by Lisa Scott
“If you’re lucky. Now let me make sure you get to the car before Melanie asks you to complete the physical endurance test.”
It’s possible he wasn’t kidding. “Thanks.”
When we stopped at my car, Liam’s smile disappeared. “Hey, let me ask you. Seriously. Why don’t you want to be in the wedding? Beyond the obvious insanity of it all, it could be fun.”
The nasty feelings I’d been holding back all day threatened to spill out in fat ugly tears. I pinched the bridge of my nose, hoping to hold them back. Then I took a deep breath. “I spent three years planning my own ridiculous, over-the-top wedding that never happened.”
His smile fell. “That really sucks. I’m sorry.” He crossed his arms and leaned against my car, staring off. “Scratch that. I’m not sorry. If you’d gotten married, you wouldn’t be available now, and clearly he didn’t deserve you if he didn’t scoop you up right away. Wait, you are available, right?”
I sighed. “As an empty cab at the airport.”
He held out his hand and wiggled his fingers for me to grab. “Feeling crazy?”
“Feeling sad.”
He grabbed my hand. “Then, we’ve got to change that.”
“What about Tory?”
He shook his head. “I’m not feeling that at all.”
“Melanie is going to see us leave together.”
“Good. Maybe she’ll drop her date-my-best-friend campaign.”
Ah. So that was it. I was a good cover. Well, I’d been worse, and he was the only possible thing that would make this wedding fiasco bearable.
***
We went out for beer and wings, and Liam wanted more details on my forever engagement.
I set down my beer. “You just jump right in, don’t you?”
“It’s on your mind. Might help to talk about it.”
“Matthew was a guy I met in college. We got engaged right after, and then there was always a reason we couldn’t set a date: a new job, car repairs that ate up our savings, another new job that required a move.” I shrugged. “So, the wedding plans kept ballooning. A harpist. Then four harpists. A tarot card reader for the cocktail hour. Fireworks. I’m not proud.”
He grimaced. “So how did it end?”
“When three years had passed since he proposed, I tried to pin him down to a date, but he wouldn’t. I told him I’d leave him if he couldn’t give me a date, and he said I was pressuring him into getting married.”
“Guess he forgot he gave you a ring.”
“It all fell apart from there.” I sighed. “Oh, well. It probably would have fallen apart at some point even if we’d gotten married. Have you ever been engaged?”
“Nope.”
“Ever been close?”
“Nope. But I’ll know it when I find it. And I won’t be hanging around for three years waiting to get married, I can promise you that.”
I devoured another wing, thinking about what he’d said. “Wait. How would you know right away?”
“Gut instinct. It never fails me. When I listen to it, that is. Made a few bad decisions with girls in high school, but who hasn’t?”
I wanted to ask what his gut instinct said about me, but his phone rang. He answered and nodded, then grinned while he listened to whoever was on the other line. “Great, thanks.” He hung up and grinned. “Good news. You’re in.”
“In what?”
“The Minx-Anderson wedding extravaganza.”
My jaw dropped. “Why? I was horrible. I weigh too much. I’m a lousy dancer.”
“But, you’re a Bocce champ, and she thinks that’ll fit in nicely during cocktail hour when guests are enjoying the peacocks roaming the grounds outside the Carriage House.”
“They’ve got peacocks at Forest Park?”
“No. She bought a whole flock of them to bring in. Haven’t you heard? The whole wedding is peacock theme. I think your dress has feathers.”
I balled up my napkin and threw it at him.
He ducked out of the way. “Could be worse. She had been thinking of a Twilight wedding. She was going to have you all wearing red contacts and graft fangs on your teeth.”
“Seriously?”
He grinned, and I didn’t know whether or not he really was kidding.
“Fine. Then you need to teach me how to be a better Bocce ball player.”
“I’m at your service. Oh, we’ve got our first Minx-Anderson meeting this Friday. I believe we’ll be trying on formal wear.”
“And the Bocce ball? When are you going to help me with that?”
