by Brown, Tara
“Well, there’s one—” I laugh and he groans. “What about your family?” I ask, wanting desperately to change the subject since no one else is coming and I’ve laid myself out naked emotionally.
“You mean beyond what’s all over the internet and news?” He runs his hand through his hair. “My mom is a spoiled princess, daughter of a billionaire—”
“So like Sami?” I say before I remember Bev said he’s in love with Sami.
He flinches and nods painfully as if making that comparison in his head for the first time. “Yeah.” He swallows a lump in his throat and I couldn’t be a bigger ass.
“And your dad?”
“He’s not so bad. He was a regular guy when he met Mom. I want to think they loved each other when they met, but seeing them together now I’m curious if her family money motivated his affections.” He cringes. “That sounds terrible, doesn’t it? So, about that Nobel Prize winner in your family—?”
“That bad, huh?”
“I shouldn’t say that.” He wrinkles his nose. “They’re not all bad. My grandpa is a cantankerous old bastard, but I love him. Him and my cat, Simon.”
“Simon?” I try not to say it meanly. “That’s a weird name.”
“Yup.” He stares back at the stars but doesn’t explain so I turn to watch the twinkling night.
“Any brothers or sisters?”
“I do.” Again, he doesn’t include details so I don’t pry. “But my family doesn’t believe in divorce, regardless, so they’ve spared me the wicked stepfamily.”
I chuckle halfheartedly and leave it there.
Fortunately, we’re saved by the first shooting star flashing across the sky, bringing a gasp from my lips, as if I haven’t seen hundreds of them on North Vancouver Island. The second comes right after it, and before long we’re sitting under a streaming sky, a sight I’ve never experienced. “Oh my God, there are so many.”
“This is amazing.”
I turn my head and see the smile pasted on his face. Even his side profile shows he is lit up. And for half a minute, I forget he’s a gross hockey player who is six years younger than I am, at least, and enjoy the view as much as I’ve enjoyed his company.
He turns and I swear for a second the reflections of the shooting lights linger in his eyes.
He swallows hard.
My stomach knots.
His lips toy with a grin but it doesn’t win.
His eyes lower to my mouth and as much as I realize what’s about to happen, I can’t believe I’m in this moment.
Noise interrupts us and we’re saved by the company he promised.
“Jenny!” Bev rushes out onto the dock, her footsteps sounding like a herd of elephants. She lies on her back next to me on my small blanket, excited by the lights flying across the dark sky. “This is so crazy. I haven’t seen a shower this good since the night Mo Darling’s old nag got caught in the wire fence. You remember that, Eddie?” she asks him as he steps onto the dock, staring upward.
“Yup, never seen a man cry so hard over the death of a tired old horse.” His words are almost whispers that become lost in the noise of more people.
The long dock fills up quickly.
The sky is lit, the crowd is gasping, and the sight is something you see once in your whole life.
But I can’t stop seeing Lawrence Eckelston’s perfect, beautiful face staring back at mine. I wish we had kissed.
And I don’t know what to make of that.
But another night of him being cool and sweet and kind won’t be great for my self-control. Not since I’ve let my guard down, accidentally.
14
The wedding
Saturday, June 17
Lori
The wedding day is exactly as it should be.
Sami’s decorating crew has used enough decorations to make it appear as though we’re in a forest. But not just any forest, this one is filled with trees with high-reaching branches of white flowers and blossoms stretching and arching at the top, creating a path underneath. She had them brought in this morning on a jet. It reminds me of a movie set. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a movie set.
Even the bronze glowing chandeliers match the earthy, natural setting that combines with the long carpet of white petals to create the aisle. It must be from there that the scent of jasmine floats lightly to us.
Brady reaches over and squeezes my ass cheek, making a grin cross my lips but I don’t move. I know how many cameras there are and what’s expected of me. It’s been explained seven thousand times.
The music starts and the bridesmaids begin coming.
First, a cousin of Sami’s I didn’t like.
