The Reward

by Jade A. Waters

  “No, no. You’re the guest. I’ve got it.”

  Ryan huffed when Dean tugged away the receipt, and as Dean pored over the check, I took a chomp of my cheek. Ryan was scraping by, and while Dean wasn’t loaded, he was comfortable enough to handle the check.

  Was Ryan really going to be upset about not getting to pay a bill?

  After dropping cash on the table, Dean planted a kiss on my cheek. “I’m going to need to head out, love. I’ve got an early meeting tomorrow.”

  I shook myself. I wasn’t surprised, what with all the long days Dean was working to prepare for his upcoming absence, but I’d hoped the night would improve before we had to call it. “What time’s your meeting?”

  “Seven a.m.”

  “Oh.” I grimaced in Ryan’s direction, since he was mister late-night, but he gave a barely perceptible lift of his head. “Okay. Did you want to stay longer, Ryan?”

  “Sure. Let’s hit the bar.”

  I didn’t mind the idea. I could handle tossing back a couple with how lame these two were being.

  “That’ll be good for you both,” Dean said, standing.

  “Hey. Let me walk you out,” I said.

  Ryan watched me stand, his eyes narrowed before Dean stuck out his hand.

  “It was good to meet you,” Dean said.

  “You, too.”

  “Okay. I’ll be right back,” I said, startled at the loop of Dean’s arm around my waist to drag me away. It wasn’t until we were a few feet from the entrance that I broke away to hook my arm in his. “Whoa there.” He swung open the door for me, and we were greeted outside by a black sky sprinkled with the lights of buildings filling the area. Our weather had stayed so pleasant I’d worn a sleeveless top, but a chill inched up my skin while we headed into the lot toward Dean’s car, his hold on my arm loose and not all that comforting. “You okay?”

  He shrugged, and the hair on my neck bristled.

  Great. He was going to stop communicating now?

  I swung around to face him as we reached his BMW. “Hey.” I squeezed his fingers. “I’m sorry Ryan was on the grumpy side. I’m not sure what was up there. Maybe jet lag? I don’t know. But I’m serious—are you okay?”

  Dean scanned my face, then tilted his head to peck my forehead, and I calmed when his face softened, the lines around his eyes vanishing. “It’s fine. He’s...your brother. You two can spend time together.” He hugged me tight before changing the subject. “What time are you meeting Selby tomorrow?”

  “Around nine.”

  “Lucky girl. You’ll be waking up and I’ll be sitting down for business.”

  My shoulders lifted and fell. He was trying to play it light, that was clear. I murmured, “Well, I’ll make up for it running around like a maniac all day.”

  “Good luck with that.” Dean leaned in for a kiss, and once he pulled away with the sweetest smile, the move tugged on my heart. “Hey,” he said, clutching me close again, “I know it’ll be nuts at the rehearsal dinner and through the wedding, but I’m looking forward to stealing you away afterward.” He ran his hands up my sides. “I love that you’ll be stashing things at my place.”

  That brought my smile back in a hurry. I lifted onto my toes to meet his kiss, loving the way he swayed me with his lips pressed on mine beneath one of the parking lot lamps. Obviously, he wasn’t the problem. He took one last graze of my lips and stepped back. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

  “Yes. Have fun at your meeting.”

  “Thanks. And you and Ryan have fun, okay?” He sounded sincere, though with Ryan’s oddness, I wasn’t sure it’d be as fun as our hangouts typically were.

  Still, I said, “We will. Love you.”

  “I love you, Maya.”

  While Dean got into his car, I backed away, and after he started the engine and waved, I spun around to head back into the bar. The amount of love and chemistry flowing between Dean and me, and how adored and happy he made me feel, made it easier to erase the lame encounter between them. Honestly, maybe the two of them needed another hangout under different circumstances, without the wedding craziness sucking up everybody’s focus.

  Settled, I headed back into the bar for drinks with my brother. He’d already ordered us both another round, and after a long stretch of quietness on the bar stool beside him, I asked, “Are you okay?”