“Tomorrow?”
“Yesterday would be even better.”
***
I met Liam back at the park the next day. He explained the rules. They were pretty simple: get your big ball closer to the little ball than anyone else does, without hitting the little ball. Seemed easy enough, but he beat me every time.
We practiced Tuesday and Thursday after work, again, ending up out for dinner and drinks afterwards, and I was counting down the days until I’d see him again. Sure, it was the next wedding meeting, but still, Liam would make it fun.
This session was being held at a hotel ballroom, with a runway set up and dressing areas to get changed. Melanie had settled on nine bridesmaids and nine attendants, and they mingled about, clutching champagne flutes and plates of bacon wrapped scallops. I scanned the room for Liam and spotted him talking to Tory.
He was slowly backing away from her, but she’d take a step or two to stay near him. He spotted me, and rushed over.
“Melanie hasn’t given up her quest to get me and Tory together. She wants me to be her escort. I’m still rooting for you.”
Melanie spotted the two of us together and set down her drink. With fists clenched, she marched over, the train of her dress dragging behind her. The front of the minidress was inches away from showing way too much, but her train spilled out onto the floor two feet behind her. “She should really wrap some of that extra material around her thighs,” I said, not quite aware I’d uttered it aloud.
“I think it’s very subtle,” Liam said. “I hear she’s got three different wedding dresses she’ll be changing into throughout the day.”
“That’s all?”
He nodded. “She doesn’t want to go overboard. The dress for the church has a twenty-foot train. Trained peacocks will be holding it up as she glides down the aisle.”
“You’re kidding, right? Because she’s in for a surprise—peacocks are loud. Really loud.”
Melanie finally reached us and gripped Liam’s arm. “What are you doing? You’re escorting Tory, so you need to spend some time with her, really get to know her.”
“Who’s escorting me?” I asked.
She grinned. “Bryce’s brother.”
I groaned. Bryce’s brother, Eddie, was seventeen, with enough hormones for five grown men. Bryce and I had spent years trying to ditch Eddie when we went off on our adventures. I spotted Eddie across the room and he cocked his finger and thumb like he was shooting me. Then he blew me a kiss.
“I thought you said no kids in the wedding.”
She waved me off. “Eddie is practically a man. Besides, Bryce insisted. Just like he insisted with you. I figured it’d be best to stick the two of you together. You’re like Bryce’s little prize pack.” She picked up her train in one hand and took Liam’s arm in another, escorting him away from me.
Micki wandered over to me. “Lucky you. You’re in.”
“You too. I wasn’t sure with that blue streak of yours.”
She fingered her hair. “Oh, no she loves it. It matches the peacocks. She wants all the bridesmaids to add a blue streak.”
I groaned. “Sorry. It looks great on you, I can’t pull it off.” I snatched a flute of champagne from a passing waiter. “So, who are you standing up with?”
“My fiancé. I brought him along to the audition because we look good together, and Melanie agreed.”
“So, she doesn’t even know him.
Micki shook her head. “That got her thinking of hiring a few models to stand up, too, but I told her they might take the spotlight off her, she dropped that idea.” She laughed. “My web traffic has doubled since I started blogging about this wedding.”
I tossed back the rest of my drink. “This is going to be a long two and a half months.”
Melanie stood on the runway and tapped a microphone. “Hello team Minx-Anderson!” Again with the wooting and bouncing. “Before we get all stuffed at dinner, we’re going to try on four different bridesmaids dresses, and guys you’ve got four different tux combinations. So let’s go get changed, and strut your stuff down the runway. Then we’ll be sampling three different wedding cakes and I’ll be asking you to vote on your favorite.” Then she waved a finger. “And Bryce, just a reminder, we will have the quickest marriage ever if you smoosh cake in my face at our wedding.”
He held up his arms like, Who, me? And everyone laughed. I mentally tallied up the amount I had in checking and savings that I’d be willing to pay Bryce to see that.