Then one of Sami’s aunts who squeezed my arm seductively and told me I reminded her of her favorite nephew. I still don’t understand why she’s a bridesmaid. She must have forced her way in.
Thirdly, it’s Liz, Mike’s wife.
Then Bev who smirks at me.
And finally, Nat strolls carefully down the petal path, offering us guys a smile. I wink at her.
Matt doesn’t see her, or any of us. His eyes are fixed on the large doors at the very back of the petal carpet. Doors that stand in the middle of the field as an entrance to the magical forest placed here for the wedding.
The music changes. The camera crew sneaks around the sides, staying out of view.
The crowd stands and turns.
They’re gasping and whispering.
My heart sinks.
We have the best view in the house.
Brady lifts his hand to Matt’s shoulder, squeezing once.
Sami and her father come through the doors and everything moves in slow motion.
She’s perfect.
A soft breeze flutters her veil as Sami and her father cross through the arched doorway.
Her veil is sheer so it catches the light, adding a sheen to her face and hair.
She’s glowing in her gown, something I’ve unfortunately seen already. She stripped naked and dragged it on for me and Carson, forgetting that I’m not gay and quite attracted to her.
And as she walks down the aisle, flawlessly, she beams when her eyes meet Matt’s, glistening with excitement and bliss.
Matt clenches his jaw and Brady appears to be crying. Nat is. Sami’s mom is sobbing, probably because she thought this day would never come for these two.
Her dad lifts her veil and kisses her cheek. She closes her eyes and leans in. I take a mental shot of that face. That expression. I have never seen her this happy.
Mr. Ford shakes Matt’s hand and hands Sami to him in that weirdly barbaric way dads do with daughters. Sami stares at Matt as he leads her to the priest. His back is to me, and so my entire view of the blessed event is of her. She smiles and blinks and loses herself in him. She doesn’t see us or anyone beyond him.
Matt’s voice shakes as he says his vows and Sami sniffles through hers. I ignore it all, taking in her glowing skin or the sparkle in her eyes. It’s intense to witness.
“You may kiss your bride,” the priest says happily and everyone erupts.
They kiss and it’s intimate and weirdly delicate.
“May I introduce Mr. and Mrs. Brimley!” the priest shouts and the crowd claps louder.
Mike slaps me on the arm as he wipes his cheek.
I nod at him as Matt leads her away, leaving me to stare at the back of the beautiful dress.
Brady takes Nat’s arm, she’s a complete wreck now, and escorts her out. We each take our turn until I end up with Bev as my partner. She grins and pats my arm as we walk down the aisle together. “How ya holding up?”
“My feet were getting sore,” I lie.
“Yeah, I was talking about your heart, dipshit.” She nudges me. “You might have everyone else fooled, but I can smell a lovesick idiot downwind from five miles.”
“What?” Is she high?
“You know that scene in Love Actually where the guy is making the video of the wedding and all he does is fil
m the bride obsessively?” Bev asks with a whisper.
“No.” I’m lost. “What’s Love Actually?”
“Dear sweet baby Jesus, save me from this moment. How you gonna be the guy who wants his best friends’ girl and not know Love Actually?” She groans and waves at some old lady I don’t know on Matt’s side of the aisle. She takes charge, gripping my arm, and walks us right to Carson who’s standing next to Rich.
“That was everything,” Rich gushes, his eyes darting to where the camera crew films and photographs Sami and Matt, something Matt seems to be tolerating but his patience is on a countdown to the end.
“This fool has never seen Love Actually,” Bev brings them into our conversation.
“What?” Carson wrinkles his nose, obviously lost on it as well.
“Oh my God, Colin Firth is so hot in that movie. When he’s struggling to talk to his love interest, and he’s fumbling it because he’s so awkward—” Rich exhales sharply. “I think about that scene sometimes randomly. It’s perfection.” His eyes dart to Carson. “Anyway, you have to watch it.”