  “Sure.”

  I traced the edges of the cardboard coaster beneath my cider glass, the bar loud and crowding up with more people. I eyed him. “I’m glad you two met before the madness.”

  “Yep.” He took a sip, then said, “So that’s Dean, huh?”

  “Yes. Are you getting weird on me?”

  “No. Just...”

  “What?”

  “Nothin.’”

  I knew Ryan well enough to understand that meant I don’t want to talk anymore, and pushing would get me nowhere. This annoyed the crap out of me after he’d been so goddamn grumpy to my boyfriend. “Well,” I began, taking a swig of my cider, “Dean seemed to like you. I’m glad you two will have some hang time without me while I’m with Selby, because I think you could be pals.”

  “Maybe.” Ryan sipped his beer, his shoulders hunched. “Damn, I’m tired.”

  “I knew it!” I said. I couldn’t tell if he was using that for an excuse, but I had a full day with Selby tomorrow as it was. “Tell you what, why don’t we finish these up and call it?”

  “Sounds good.”

  We sat in a muted huddle through the end of our drinks, which was ironic with us located in the middle of what had become a crowded, shout-filled bar. When I got two frantic texts from Selby asking if I’d mind coming an hour earlier in the morning, I gave up on my drink, and Ryan did the same. We headed back to my house, discussing weather patterns on the East Coast versus the West and, distracted by the festivities ahead as I readied for bed, I blew everything about our dinner off.

  I needed to crash. My best friend was getting married, dammit, and that was the most important thing for now.

  Chapter Five

  At seven a.m., I jumped out of bed to get ready and hurry over to Selby’s house. She, her mother, Stephanie and Alex were deep in it when I arrived under an hour later, so together, we proceeded to work through the remaining wedding details as effectively as possible. It was clear that, busy as the day was, we were having fun. Selby in particular. She was pink-cheeked and at least half smiling through everything, and with Alex breaking to hug her every so often and the two of them canoodling over the event they’d share tomorrow, a flood of happiness for them helped us get things done.

  Of course, Selby still had a few freak-outs throughout the day. Happy face and cooing commentary aside, she seemed exceptionally on edge—but I’d run into town for a six-pack of ginger ale to help the nauseated panic she’d had over the need for extra chairs hours before the rehearsal, and everything had mellowed. Then, throughout the rehearsal dinner, she and Alex navigated through more guests than I’d realized they’d invited to the casual garden patio affair. I stuck with them save for a couple of quick moments stolen with Dean and a mundane chat with Ryan. Both men were acting normal, even passing each other with polite nods, which was great. That was what I needed from them, too. This wedding had been Selby’s dream since we were kids, and Alex was the perfect partner to spend her life with after the big party they’d worked hard to organize.

  Saturday morning, we kicked off with the brunch Candace made for Selby, Alex and me. Once we finished and cleaned up, we carried our boisterous enthusiasm back down to the vineyard, where the ceremony would take place later that evening. After we arrived, it was a speedy rush of mini-issues that arose, plus dressing, makeup and hair before meeting Dean and the rest of the wedding party for photos, because Selby had surprised us weeks prior with the news they’d opted to do pho
tos before the wedding. Selby had explained she was sure she’d throw up if she didn’t see her “incredibly grounding husband” multiple times preceding the big event, which had made complete sense to me. I’d known Selby and Alex were meant to be within weeks of their first date, and seeing it about to come true couldn’t make me happier.

  So, under the early evening sun, I took my place on the raised platform of the vineyard’s mountain setting, both ready and giddy for the official ceremony to commence. I clutched my bouquet in hand and turned to watch everyone stand, and seconds later, Selby emerged from the staging area for her procession down the aisle. She’d looked gorgeous in the photo session earlier, but with her hair swooped half up beneath her veil and the rest flowing over her neck in rolling curls, and the makeup she’d touched up setting off the soft features of her face, she glowed with her father’s arm looped around hers. I felt such a rush for her, a tear already forming at the corner of my eye.

