This Can't Be Love

by Maria Geraci

  He met the gazes of at least a couple dozen of Victoria’s friends and co-workers. “Some of them. I imagine there’s a whole group from the groom’s side that I don’t know.”

  “How are you doing?” she asked.

  “Fine,” he said. But I’ll be better once we get back to my place and I peel you out of that dress.

  “I mean, are you okay?”

  “What? Do you mean am I harboring any regrets about Victoria? Nope. Not a one.”

  “Okay, good, because, you know, I’m here for you. Anytime you want to get out of here, just say the word.”

  His cell phone pinged again. It was probably his mother, offering up some more advice on the garter or asking about the color of the flowers. He ignored it.

  From across the room, he spotted Katie, one of Torie’s oldest friends. He put his hand up to wave. She rolled her eyes and turned her back to him. Okay. That was weird. Katie had always been friendly toward him. But, of course, he was the ex-boyfriend, so maybe he should have expected Katie’s cool reaction. Except, this was Torie’s wedding day and she was marrying someone else. She’d moved on. If Torie was happy, then Katie should be too, right?

  He craned his neck searching for Ethan and Julie. It would be good to see a couple of friendly faces. He checked his watch. Ten minutes till countdown. He looked over to see Sarah studying the reception seating map. “We’re at table number four,” she said. “Julie and Ethan are at a table on the other side of the room.” Her forehead scrunched up. “Don’t you think that’s kind of odd?”

  He looked at the seating arrangement. Mr. Luke Powers and guest, table four. Two of Torie’s cousins and their husbands, as well as an aunt, were the other occupants of the table. Which, yeah, did seem strange. Why would Torie seat him with family and put his best friends clear across the room?

  “It was probably a mistake,” Sarah said. “Maybe the wedding planner got confused.”

  If the wedding planner got confused, then Torie would have set her straight. Torie was the queen of micro-management, always insisting on reviewing every little detail of the smallest most inconsequential thing, including her grocery lists. He’d bet his last dollar that there was no confusion or mistake about this seating arrangement.

  Luke was beginning to get a very bad feeling about tonight.

  A soft bell chimed and an elegant, older woman dressed in black appeared with a mic in her hand, causing the room to quiet down. “Ladies and gentleman, on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Carson, they’d like to welcome you to the wedding of their daughter Victoria to Dr. Jeffrey Main. The ceremony will begin shortly. This way, please.” The doors to another salon opened and the crowd began to make their way inside.

  Luke grabbed Sarah’s hand. “It’s show time.”

  She squeezed his hand and smiled back and it occurred to him, not for the first time, that Sarah Jamison was a good person to have on your side.

  * * *

  Everyone had been wrong about Victoria. She wasn’t gorgeous. She was a freakin’ supermodel. The pictures in the Luke Powers gallery of beauty hadn’t done the woman justice. She didn’t just walk down the aisle. She floated.

  There were three bridesmaids, all dressed in soft lavender, and while they were very pretty, they paled in comparison to tonight’s star. The groom, a good-looking man with blond hair in his early forties, looked appropriately dazzled by his bride, along with the rest of the wedding guests.

  “I’ve never seen a more beautiful bride!” a woman sitting beside Sarah gushed. “Don’t you agree?” she asked them, her eyes clearly on Luke as she waited for his response.

  “Absolutely stunning,” Sarah said. Luke smiled and nodded politely, but Sarah noted a level of tension in him that hadn’t been there before.

  They ran into Ethan and Julie on their way into the ballroom where the clinking of silverware and the sounds of a twelve-piece orchestra warming up signaled that the reception was about to get under way.

  Julie and Sarah oohed and aahed over each other’s gowns while the men looked on sheepishly. Julie said in a low voice that only the four of them could hear, “I say we get out of here. I’m game for some burgers if you are.”

  Sarah laughed. “I wish.”

  “I guess it would be crummy of us to ditch out now, huh?” Ethan asked.

  They all turned to look at Luke, because only he could make this call. “It would be rude to leave this early. At least, not until I’ve had a chance to congratulate Victoria,” he said tightly.

