What Happens at a Wedding: A Short Story Anthology

by Lucy Gage

  Damn it, why hadn’t I asked for her number again? Even if she’d made me solve another math problem to earn it, I’d have done the work in a heartbeat.

  From the corner of my eye, I saw the door open, and my hopes lifted. Until I noticed Kelsey entering Kovac’s pub.

  “Excuse me for a moment, guys.” Leaping from my seat, I rushed to the door before she could ingratiate herself with any other guests who didn’t know better.

  “Reid! Happy birthday,” she said as she attempted to kiss my cheek.

  Gently, I kept her at arm’s length. “What are you doing here, Kelsey?”

  “Celebrating your birthday, of course.” Our lengthy association assured me that her smile couldn’t be trusted.

  “I’m not Sadie. You can’t guilt or bully me into allowing you to stay for a party to which you were purposefully not invited.”

  “What’s wrong? Your girlfriend won’t like that I’m here?”

  Nostrils flaring, I pressed my lips together. “Not that it’s your business, but she hasn’t arrived, yet.”

  “Oh? How odd. She rushed from the inn hours ago as I was leaving. I assumed she was here with you.”

  She always knew how to push my damn buttons. How had I not seen that long before senior year of college? Maybe I just hadn’t acknowledged the truth.

  “You’re not welcome here, Kelsey.”

  “If she isn’t here, why can’t I stay? Trouble in paradise?”

  “You’re not invited, and I don’t want you here. Go home.”

  “I don’t want to do that right now.”

  My arms crossed my chest. “We have to suck it up sometimes, right? I didn’t see why you had to crash the rehearsal dinner or stay at Peyton’s Place, but you did.”

  Kelsey sniffed and stuck her nose in the air. “For your information, I don’t have a ride, let alone anywhere to go. When my parents learned the truth about the baby, they told me not to come back until I’d sorted my troubles on my own.”

  Damn it. That I could believe, even if I’d hoped they would be decent about it. And as much as I hated her on so many levels, the part of me which had once loved her didn’t want to see her homeless and pregnant.

  “Look, I can get you an Uber back to the inn. You can stay in my room—” I put up my hands to keep her from responding as I knew she would “—but only because I won’t be there tonight.” One way or another, I wouldn’t sleep in that room. I’d be with Fin or at the airport.

  I was hoping for another night in Fin’s bed, but I wasn’t stupid, and I’d always liked having a backup plan.

  “Sleeping in the owner’s apartment?” Her sneer couldn’t be missed.

  “Do you want my hospitality or not? Because this is a limited-time offer.”

  Sighing, she said, “Fine. Thank you.”

  “I just need to call the Uber and tell the guys I’m leaving.”

  “Why are you going with me?”

  “I assume Fin had inn business,” I lied, “so I’m checking on her. I don’t need to be here. They’ll have fun without me.” That part was true; they’d likely not even notice my absence if I left without explaining, but I wouldn’t do that.

  Her expression morphed into a smile, and she rubbed my arm. “Come on, Reid. She was sending you a message by skipping your party. A woman who loves you wouldn’t miss being with you to celebrate such an important day.” Her eyes dropped, and then she looked up at me the way she always did when she wanted my affection.

  It wouldn’t work any longer. Not that she seemed to understand that her charm wasn’t limitless.

  Exhausted, annoyed, and seriously bummed that Fin had missed my party—and worried that it meant she was rejecting the idea of starting again, let’s be honest—I sighed and left Kelsey where she stood. I grabbed Ryan because he was closest. And okay, because I didn’t want to talk to Kovac.

  En route back to the fray, I called for an Uber.

  “I’m leaving,” I admitted to my cousin.

  “Why? Party is just getting started. Come on, stay.”

  “She’s not here, Ry,” I muttered. “She said she’d tell me what she wanted to do about us when she came to the party, and her absence itself is a damn big answer.”

  “Stef says he can’t get in touch with her right now. He’s tried. Several times and in a few different ways. Maybe she’s just swamped with an emergency at the inn.”

  “Maybe. Which is why I’m going there now.”

