Beach Wedding Weekend

by Rachel Magee

  “Of course. You’re absolutely right. It isn’t fair to you or her.”

  Interesting. He wasn’t even using her name any more.

  They were silent for a second, both watching the photo session in front of them. Or, in her case at least, pretending to watch while trying to sort out the mess of thoughts twisting around in her mind.

  “But if there wasn’t anything standing in our way, would you want to talk about us?” When he finished the question, he met her gaze with one of his charming looks. It was the same look that made her fall in love with him two years ago. But this time it did nothing for her. If anything, it only heightened the confusion swirling in her mind.

  Since he left town, she’d been hoping for a chance to walk down memory lane with him. She was convinced they belonged together, convinced that he’d made a mistake by leaving her behind. All she had to do was remind him of what they had. One walk down memory lane and she was sure they would get back to a place where they had the kind of blissful happiness Georgia and Lane shared. Okay, maybe not quite that happy, but it would be good enough.

  So why did his offer leave her feeling twisted up inside instead of wanting to break into a happy dance?

  “Now can I get all the bridesmaids out here with them?” the photographer called.

  Paige had never been so grateful for an interruption. She flashed an apologetic smile and took a step toward the water. Before she got too far, he caught her hand. “I’ll find you later. When I have the freedom to say everything I’ve been wanting to.”

  Paige’s heart lurched. It seemed prompted more by nervousness than excitement, which didn’t feel quite right. But at least it was some sort of reaction. He missed her. He wanted to walk down memory lane. There were more things, good things, he wanted to say to her. She was finally getting the second chance with Brody she had been wishing for. She should be feeling something, even if it was a nervous lurch.

  “Okay.” It was a dumb response, but it was all that would come out of her mouth. Somehow, she’d imagined this moment going very differently. Maybe fireworks going off or a choir of angels singing the hallelujah chorus was a bit over the top, but she expected there to be some sort of grand feeling that swept them both away.

  She joined her friends and smiled for the camera, realizing that for the first time that day, her smile was forced.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “Can we get the bride and groom to the dance floor? It’s time for the father-daughter and mother-son dance.” The DJ’s voice interrupted the laughter at the head table.

  Georgia pushed back from the table and wiped the tears from under her eyes. “I’m being paged, but only serious talk until we get back. I don’t want to miss anything funny.”

  The whole reception dinner had been so filled with laughter that Paige’s sides ached. Part of it was due to a good group of friends celebrating together, but at least some of it had to do with Aiden. He had the kind of infectious energy that turned any event into a party, or in this case, elevated any party to an epic level. It wasn’t that he demanded all the attention or put on a one-man comedy act. No. He worked the table, bringing out the best in everyone.

  “We promise to observe without saying a thing. We’ll sit here like statues.” Hadley sat up straight and folded her hands on the table in front of her.

  Lane gave her a suspicious look. “I’m not sure I believe you.”

  “I’ll keep them under control. Scout’s honor.” Aiden held up three fingers.

  Lane took Georgia’s hand to walk to the dance floor and pointed at Aiden with the other. “I know I don’t believe you.”

  They made their way to meet their parents, and for the first time during the dinner, the head table got quiet to watch the iconic dance.

  Paige turned her chair around, so she could see the dance floor that was directly behind her.

  The DJ cued the music, and Georgia and her dad two-stepped around the floor while Lane and his mother sort of rocked side to side in the middle.

  Aiden casually draped his arm over the back of her chair, a gesture that had become more and more comfortable over the past few days. “I have to admit, this is not one of the more exciting parts of a wedding.”

  Paige leaned into his embrace. While even she had to agree the father-daughter dance could be a little slow, she was still entranced by it. “It’s a special memory for them. I think it’s sweet.”

  She stole a glance at Aiden. His eyes were scrunched up in consideration as he watched the dancers. “I guess, but they could make it a little more entertaining.”

  “Like what? You want them to add some jazz hands?”

  Aiden shrugged. “I mean, it wouldn’t hurt.”

  Paige giggled. “Well, when it’s your turn, you and Mama Pierce can stage a show-stopping Broadway number with all the jazz hands you want.”

  Aiden gave a short, dismissive snort of a laugh. Oh, right. Aiden didn’t do forever, which meant dancing with his mother at his own wedding wasn’t something he’d ever considered. Or ever planned on doing.

  The realization sent an icy streak of disappointment crackling through her, which she did her best to ignore. This moment was about Georgia and Lane and their parents, not whatever was or wasn’t going on between her and the guy next to her. She shifted in her seat, hoping the extra physical distance between them would help her distance herself from whatever she was starting to feel. He was only her fake boyfriend, after all.

  The song came to an end and Georgia reunited with her new husband in the middle of the dance floor, the observing parents joining their spouses.

  “The newlyweds want to open the dance floor tonight by celebrating everlasting love with a couples’ dance. We need all couples to join us on the dance floor,” the DJ announced.

  Young couples at the beginning of their journey joined older couples, like Georgia’s grandparents who had just celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Seeing love that stood the test of time encouraged Paige. Happily-ever-afters did exist in real life.