  Julie gave Sarah a look that said watch out, then she and Ethan made their way across the room. The cousins and their husbands were already seated when Sarah and Luke arrived at their table. They took their assigned seats and Sarah introduced herself.

  The cousins, Barb and Jill and their respective husbands, Pete and Adam, nodded at Sarah but ignored Luke. Sarah was about to say something to draw Luke into the conversation when the table’s last occupant arrived. It was the woman who had sat next to her during the ceremony. It turned out she was none other than Victoria’s Aunt Sally and she looked at Luke as if he were a cockroach. “I have to say, it’s mighty strange to see you here, Luke.”

  “I agree,” Pete muttered, reaching out for his drink.

  Luke didn’t say anything. Sarah tried to rein in her temper. What were these people thinking? That Luke had crashed his ex-girlfriend’s wedding? He’s only here because he was invited and the bride insisted, you dumbasses!

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Sarah said in the voice she used on the occasional complaining customer that was acting unreasonably, “A lot of couples remain friends after a breakup and, let’s face it, doesn’t Victoria look absolutely in love?”

  Everyone mumbled in agreement because, really, what could they say to that? The soup and salad courses went quickly, with the main topic of conversation among the women being the flowers and who was wearing which designer gown, while Pete and Adam discussed an upcoming golf tournament.

  The wait staff was clearing the main course when Adam turned to Luke. “You play golf, Powers?” Other than Aunt Sally’s opening remark, it was the first time any of the relatives at the table had spoken to him.

  “Occasionally.”

  “What’s your handicap?” Pete asked.

  “Five.”

  Sarah wasn’t sure whether that number was good or bad, but it shut up the husbands.

  “Sarah, tell us all about yourself and how you and Luke met,” Barb asked. She was in her mid-thirties and a graduate of The University of Chicago, currently a stay-at-home mom, as well as the president of her daughter’s private school parent association.

  Her sister Jill, a couple of years older and the owner of one of Atlanta’s most successful advertising agencies (those were Jill’s own words), leaned forward to hear Sarah’s answer.

  “Well, there’s not much to tell,” Sarah began, “I’m currently managing a coffee house in Whispering Bay, Florida, that’s Luke’s hometown.” There. Let them infer from that what they wanted.

  “Managing a coffee house? That sounds…interesting.”

  “It’s temporary,” she said. “Just until I have enough money to buy my own food truck.”

  Jill blinked. “A food truck? You mean, like the kind they have at carnivals?”

  “Sure. You can take them anywhere.”

  “Are you planning to buy a fleet of them? Like a business venture?” Barb asked.

  “No. Just the one. I plan to drive it around Florida and hit up local festivals, that kind of thing.”

  “You mean, you’d be driving it and cooking the food yourself?” Jill asked, giving Barb a sly look worthy of one of Cinderella’s evil step-sisters.

  It wasn’t hard to figure out what these two were up to. Sarah had met her fair share of mean girls before. Complete and total honesty was usually the best weapon to ward off their kind of snobbery.

  “That’s the plan,” she said.

  “Sarah is a wonderful cook,” Luke said. “Her food is to die for
.”

  “Oh?” Barb trilled. “Which culinary school did you graduate from? I have a personal chef who comes to my home four days a week. He’s a Johnson and Wales graduate. Blaine Moore. Maybe you’ve heard of him? He was featured in last month’s issue of Atlanta Cuisine.”

  “I didn’t go to culinary school. I’m self-taught.”

  Jill snickered.

  “You sound like a real go-getter,” Barb said. “Did you study business in college?”

  “I didn’t go to college. Well, I did go to community college for a couple of semesters, but then I dropped out to go work on a cruise ship.”

  The sisters looked at one another as if they’d hit the jackpot. Sarah could only imagine the fun they’d have later gossiping about Luke’s new “loser” girlfriend.

  Luke leaned forward in his seat as if he was about to say something, but Sarah slipped her hand under the table and placed it firmly on his thigh in warning. He turned and looked at her, his blue eyes furious, but then Sarah shook her head slightly and the fire in his gaze dimmed.