“Yeah, whatever,” I mumble absently as my gaze is fixed on Sami for a second, watching her pose and smile, making a kissy face for the camera. She’s back to being herself.
“Lori!” Nat shouts at me as she waves us over. “Picture time!”
“Kill me,” I whisper, making Carson and Rich laugh as Carson kisses Rich goodbye and joins the rest of the wedding party.
“Deep breaths, Lawrence, deep breaths.” Bev grips me tighter and forces my feet to move toward the massive wedding party.
“I think you’re about a decade late on my infatuation with Sami. I offered to be her baby daddy because she would have been ruined to the society crowd.”
“Okay, sure,” she patronizes me.
When we get to them, Brady nudges me. “Dude, your resting bitch face is showing. Nat swears it’ll be thirty minutes, then we’re free to go to the reception. It won’t be that bad.”
“Thirty minutes at the first spot, dumbass.” Bev scoffs, sounding as excited as I am. “Clearly, you didn’t read the itinerary. After this we have two other stops. The dock and then the gardens and after that she wants us to pose in front of the barn before we’re allowed in the reception.”
“What?” Brady growls, “But the sun’s setting.”
“They have that movie-scene lighting so it will look like natural light.” Bev laughs. “Sami’s set up a whole photo studio.”
“Are you joking with me?” Brady’s eyes narrow on Nat. “I was definitely not told about this shit.”
“Well, buckle up, princesses, this is about to get excessive. Matt figures at least two hours of photos.” Bev laughs and drags us to the spot where the photographer is pointing.
“Kill me now,” Brady grumbles and I can’t help but laugh bitterly.
At least I’m not alone in my misery.
15
Cougar Town
Jenny
The wedding is stunning. I’m in awe of the transformation the grounds have taken while we all slept and readied ourselves. By the time we arrived at the designated spot on Saturday’s itinerary, it had been transformed into a magical forest instead of a field. The lack of light from the setting sun allows the glowing decorations to create a secretive ambience under the canopy of imported trees, elegant and bursting with light flowery opulence.
A white petal aisle for the bridal party to walk down is framed with arched bows from trees and flowering branches. Dangling flowers, which appear fake but are indeed long open wreaths of white and creamy petals, hang with lights from the fabricated forest ceiling.
The seats are massive logs turned into pews and glazed so as not to snag clothing.
I’ve never seen anything like it.
The groomsmen who wait next to the minister are the handsomest I’ve ever seen.
Matt and Brady are smokeshows. Carson is pretty, a proper square-jawed beauty.
Mike is rugged but handsome, nevertheless. And Lawrence is something else altogether.
Seeing him in the tailored suit isn’t unusual; he’s always wearing suits for games. But this one clings to him in a way I envy. He’s beautiful and my brain replays that moment under the shooting stars when he turned and stared at me. I felt seen for the first time in a long time.
As the music changes, so does he.
The bridesmaids start walking down the glittery enchanted forest. I don’t recognize the first couple until Bev and they all look amazing, except Natalie Banks who is more. She’s a goddess in her lavender gown.
Sami Ford brings to mind something from a magazine. She shines like a light, effervescent and bright.
My eyes drift back to Lori’s, finding wonder on his face. It’s palpable and for some sick reason I can’t tear my gaze from it, trying to figure out if Bev’s right and his attraction to her is obvious. I’m curious if he’s hurt or if Bev’s superpower hasn’t actually figured Lawrence out.
If he is wounded by this, I have a strange desire to take it away, soothe it for him. I understand that feeling, though mine wound up with me standing in the rain, smelling of mud, watching the person I love betray me.
I barely notice the ceremony, I stare at him so hard.
I realize it’s over when Sami’s kissing Matt and everyone cheers. As if coming out of a daze, I lick my lips and take a deep breath as they walk down the aisle. Bev grips Lori, but it doesn’t change the misery on his face. If anything, she seems to make him more uncomfortable.
The wedding party is whisked off for photos as we’re directed to drive our golf carts to the big red barn where the reception will be.