  I peeked at Alex. He beamed throughout her approach, and my smile grew before I focused on Dean standing just beyond Alex and beside the other groomsmen. He winked at me, and my heart thumped. Weddings had that effect on me, but here for my best friend, with the man I loved supporting Alex as much as I did Selby, I had to be floating. Dean blew me a kiss before we both watched Selby once more, and when she stepped up beside Alex, her father pushed back her veil to kiss her cheek and shake Alex’s hand. Selby passed me her bouquet and spotted me wiping my cheek, then whispered, “Don’t you dare make me cry! I’m almost there!”

  I released a quiet giggle and squeezed her arm. When the officiant stepped up, signaling for everyone to take their seats, Selby turned back and took Alex’s hands.

  “Honored guests, we are gathered here today,” the officiant began, and for the next stretch of time, I couldn’t knock the giddiness off my face. I glanced at Alex’s groomsmen, Andrew, Hans and Derrick, who appeared calm and happy. I focused on how delighted Alex looked as the officiant walked them through the ceremony. And then there were the affectionate gazes Dean kept sending my way, each one wrapping my heart up in warmth. I couldn’t stop my mind from wandering the tiniest bit. Things felt so good with Dean, I never wanted it to end. I could picture us together, for a long, long time. Could he? Selby and Alex began reading the vows they’d written to one another, and I was rocking in my shoes, a fount of love brimming in me. Everything was perfect—from the beautiful setting with the rolling hills covered in rows of grapevines beyond us, to the blissful faces of those in the audience while my best friend and her husband-to-be read to each other with sweet, shaking voices.

  When they finished, the cellist started a song for them, the tune echoing in a lovely hum through the air. The officiant said, “Let us now exchange rings,” and gestured toward Dean. He handed them over while Alex swayed his head with such a sparkle in his eyes, and the officiant passed him Selby’s ring first. “Alex, as you place the ring on Selby’s finger, please repeat after me.”

  Alex grasped her hand and did as instructed. “Selby, you are the love of my life, and my eternal best friend. This ring signifies my commitment to you, with no beginning and no end, so that my devotion and my love will always be near your heart.”

  Selby sniffled. Though I couldn’t see her face, I grinned at the lift of her hand to wipe her cheek. “Sorry!” she whispered.

  Alex shook his head and squeezed her fingers. Then the officiant repeated the words for Selby to say.

  “Alex, you are the love of my life...”

  As she continued, I glanced at Dean. The look in his eyes struck me, as did the boyish grin he hadn’t stopped sending in my direction. We’d talked about this moment, Selby and Alex’s love—hell, our love—so many times. It made my heart beat like mad. A momentary wedding fantasy danced through my head. I could see us getting married one day. I imagined what we’d be like in five years, then ten, twenty... My smile spread farther, and I clutched the bouquet tighter before focusing back on the officiant’s words.

  “Then by the power vested in me by the state of California, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may kiss the bride.”

  Alex embraced Selby. She voiced a tiny squeal as he pressed his mouth to hers in such a sweet, affectionate kiss, and everyone clapped while they kept right on kissing until Alex took Selby’s hand. They turned to face their guests, both of them lifting their free hands up.

  Selby shouted, “We did it!”

  The crowd was a mix of laughter, warm smiles and hearty cheers as the recessional music launched and the two of them started to walk out, and I reached for Dean’s arm to take our rehearsed exit. Joy filled the air, people clapping and crying, cheering Selby and Alex on when they walked by. Dean leaned to kiss my cheek before we stepped off the platform.

  “I love you, Maya,” he said.

  My heart felt like a giant balloon, expanding in my chest and heating my cheeks. There was no stopping the wedding daydreams waltzing through my mind. “You, too. So much.” I rested my head against his shoulder while he circled my waist and we walked out, waving at Ryan and guests of Alex and Selby’s that we both knew in our pass by them. At the staging area, we found the happy couple in a wild bout of kissing, and I wrapped my arms more securely around Dean. “God. That was beautiful.”