  “Smoochems, you coming?”

  She’d been so consumed in her own thoughts, she hadn’t realized Aiden had stood up.

  “Oh right. We’re a couple. I almost forgot.” She wasn’t sure a pretend relationship of four days qualified them to be out there, but since sitting it out would raise too many questions, she took his hand and followed. “You going to pull out some of those show-stopping moves right now?”

  “Tempting.” They stepped onto the dance floor. He spun her once and then pulled her into him. “But tonight is about dancing with you.”

  The world blurred around her until the only thing in her focus was him. Fake relationship or not, being in Aiden’s arms felt right.

  Four days ago she was content to promise Brody forever based on a memory of being happy enough. Their relationship had checked all the boxes, or so she thought. But this weekend had changed that. Even on their best days, the time in their relationship when everything was going exactly how it should have been, she never felt the way she did when she was with Aiden.

  “Tonight has been a welcome break from business. Thanks for giving me an excuse to not sit at the investors’ table.”

  “Happy to help, although on behalf of wedding and event planners everywhere, you’re going to have to stop changing the seating assignment at the last minute.”

  She kept their conversation light and friendly because that’s how they always kept things, but she wasn’t feeling light and friendly. She felt like everything was starting to fall apart. She was supposed to want Brody and Aiden was just a friend, but what if she’d gotten it backwards?

  “Follow the assigned plan? Now where’s the fun in that?” He pulled her closer and together they spun around, weaving through the couples dancing in a more traditional flow, until they were on the other side of the dance floor. Paige’s head spun, but
it had more to do with the man whose arms she was in than the actual turns. She struggled to grasp onto something familiar, something that made sense.

  “What’s wrong with following plans? Sticking with a well-thought-out plan is how you know you’ll get where you want to go.”

  Of course, it helped to have an end destination in mind. Before this weekend, she had been so sure that a life with Brody was her end goal. But why? Because he fit some list she’d made up and they were happy enough? What kind of person entered into forever because they were happy enough?

  “I’ve got nothing against plans, but sometimes you gotta change it up. If you’re always hanging out at the same table, you’ll never meet anyone new.” He spun them again. Quick steps with the world spinning around and around, until they were in the opposite corner, away from most of the crowd and dancing by themselves.

  She looked up into his eyes and wondered how she’d missed it. How had she not noticed that she wasn’t in love with Brody? She was in love with Aiden.

  The revelation didn’t come as a shock. It was as if she’d known it all along. He was nothing like what she thought she wanted but everything she needed, and here, in his arms, she felt like she had finally found home. And the thought terrified her.

  The one thing Aiden didn’t do was commitment. Ciera had reiterated that last night. He was the king of keeping it casual. The one-date wonder. He never stayed with any one thing too long. Falling in love with Aiden was like falling in love with a dream; beautiful in the moment but never meant to last.

  “But if you’re always changing seats, you never get the chance to really know the people at your table. Don’t you ever want to stick with your group?”

  It was just a playful conversation about where to sit at a wedding, but the meaning behind her question was anything but playful. What she wanted to ask was “Is there any chance you could love me back? Or is falling in love with you a futile venture?”

  “Stay in the same place? Where’s the fun in that?” He spun her once more and all of a sudden she realized they had spun out of the crowd to a quiet spot where they were all alone. “If you get tied down in one spot, you’ll never know what it feels like to be out here, where there’s nothing to distract you from the beauty of the stars.” Laughter danced in his eyes, as playful as always, but his words caused a heaviness to tug on her heart.

  “The night sky is pretty great.” She rested her head against his chest and swayed to the song. If it was only a dream, at the very least she could hold on to it until it was time to wake up.

  “Let’s start narrowing this down by eliminating all the couples who aren’t married. If you haven’t said ‘I do’ yet, then you have to get off the dance floor,” the DJ called.

  Several couples made their way back to their tables. Paige stepped away from Aiden, wondering if this would be more than just the end of a dance for them.

  “That’s us. I guess our time is up.” She gazed into his eyes one last time. She couldn’t help wishing he would stop her with the three little words she realized she had always wanted to hear him say. But he couldn’t help who he was, and she wouldn’t hold it against him. She turned for the table.

  He caught her hand. “Paige.” He said her name in his low, smooth voice.

  She stared at his hand holding hers before she looked up into his eyes. Gone was his playful expression, and in its place a more serious one. One she had never seen on Aiden before, but it made her pulse race. Hope fluttered inside her. Maybe he wasn’t a dream after all. Maybe—

  “Paige, can I talk to you?” Paige had been so preoccupied by the drama going on in her own mind that she hadn’t noticed Sasha walk up next to her. She had to blink a few times to bring herself back to reality.

  “Sure.” She looked back at Aiden. “You don’t mind, do you?”

  He dropped her hand and slid his into his pocket. “Not at all. I gotta find the investors anyway. I’ve been neglecting them all night. I’ll catch ya later.”

  She watched him walk back into the mass of people slapping shoulders and making jokes. Yep, just a dream.