  Out of the corner of her eye, Sarah could see Victoria and her groom making their way around the room, greeting their guests. They were still at least four tables away. Luke wanted to stay until he got the chance to congratulate Victoria. Hopefully, that would be soon. Sarah had had enough of the wedding of the century.

  The band, which up to now had been playing background music during the meal, finished their song and the conductor came up to the mic. “Ladies and gentleman, it’s time for the happy groom and his beautiful bride to grace us with their first dance as a married couple. May I present, Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Main!” The room began to cheer loudly.

  Jeff led Victoria out to the dance floor. The lights in the ballroom dimmed and a spotlight shone on the couple as they danced to Ed Sheeran’s Thinking Out Loud. Either Jeff and Victoria were the most accomplished ballroom dancers ever or they’d taken lessons, because Sarah had to admit, they danced beautifully together.

  Afterward, the band began playing everything from Sinatra to Justin Timberlake to Bruno Mars. Sarah spotted Ethan and Julie on the dance floor. She wondered if Luke wanted to dance, but he seemed gloomy. He hadn’t eaten much and had been nursing the same drink all night. Was he having second thoughts about Victoria?

  Sarah swallowed hard. She didn’t think so. But why else would he be so quietly moody?

  Victoria and Jeff resumed greeting their guests, and soon they were standing in front of their table. Victoria looked even more beautiful up close than she did far away. She was tall with dark hair pulled up in an elaborate hairdo. Her paleness was accentuated by her perfect makeup and her dress, an off-white, form-fitting sequined gown, could have come straight off the cover of Bride magazine.

  Victoria kissed her female relatives and Jeff shook hands with the husbands. Then it was Sarah and Luke’s turn. “Congratulations,” Luke said to Jeff. “I’m Luke Powers.” Jeff shook his hand solemnly, not smiling, but he was polite enough. “You look lovely, Victoria,” Luke said to the bride.

  A shadow of sadness crossed Victoria’s face. “Thank you, Luke. I’m glad you could make it.” She turned and gave Sarah an unsteady smile. “And this must be your date?”

  “Sarah Jamison,” Luke said, placing his arm around her waist.

  “Well! I’m just so glad you could be here. Tell your mother hello for me, Luke. She’s been an absolute angel helping with this wedding!” Sarah couldn’t tell for sure, since she’d never met Victoria before, but it seemed as if her words were slurred like she’d had too much to drink. But then, a lot of brides got tipsy at their own weddings and the liquor was certainly flowing freely tonight.

  The bride and groom went off to the next table to start another round of felicitations.

  “Can we go now?” Sarah asked quietly.

  “Absolutely,” Luke said.

  Then the band began to play The Way You Look Tonight and he grinned. It was the first time this evening that he’d seemed relaxed. “It’s not the polka version, but they’re playing our song.”

  “Yes, they are.”

  He took her by the hand and led her out to the dance floor. Even with the four-inch heels, he still towered over her. She sighed and leaned her head against his chest as he pulled her in tightly. “I know I already said it, but you look gorgeous tonight,” Luke said.

  “Thank you, sir, as do you.”

  She could feel his chuckle as it rumbled through his hard chest.

  “Luke?”

  “Yes?”

  She gazed up at him. “Are you all right?”

  He hesitated before answering. “I guess I’m just disappointed, is all.”

  “In…how things ended up between you and Victoria?”

  He looked blank for a second, then he shook his head. “God, no. I already told you, I was never in love with her. I’m disappointed because…let’s just say I have a pretty good idea why she wanted me at this wedding and right now it’s not sitting too well.”

  “Yeah, me, too. She wanted to rub it in your face. How she’s happy and how she’s moved on without you.”

  “I didn’t think she was that petty but, if that’s what she needed to get on with her life, then so be it.” He smiled at her. “You’ve been terrific, by the way. Putting up with that crap back there at the table.”

  “What? You mean Anastasia and Drizella?”

  He looked puzzled.

  “Cinderella’s evil stepsisters.”

  Luke threw his head back and laughed. She’d hated seeing him so quiet and distant before, but seeing him laugh now made her happy. “I wish you hadn’t stopped me from giving them a piece of my mind.”