Still seated and a bit overwhelmed if I’m being honest, I take my first real breath as Sukii slips her fingers into mine. “That was intense.” She wipes her eyes with a silk handkerchief.
“It was the most beautiful wedding I’ve seen. I can’t comprehend everything I watched and heard,” I admit. “Even the music was entrancing.” It was raw and reminded me of my mom playing piano while I sat under it coloring.
“I agree. The acoustic music, weird fairy forest, the smell of jasmine flowers, and the perfect decor with combinations of delicate and rough were mesmerizing. Adding the beautiful guests, ridiculous clothing, and two people who seem more in love than any two I’ve ever seen, and I am confident this wedding will never be topped.” Sukii wipes her flawless makeup again as she sighs. “I mean, why would any of us bother getting married now? It’ll never be like this.”
“Nope.” She’s right. This is the sort of wedding girls don’t even know they dream of having. We stand and walk out of the fairy forest.
“Shall we go get a drink?” Sukii asks and nods at our golf cart.
“Let’s go.” I offer her my arm. She takes it and we cling to each other, walking in a weirdly dread-filled silence. There’s a tremble in our fingers that matches.
We follow a steady stream of carts up to the big red barn, driving to where the golf-cart valet points.
Sukii parks and turns to me, speaking softly, “Let’s have fun—real fun—okay?”
“You mean like no holds barred?”
“We are never going to a billionaire’s wedding again. I wanna rock this.” She lifts her pinky finger. “Swear, whatever happens tonight, stays here.”
“Okay, that sounds aggressive. But I’m in. Responsibly. Don’t do anything Stan would fire you for.” I wrap my pinky around hers and we shake.
“Let’s break some hearts and make this party a night no one will forget.”
“Deal.” I smile and force myself to keep any judgements I’ve had about her and Cap in the back of my mind.
The reception is as stunning as the wedding. The red barn has been transformed into a similarly enchanted forest. We pause in the doorway and stare, taking it all in.
Rich Fairfield sees us and walks over with a big smile.
“You both look beautiful,” he offers and holds out his arms for us so he might escort us i
n.
“Thanks,” Sukii says softly. “That wedding was everything.”
“It most certainly was.” Rich grins as he strolls to the table where we’ve been assigned seating. “Save me a dance.” He pulls out our chairs for us.
“Thanks,” I mutter and sit.
Sukii lifts the flute of ice-cold champagne and sips. “Oh my God, this is amazing.”
“To Stan, for forcing us into the weirdest and most fabulous weekend two average office girls could ever experience!” I lift my drink and we clink the delicate glasses.
Sukii’s right, it’s delicious.
“Stan is missing out,” Sukii says, scanning about as the tables fill with beautiful people who somehow seem like accents and accessories to the room. As if they knew how to dress for the occasion.
My quiet reverie is interrupted by a voice, “You’re Jennifer Snowdon?” A woman walks up. She’s older but ageless in the way rich people are.
“I am.” My stomach tightens as I prepare for the Olympics fanfare which I hate.
“I’m a huge fan of your brother’s band, Twin Peeks. I interviewed them for Rolling Stone a few years ago when they were coming up. Marla Lopez.” She doesn’t offer her hand to shake but instead, sits at the table and gets comfortable. It takes a second for me to realize not only has she slept with my brother, but she’s sharing our table tonight.
“Oh wow,” I say with a pleasant smile back.
The gleam in her eyes is scary. Skin-suit scary. This woman, who is easily ten or more years older than my brother, has a cougar vibe even I’m afraid of. “How’s he doing?” She toys with her glass.
“Good, busy. They’re in LA now full time. Record deals and all that.” I omit that he’s hired bodyguards and it would likely be hard for her to hunt him down.
“Yes, I did hear that. They’ve come a long way.” She beams at Sukii and me.
“So are you friends with Matt or Sami?” Sukii asks, changing the uncomfortable subject.
“Matt’s mother and I are dear friends. I’ve known Matt since he was a baby.”