  “With Kelsey?”

  “Yes, but not for what you think. She needs a ride.”

  “How’d she get here? I doubt she needs a ride. She’s lying to you.”

  “Ry, I don’t want to argue! Just let me go, okay? I’ll message you when I get there.”

  “Fine. Text me ASAP.”

  I nodded, and then I opened my app again. I’d offered her a ride and a safe place to sleep for the night, but I’d be damned if I’d give Kelsey anything else that implied she should be hopeful. Paying for two separate Ubers would be far simpler.

  The car arrived for Kelsey, and though she seemed very disappointed, I didn’t even explain to her what my plan was. When my driver pulled to the curb, I slipped inside his Prius and made small talk while I surfed for flights.

  At the door to Peyton’s Place, Kelsey waited on the porch swing. “The door is locked.”

  “I have a code.” On the security pad outside the door, I entered the alpha-numeric info Fin had given us before.

  “Do you think you can get me some water?” Kelsey asked. She collapsed onto the sofa in the parlor. Likely it’d been a long day of carrying around that belly, and I wasn’t a heartless asshole.

  “Sure.” First, I went to Fin’s apartment and knocked three times. Nothing. I pressed the buzzer outside the door and waited. No response.

  “She’s not home,” a young woman behind me said.

  I spun to look at her. “Oh, sorry. Do you know why?”

  Her head shook. “Just got a text asking me to cover.”

  “Are you expecting her back soon?” Kovac could be right. There might have been an inn emergency.

  “She didn’t say, and I haven’t been able to catch her since then. We’ve had a quiet night until now, so I wasn’t worried. Fin has asked me to cover before when she wanted a break after a big wedding weekend. Did you need something?”

  My brow furrowed. “I’m okay. Oh, a bottle of water?”

  “In the dining room minifridge. Anything else?”

  “I’m all set. Sorry if I woke you.”

  “It’s part of the job. Were you with the wedding?”

  “Ah, yes. Best man.”

  “Nice. Well, enjoy the rest of your stay. She’ll probably be here in the morning if you needed something specific.”

  I doubt she’d give me what I want then if she avoided me tonight, I thought. “I appreciate that. I’ll probably be gone early.”

  “The rooms are covered, so you’re set for checkout.”

  “Thanks.” She left, so I grabbed Kelsey’s water and returned to the parlor.

  “What took you so long?” Kelsey’s voice sounded needy and not snippy, which was a surprise. She reminded me of the girl I used to know, not the woman who’d replaced her.

  “Nothing. Look, I’m leaving on an early flight, so I’ll pack and head to the airport. The room is all set, so just check out before ten. Do you have Uber on your phone?”

  “Yes. But thank you for paying earlier. Finances are tight, and they’ll only get worse.” Her voice wobbled, and tears sprang to her eyes. The vulnerable Kelsey was the one I’d always liked. It softened her edges. But I couldn’t be sucked into that again. We were a bad idea, even if Fin didn’t want to make things work. Which seemed more likely all the time.

  Patting her hand, I said, “You always land on your feet. And I meant what I said before. You need to tell Barrett.”

  Kelsey nodded. I held my hand for her to take, and
I helped her to her feet. She followed me to my room.

  “I’ll pack my stuff and go. You get ready for bed. I think you need some rest. There was an extra toothbrush in the bathroom that I didn’t need, so go ahead and use it.”

  While the water ran in the shower, I requested another Uber and plugged my phone into the charger for a few minutes of juice while I tossed my stuff in my bag. Then I texted Ryan.

  Fin isn’t here. Heading back to CA early.

  Stay. She’ll be there eventually.

  I can’t let my business die on the vine for the possibility of a relationship. If she wanted this, she’d tell me.

  Don’t give up.

  I’m not giving up completely. Just being smart.

  You’re still in love with her…

  Yeah.

  But I have to fix this stuff with Ness, first. I can’t stay here for a maybe when something definite is floundering at home.

  I get it.

  Good. I’ll call you when things are settled in Cali.

  Do that. But promise you’re not running away. This isn’t tit for tat.