  “Yes, it was.” The sun cast its brightness down over us, but somehow Dean’s eyes outshone it with the press of his lips to mine in a tender kiss. I loved him—his touch, his smile, how good it felt to celebrate our friends in this gorgeous place. My appreciation was broken by Selby running over with Alex’s hand in hers, then jumping up and down before they both hugged me.

  “It’s official! We’re married!”

  “Congratulations! I’m so, so happy for you both.” I squeezed them tight.

  Alex took Selby back in his arms and she said, “Okay. Phew! We did it.” She fanned her face and gestured toward the reception hall. “Let’s get this party started already, shall we?”

  All of us chuckled with the relieved expression on her face.

  Party, we would.

  * * *

  I’d been to a number of weddings and receptions in my life, but—best friendship bias aside—Selby’s had to have been the best I’d ever attended. Between her lifetime of planning and Stephanie’s assistance, they’d put together one hell of a shindig, starting with the brief cocktail hour that preceded dinner, the delicious, catered three-course meal, and after, the dance party like no other. Selby had given up on drinking champagne because she hadn’t ditched her anxiety, even with the perma-smile on her face. But she’d kicked it up nonetheless. She alternated between dancing and smooching with Alex to bopping around with her guests, which was how somewhere in the middle of the second hour, she and I had started spinning around for our third song that night.

  “I’m so happy, Maya! Everyone looks like they’re having fun, yeah?”

  “Oh yeah! This place is gorgeous, and the deejay’s great!”

  She broke away to clap her hands, and the two of us shimmied to the oldies tune that was almost finished. Tiny wisps of hair had come loose around her face, but otherwise, her hairdresser had managed to pin everything in place, and her bustle had kept her dress in order. Even her makeup had held strong, and with the rosy blush that spread from her cheeks down over the exposed portion of her chest, she appeared stunning and happy, and precisely how I’d imagined she’d be today.

  “Where’d Dean go?”

  “Grabbing a drink? Not sure,” I said. He’d danced with me several times tonight when I hadn’t been twirling around with Selby or drawing other guests in to dance like she’d wanted me to do. Each time he had, he’d glided me across the floor with such ease that he’d melted my heart. He hadn’t flinched at all with Selby cutting in, but now that she mentioned it, I hadn’t seen him for a bit. I’d been pretty occupied with Selby—keeping her fed and hydrated, helping with h
er dress, hunting down more tissue every time she got teary-eyed—so I took a peek around while we danced.

  I spotted him by the bar and caught Selby’s hand. “I see him. I’m going to get us water. Sound good?”

  “Oh, yes! That sounds amazing!” Selby said. She went right back to dancing, and I made my way over to Dean, my heart picking up its pace when he turned and saw me heading his direction. He looked dashing and sophisticated as dressed up as he was, standing tall in his slick black tuxedo, his cinnamon-colored tie providing the perfect splash of color over the trim-fitting dark vest beneath his jacket. With his hair freshly cut and the boyish smile I loved on his face, he was by far the most handsome man in the wedding party. He welcomed me with the curve of his arm around my waist once I reached him, and I relaxed at the touch of his palm above the low back of my dress.

  “Having fun?” he asked.

  “Tons. You?”

  “Yes. Keeping an eye on the boys,” he said, pointing off to the side of the room. He set the cup he’d poured what looked like wine into on the edge of the table housing the self-serve. “That Andrew? He’s something.”

  The one member of Alex’s groomsmen related to the groom, Andrew had turned twenty-four a few months ago, and from the stories Dean had told me of the bachelor party, he sounded like a major party animal. I couldn’t see him wherever Dean pointed, but I said, “Cute. Too much booze?”

  “Getting there.”

  I chuckled. “I don’t think Alex or Selby will be that surprised. We are at one hell of a party, after all.”

  Dean nodded in the direction of the dance floor, where Selby continued to dance, and I followed his gaze at her and then out across the room. Alex wasn’t with her, but he was smiling and chatting with a group of guests off to the side whom I didn’t recognize. “They seem happy.”

  “They are happy. No doubt about that.”

  “You know what makes me happy?”