  “I can handle a couple of mean girls,” she said, throwing in some attitude. “No problem.”

  “You shouldn’t have had to. I’m sorry, Sarah.”

  “Tonight hasn’t been all terrible. We’re dancing, right?”

  “I’d say tonight pretty much sucked. Although,” his voice went husky, “I’d go through a dozen nights like tonight if it meant that I got to see you wear that dress.”

  “Keep talking like that and you’re going to get lucky tonight, mister.”

  “I’m already lucky. I’m dancing with the prettiest girl in the room.”

  Oh, boy.

  Neither of them said anything. He pressed her so close she could feel his heart beating through his chest. Or maybe it was her heart that was beating so fast. She couldn’t tell.

  The song ended. They clapped along with the rest of the guests and Luke led her off the dance floor. “Let’s get out of here.”

  “Good idea.”

  They stopped by the table so Sarah could pick up her clutch. “I need to use the restroom.”

  “I’ll meet you downstairs by the valet parking,” Luke said.

  The bathroom was oddly empty except for another woman who was reapplying her lipstick. When Sarah came out of the stall to wash her hands, the woman was still there.

  “Can I just say how utterly awesome that gown is?” She was young, probably in her mid-twenties, and, like most of the guests at this hour, just a tiny bit tipsy. “Everyone at my table has been talking about you.”

  Sarah dried her hands with an elegant cloth towel. She wasn’t quite sure what to make of that last part. “Um, thank you. The gown is a loaner. It belongs to a friend of mine. Lucky me, huh?”

  “I’ll say. So, what do you think about Victoria? Do you know she had her gown special ordered?” Sarah noticed the glassy eyes and slurred voice again. So maybe more like a lot tipsy. “It cost over ten grand. I know that because I work in her office and she had a few of us lowly clerical types working on the wedding. I was the one who had to make sure all the addresses on the invitations were correct and all the RSVPs came back and all that garbage. It was the only way she could pull this off in less than two months. And no, she’s not pregnant, but it’s not for lack of trying,” she said, giggling.

  Oh, boy.

  “The brid
e looked beautiful and she seems very happy,” Sarah said, trying to put a firm stop to the conversation.

  “Oh, she’s happy all right. She’s been planning this wedding for over three years now. Just to a different groom, but same end result, right? She gets her big moment in the sun and we all get to worship at the altar of Victoria Carson. Oops! That’s Mrs. Dr. Jeffrey Main, now.” The woman looked a little unsteady on her feet.

  This was definitely too much information.

  “I have to say, all of us were a little shocked when your boyfriend RSVP’d. I mean, didn’t he know that the only reason Victoria invited him here tonight was to gloat?” She made a big show of lowering her voice, like she was about to reveal a secret. “Between you and me, I really think she expected him to try and win her back before the wedding. Only, he got the last laugh, all right. He shows up looking like this God in a black tuxedo, and then to top it off, he has you on his arm!”

  Boy, oh, boy. This conversation was quickly going straight into the gutter. The best thing to do was leave, but before she could get out the door, the woman ran over to the garbage can and began heaving. No matter how awful this woman was, Sarah couldn’t leave her alone while she was sick. She held the woman’s hair back from her face, making sure to keep enough distance between them that Lauren’s beautiful gown wouldn’t get ruined.

  “Ohhhhh…” the woman moaned, then threw up in the garbage can. Sarah waited till the vomiting was over, then moistened one of the guest towels and handed it to the woman.

  “You should sit down and rest before going back out.”

  “Thank you. I’m Diana, by the way.” She sat down and laid her head on the back of the sofa.

  “Can I get anyone to help you?”

  “No. I just need a minute to pull myself together. Too many Moscow Mules for me tonight!”

  No kidding.

  Sarah sat down on the couch next to the drunk girl. Luke was probably already waiting by the car, but she didn’t want to leave Diana here alone in case she got sick again.

  “How did Victoria and Jeff meet?” Sarah asked. Maybe that would help put the girl in a more positive frame of mind.