  Never.

  I’ll believe you. Best of luck. Keep me posted.

  Will do.

  Less than ten minutes later, Kelsey walked from the bathroom wearing nothing. Her face flushed. “Oh, my God. I’m sorry. I thought you were gone,” she said. But she didn’t rush to cover herself. Seeing her with a rounded, pregnant belly was a little disturbing, and though a naked woman should arouse me, all I felt was awkward.

  “Uh, just leaving. Good luck with Barrett.”

  “Thanks,” she said, furrowing her brow and nodding.

  I threw my bag over my shoulder and rushed downstairs.

  It wasn’t until I sat at the gate that I realized my phone was still in the room. No way was I going back.

  Fin and everyone else would have to wait until I could get another phone or have Ry ship me the old one. And even though a part of me worried that I was foolish for hoping, I still had faith that we’d find our way together again. I’d loved that woman for a long time, and I swore she loved me, too. The timing might suck now, but I wasn’t giving up the fight so easily this go-round.

  Luis burst into the delivery room wearing a hastily-donned hospital gown. “Please tell me I didn’t miss it.”

  As I stepped aside to make room for her husband, Anna clamped on my arm. “You’re not leaving me now.”

  “Luis is home from New York. You don’t need me, honey. You’ve got this.”

  She began to cry. “You don’t want to be here?”

  “Of course! I just don’t want to be in the way.”

  “You’re not. I want you to be here when Gabby is born. It’s because of you that we made it this far.”

  I begged to differ, but I couldn’t say no to a pregnant woman who’d labored for almost twelve hours before she began pushing ninety minutes ago. This baby would be here soon, and she didn’t need me pitching a fit over semantics and foolishness.

  “Okay, honey. I’ll stay.”

  Anna nodded and gasped. “Good, because I think she’s coming! Oh, my God!” Her hand clutched mine and squeezed as it had for the past couple hours, only this time, I thought she might truly break it.

  A few minutes later, Gabriela Maria Finley Rodriguez came into the world screaming her lungs out, and all three of us began to sob in simultaneous relief and joy. I’d never been so profoundly affected by anything in my entire life, and I wasn’t sure I’d ever forget it.

  Less than half an hour later, the nurses were turning the room into a recovery area. My palms rubbed the exhaustion and happy tears from my eyes. I kissed Anna’s forehead and Luis’ cheek, then stroked Gabriela’s tiny features.

  My best girlfriend cradled her newborn daughter to her breast, and her husband stood across the hospital bed from me with his arm wrapped around his girls. I’d never been happier for two people. With everything it took to conceive this child, not to mention the scary night we’d endured when Anna went into labor three weeks early, it was a miracle Gabby had made it. She was perfect. I could only hope for that someday.

  “I’ll give you two some time to enjoy your new family without my intrusion.”

  Anna grabbed my hand. “Fin, you were my rock.” The last few words came out as a whisper, and both of us sprouted new tears. “I couldn’t have done this without you.”

  Luis agreed, “I can’t ever thank you enough for being here when I couldn’t, Fin.”

  At a loss for words, I nodded and inhaled. “I’ll be back. I need to call Stef and check on Peyton’s Place.” Anna smiled and gave her nod of understanding.

  The inn might have once been my parents’ dream, but now, it was our baby. Though it would never compare to that gorgeous child in her arms, it was still important to us both.

  In all the insanity of the night before, I hadn’t thought to charge my phone, so I had to find my battery pack and plug it into the port before I could check messages. I almost passed out when I saw that Stef had called me a dozen times and sent forty-seven texts.

  “What the hell?” I muttered. In case he was asleep—it was 6:43am, and he liked his beauty rest—I opened the texts first. The exchange began in a joking way, but by the time I’d hit number forty, Stef had grown angry, then panicked.

  WHERE ARE YOU? YOU BETTER BE DEAD, OR I MIGHT KILL YOU!

  HOW COULD YOU DO THIS? HE LOVES YOU!

  Baffled, the final messages hit me in the solar plexus.

