departure.
Why did she leave?
Enrique cleared his throat and we all turned our attention to him. “Ginny and I believe it would be better if we begin the dance lessons next week. Can everyone make it?”
“Sure thing,” I replied along with everyone else. My fake smile plastered on my face while I thought about our short interaction.
Is it still me? Why is she so upset at me?
Lilliana
The name flashed on my phone and I took a deep breath before I answered. Let the unleashing of a tightly controlled bridezilla begin. “How did the rest of the evening go?”
“Don’t start that with me. Trying to change the subject might work for Mamí and Papí but it doesn’t for me. How do you think my evening went? My maid of honor, my sister, walks out of a dinner where the rest of the wedding party stays for another hour. It was embarrassing, is how it went.” She blew out air. “And where are you anyway?”
I sighed. “I’m sorry, but I really did need to finish up at work so I drove to the office instead of going home to pick up a couple of files and decided it might just be better to work from there for an hour or two. It took me less than an hour so I’m home now.”
“Good, I’ll be there in fifteen minutes so we can talk when I get there, right?” she emphasized the last word.
“Yes, I’ll be here.”
I quickly showered and waited for her in the kitchen with a cup of chamomile and anise tea for her. Hopefully, it would help to calm her down.
Sipping my hot tea, I debated if I should tell her the truth or skirt around the issue.
Why can’t I just forget Brenken?
It bothered me that I could forgive and forget everyone else but not him. The grudge I held seemed silly, but…
Ginny entered the kitchen and smiled as she spotted the tea. “Thanks. I appreciate the gesture.”
“Anytime, sis. Now, what’s so important that it can’t wait until tomorrow?”
Ginny took a slow slip of the tea and crossed her arms.
Let the interrogation begin.
“You left before anyone else and we could all tell that something was off, so spill it, now.” She uncrossed her arms and an index finger tapped on the granite table top.
“I let everyone know I had to leave because of work.” I tilted my head back and stared at the textured ceiling above my head before I met her gaze.
She narrowed her eyes and increased the beat.
“Since you’re only going to torture me until I tell you, I left because I don’t like him.”
> “Him? Him who?” She raised her eyebrows. “Ian is a sweetie. You just need to talk to him. I should have had everyone mingle.”
“Don’t be daft.”
“Are you talking about Matt, Enrique’s BM?” She pulled back. “He’s perfect for you.”
“Don’t start with the matchmaking. You know I’m trying to make partner and have no time for dating, especially with him.”
“Why? He’s wonderful.”
“He’s not.”
“Did he say anything to you? He’s always been a perfect gentleman to his girlfriends, they complain he’s distant and doesn’t share much, but always a gentleman. They call me up crying when he breaks up with them because they want to figure out a way to keep him and this was in college. They liked him for him and not because he will be a doctor or that his family is loaded.”
She’s going to flip but I don’t care. Let her become bridezilla if it gets me out of having to be partnered with him then it’s a win.
“I don’t care for him. Not one bit.” I crossed my arms. “I don’t want him to be my partner.”
“What?” Ginny raised her voice a couple of decibels. “What do you mean?”
“Exactly that. Demote either him or me to the wedding party.”
She stared with the death stare, which might have scared any Navy Seal but it didn’t affect me one bit.
“Enrique will never do that. He’s his BM. So, no.”
“Fine. Then I’ll be a bridesmaid.”
“You’re my sister but I’m about to rip you up and down for even suggesting your own demotion. The dresses are already ordered, the shoes will arrive tomorrow, and there is no time to undo everything. You can’t be demoted.”
“I’ll pay for both dresses. We’ll put a rush order and I’ll pay whatever it is.”
“You’re must be plum crazy. It’s too late and you know it is. Nobody is sewing two dresses in time for the wedding, if I could even find the silk material in the US. I only bought enough for one dress each and the wraps. The colors would be totally off if I tried to match it and I don’t have time for this. So the answer is no. With a capital N and a capital O.”