We were ushered back to the dressing area, where we tried on the first dress—a teal gown with beading under the bodice—which was actually quite pretty. I put it on and the seamstress made a few adjustments. I was ready to hit the runway, when the seamstress stopped me. “Don’t forget your accessories.” She slid a headband on me, lined with peacock feathers. I sighed. Then she pinned something to my back.
“What’s this?”
She wouldn’t look at me. I dashed to the mirror and gasped. I was sporting a peacock tail. “This is a joke, right?”
The seamstress shook her head. “Let’s just hope she goes with one of the other options. But she spent thousands having these made, so who knows?”
At least all the other girls were wearing the tails, too. A few looked happy about it. I trudged out to the stage, thrilled to see Moira Moore there again to document my continuing humiliation.
Eddie was waiting for me, wearing a peacock print tie and cumberbund. Then I looked down too far and saw a bulge in his pants. I gasped. Please be a cell phone, please be a cell phone.
He smiled. “You like that, do you? Made it just for you. Wanna see it?”
He tried to take my arm, but I jerked it away from him and we walked up on stage. Moira had us take several poses, and I searched the crowd for Bryce or Liam but couldn’t find them. I saw Micki in her own getup, jotting down notes on a pad while she smirked.
And so it went, with three other dresses: a bright metallic blue, mermaid-style dress with feathers lining the bottom; a bright green sheath dress that was cutting off my circulation; and a hoop skirt that could hide a flock of peacocks beneath it. I wasn’t sure which one to root for.
Finally, we were able to change back into our clothes, and sit down for dinner. “You make a beautiful bird,” Liam said to me as we passed each other on the way to our tables. “I only wish I didn’t have to compete against Eddie. I don’t stand a chance.” Then he went to his table.
Our eyes caught several times during dinner, so I missed much of what Eddie was saying to me, but I caught a few key words: tongue, bra, and teeth.
I grabbed his leg and squeezed hard. Really hard. “Knock it off or I’m telling your mother.”
He paled and studied the scraps left on his plate.
Then it was time to show off our dancing skills. I’d shaken off Eddie, who was now chasing a waitress. Micki and her fiancé joined me and Liam, lingering by the dance floor. It wasn’t long before Melanie showed up to douse the fun like an unexpected summer storm.
“What did you think of the dresses, Liam?” she asked.
He tapped his finger against his nose. “I think it would be interesting if each girl was a different bird. Not just all peacocks—I’m sure that’s been done. Like one could be a swan, another a flamingo. I think Kelly would be an incredible emu.”
Her eyes widened. “That’s an awesome idea.”
Micki quickly jumped in. “No, that would draw the attention from you. The mermaid dress was perfect. Perfect! Classy,” she sucked in a breath, “and really fits the theme. Different birds would be…”
“Distracting!” I added. “And you want to stick with the theme. Peacocks, not just birds.” I wrinkled my nose.
Melanie sighed. “I guess you’re right.”
Relief swept over me, because I just knew I’d end up being the ostrich in the bird-parade scenario.
Melanie grabbed Liam’s arm. “Come on. Tory’s over here.”
He jerked his arm away. “Later. I’m talking to these guys.”
The fact that he wasn’t alone with just me must have mollified her, so she bustled away, probably to ask the chef if roast peacock could be served at the reception.
Liam took my hand. “Feeling crazy?”
“Going crazy.”
“I was going to suggest midnight bungee jumping, but let’s dance instead. Might be our only chance. I’m sure your escort will be giving me a wedgie any minute to weasel his way in here.”
“I could just quit, right?” No gift bag was worth this nightmare.
Liam pouted. “You’d break Bryce’s heart. And mine.”
Oh, he’s good. “Oh, it’ll be a great story to tell someday, right?”
“It’s a great story to tell right now. This one doesn’t need to age.” He swept me onto the dance floor, and surprisingly, the man could dance well enough that he made me look like a good dancer.
Melanie scowled at us from across the dance floor, and soon Tory was cutting in.