  Please tell me you have a good reason for bailing on Reid’s birthday party.

  You know Kelsey is a lying bitch, but she just showed up.

  He just left with her in an Uber. I hate to think what that means.

  What have you done?

  Immediately, I sent a text, hoping like hell he was doing a better job than I had been of leaving his phone on so that I could contact him. I had no idea what had happened, but something told me I better get answers quickly.

  Are you around?

  His response came before I could think to put my phone down. He must have been waiting for me to reply.

  Where the FUCK are you? Call me!!

  I pressed the phone button. Half a ring later, Stef answered.

  “Are you fucking kidding me right now, Fin? I know you had reservations about starting something with him again, but I thought you’d had a change of heart once you dove back into bed with him. How could you do this to him? He sat there, all night, waiting for you. All fucking night, Fin! And then that stupid bitch crashed the party. He left with her! He walked outside with her, came back into the bar, said he’d called an Uber and would see us later sometime. And then his Uber showed up, and they left. Together, Fin. He left his fucking birthday party with that stupid wench.”

  “Can I speak?” I asked.

  “Only if you have a damn good explanation for where you were. And it better not be that fucking Kelsey lied to your ass again, so you got cold feet.”

  “She did try to lie to me, but that’s not why I wasn’t there. I completely forgot about it.”

  “How the hell do you forget that the man you’re in love with is having a birthday party?”

  “First of all, I didn’t say I was…”

  “Oh, fuck you. As if you’re not in love with him. Jesus, you’ve always wanted him, and I know you were crazy about him when we left Destin.”

  “Right, but…”

  “No buts! You’ve never gotten over that week. If you had, then you would’ve met someone new who’d last for more than a month. Don’t try to bullshit me. I know better. Why do you think Ryan and I went to so much trouble to throw you two back together?”

  “Wait, what?”

  “Never mind. You said you had a good explanation. I want to hear it. I deserve that much.”

  “So glad we’re focusing on the important things.”

  “Answers.”

  I sighed. This hadn’t gone qui
te like I’d hoped. “I was at the hospital all night. Anna went into labor right after you guys left.”

  “Wait, did you say Anna had the baby? She’s not due for three weeks! And Luis is in New York. Oh, my God!”

  “Calm down, the baby is here, she’s healthy, Anna is doing great, and Luis made it back in time to see her born.”

  “Oh, thank God. Wait, why didn’t you call me? Clearly, you had to have called him.”

  Always thinking of others, that one. “I texted you to call me, but you didn’t answer.”

  “Because of the exclamation points, I thought you were chickening out.”

  “Well, I wasn’t. And based on the time of your messages, by the time you’d responded, things had progressed to the point that I didn’t have time to worry about anything but Anna. Then my phone died.”

  “So, what happened? How’d she go into labor early?”

  I groaned. “I heard her yelling at someone, and when I walked into the kitchen, she was clutching her belly.”

  “And it all went downhill from there.”

  “Pretty much. Hey, what were you talking about with your last few messages?”

  He sighed. “You didn’t hear my voicemail?”

  “No, I read the texts first, and here we are.”

  “Oh. Shit. Well, Reid left with Kelsey. He texted Ry to say he was at the inn, but you weren’t there. He booked an earlier flight back to California. Said he had a work emergency. I didn’t buy it.”

  “Did anything happen with him and Kelsey?”

  “He didn’t say, but if so, you have yourself to blame.”

  “I didn’t make Anna go into labor!”

  “No, but you did tell him that you had to think about whether or not you wanted to pursue a relationship with him, and I get the impression that he took your absence at the party as a negative answer. But you can ask him if you hurry. Last I knew, he was still at the inn.”

  Damn it. Well, Stef wasn’t wrong about what I’d unintentionally implied to Reid. But could I catch the man before he left? Only one way to find out.

  “Give me his cell number,” I instructed. I’d attempt to call him first.

  “Tell me what happens.”

  “Will do.” He relayed the number—from Ryan, I assume, who was likely lounging in bed beside him—and after I repeated it, I hung up, took a breath, and dialed.