  With a sigh, she turned back to Sasha. “What’s going on?”

  “I wanted to say thank you before I go.”

  “Go? Go where?”

  Sasha glanced down the beach in the direction of their condos and Paige noticed there were tears in her eyes.

  “I broke up with Brody, so I think it’s best if I leave and give him some space.”

  “Oh, Sasha, I’m so sorry.” It didn’t surprise her that they had broken up. Both of them had hinted their relationship was headed in that direction. But it did surprise her how she felt: plagued with guilt and genuinely sympathetic. Technically, this had been part of Paige’s original goal, but now, nothing about that felt right.

  “Thanks, but it was the right thing to do. He’s a nice guy and I hoped we could make it work.” She looked around, as if examining where they’d ended up. “But I realized that if I was having to work that hard to try to find a spark, maybe I was looking in the wrong place to begin with. The right guy is out there somewhere, it just wasn’t Brody.”

  She took a breath and wiped away the single tear sliding down her cheek. “Anyway, I wanted to say thanks for being so kind to me this weekend. You, of all people, had every reason not to be, and you were the one who reached out and included me. It means a lot.”

  Paige didn’t deserve any credit at all. “I’m the one who should be thanking you. Georgia looked radiant on her wedding day because of you. You’ll always have friends in us.” As she said it, she realized she truly meant it.

  Sasha flashed a sad smile, then turned and made her way down to the beach. Paige watched her until she faded into the darkness.

  As usual, everything had gone according to her perfectly orchestrated plan. Here they were at the end of the weekend and every goal had been accomplished. Georgia and Lane got married, Brody was no longer with the other girl, Aiden’s multimillion-dollar sale was all but a done deal, and their fake relationship was coming to a close. All the boxes had been checked and her life, as usual, appeared to be in perfect order.

  Yet Paige couldn’t help but feel that everything was falling apart around her.

  Being in love made Aiden feel like Superman. He could leap over tall buildings in a single bound, he could stop speeding bullets, he could entertain a table of the most self-absorbed people he’d ever met and like it. Nothing was out of his reach.

  “What a night.” He slapped the first investor on the shoulder as he walked off the dance floor after couples married less than five years were eliminated. “I could get use to the beach life.”

  The investor sank into his chair and grabbed for his drink. “Maybe your next venture? Beachside boutique hotel? Or luxury condos, maybe? Do you dabble in real estate?”

  He’d never considered real estate, but maybe it was time to build his own tall building to leap over. “Not yet. But you never know.”

  The investor swirled the ice around in his glass. “I like your style. You remind me of a younger version of myself.” He took a sip. “I assume everything’s in order for tomorrow’s closing?”

  “Contracts are printed and I have shiny new pens perfect for signing.”

  “And I have some cigars for the post-signature celebration.”

  Normally, the thought of being trapped in a haze of smog while trying to enjoy their self-acclaiming conversation sounded like torture, but he was in such a good mood tonight he didn’t let it bother him. “Sounds like we’re all set.”

  He tried to maintain eye contact, or at the very least, keep his eyes in the general direction of the person he was conversing with, but he couldn’t help himself. If Paige was anywhere in his field of vision, his gaze was drawn to her.

  She wasn’t doing anything special, just talking with Georgia’s grandmother on the other side of the cou
rtyard, but it was impossible for Aiden to look away. She was radiant and he wanted to be where she was.

  “She’s a keeper. You’re one lucky man.” The investor leaned back in his chair and crossed his ankle over his knee. “I find the best way to hold on to ones like that is with big diamonds. Particularly the ones fitted for a specific finger.”

  Aiden had always considered himself an eternal bachelor. He didn’t have anything against marriage in general, it just wasn’t for him. Forever was a long time to be tied to anything. But at the moment, forever sounded like a long time to be without her.

  Although, if he were being technical, she wasn’t really with him now.

  “I don’t think we’re quite there yet.”

  As if she could sense him, she looked up and their eyes met across the room. Excitement jolted through him, making him feel as though he was levitating. Maybe she wasn’t his yet, but there wasn’t anything holding him back from trying.

  “When you get there, I have a guy who will take care of you.” He slapped Aiden on the shoulder. “But don’t hang around here with me. Nights like this are meant for young lovers.”

  He wandered off, probably in search of another drink, leaving Aiden alone. He hadn’t acted on his feelings for Paige because he was honoring the fact that she was with someone else, a fact he now realized wasn’t true. They hadn’t gotten back together yet.

  Sure, she thought she wanted to be with Brody, but she couldn’t deny there was something between them when they were dancing. Truth be told, there had been something between them for a long time. It was the reason he especially loved the family holidays she came to and why he always looked for her when he was at the resort. He was in love with Paige, and, unless he’d misread all the signs, she was pretty comfortable around him as well.

  Georgia’s grandmother walked away from her, and Paige was left standing alone watching the action from the far side of the dance floor. Her hips moved in rhythm to the beat. The twinkle lights strung around the perimeter of the courtyard softly lit her features. His heart leapt inside his chest.