Then a ballroom dance instructor showed up, instructing us how to do the routine we’d perform after the bride and groom did their first dance.
“What about the viral video?” I asked Micki, waltzing next to me.
“She wants that to be something at the church.”
“I could moon everybody at the altar,” Eddie offered. “That’d go viral. I’ve got a nice ass.”
I was ready to squash that idea, but instead said, “That might be our best bet. You keep that in mind.”
“You just want to see my ass.”
“Eddie, you are an ass. I don’t need to see it as well.” I grabbed his hands and practiced the Rhumba while trying to keep eighteen inches between our pelvises.
The clock was approaching midnight, and I wished I was Cinderella so I could go home. Melanie spotted a few of us yawning and reminded us about the gift bags. “Godiva, ladies! Dooney and Burke!”
That perked up a few people, but I leaned on Liam as we sat next to each other, going over proper silverware etiquette since everyone would be watching the main table and we wouldn’t want to embarrass Melanie, now would we? I fell asleep against his shoulder.
When he nudged me awake, I smiled up at him. What a nice feeling, staring into those eyes.
“Let’s get you to bed,” Liam said.
My eyes widened. Surely he didn’t mean….
“Relax. Remember, I told you I save that for the rehearsal dinner. But I would like to see you tomorrow.”
“More Bocce ball lessons?”
“No. A chance to be with you and not have my evil stepsister interfering.”
“That’d be great.”
Then Melanie taped the microphone again. “Now, before we leave tonight, I’m excited to announce plans for the bachelor and bachelorette parties. In two weeks, we’re going to Vegas baby!”
Lots of hooting and hollering followed that. I looked up at Liam. He shrugged. “She wants to go there early so highlights can be added to the wedding video she’s passing out to the guests in their go-home goody bag. It’s just for the weekend. You won’t have to take off from work.”
“I’ve never been to Vegas.”
“Maybe you’ll get lucky,” Liam said, waggling his eyebrows.
I was too tired to slug him.
So we went to dinner and the movies the next day. And then we practiced Bocce ball a few more times, and I was finally starting to beat him. And when he took
me out the weekend before we were going away, Liam spent the night. When we woke up together the next morning, I looked over at him and smiled; overwhelmed with that same feeling I had when I’d woken up, leaning on his shoulder. “I’m glad you’re here,” I said.
He kissed me. “Me, too. I wasn’t entirely sure I could drag you off to the woods at the rehearsal dinner as planned.”
“So I guess I can stop wondering if you’re just trying to shake off Tory.”
He propped himself up on his elbow and traced his finger along my cheek. “Remember what I said about my gut instinct?”
I nodded, and my throat tightened. What was he saying? That he knew I was the one? No. How could he? He meant he knew Tory wasn’t the one. I cleared my throat. “So, what do you want to do today?”
“Feeling crazy?”
I laughed. “What would you do if I said yes?”
He waggled his eyebrows. “Wanna find out?”
I laughed. “I’m feeling hungry.”
He scooped me back in his arms and kissed me and we replayed the events from the previous night together before I had a chance to clarify that I’d been thinking bacon and eggs when I said hungry.
But this was nice, too. Very nice. Nicer than…well, than I couldn’t even remember.
***
We spent every day together after that, and he picked me up for our trip to Vegas. As we made out in the cab one last time before joining everyone at the airport, I said, “Melanie is going to try to get you together with Tory again. Should we tell her about us?”
He kissed my nose. “Don’t you worry about that.”
“Why not?”
“I paid one of Bryce’s buddies a hundred bucks to chase her. Once I mentioned how friendly she is, he gave me the money back. But what are we going to do about your admirer?”
“Thankfully, Eddie’s too young for casinos. He’s not coming.”
Liam high-fived me, kissed me again, and held out his hand. “Feeling crazy?”
“About you, I am.”
He grinned, and we dropped hands as we approached the group. At some point we’d come clean about the relationship, but I didn’t need the drama now.