There was a slight breeze in the air as Leighton sat silently, awaiting the arrival of her cousin Pam and her new husband Rami. With her toes buried in the sand on the beautiful beach of Tampa, Florida, the small brunette looked around, taking in the scenery. She sat on a bench, looking out at the ocean as the rest of the wedding party shared stories of the newlywed couple.
The guests had been mingling for the last half an hour, waiting for the newlyweds to arrive for their reception. There were many tables set with white tablecloths and light purple and black centerpieces. The scene was something out of a dream, which is exactly how Pamela Martinez imagined her wedding when she and Leighton made plans many years ago at the age of 14. There was a dance floor and a small stage set along side of it. The head table for the wedding party was opposite the stage and the round tables for the various guests were scattered beyond that. The DJ was set up in the corner, many lights set surrounding the table the equipment was on. A disco ball hung above the dance floor, ready for the night of celebration.
Finally, Pam and Rami, better known as Sami Zayn, had arrived and immediately brought the wedding party together to make their entrance. The many couples were paired almost as soon as they saw the couple arrive in their white limo, except for Leighton and the man she had been paired with. Now that she stood waiting for him, she realized that after months of planning and weeks of preparations and rehearsal dinners, the ceremony this afternoon was the first time that she saw the man Pam swore would sweep Leighton off her feet.
As if he knew she was thinking about him, those dreamy blue eyes locked on hers, which only caused her to get even more lost in thought. "Are ye a'right?" The thickness of his accent pulled her from her thoughts.
"Huh? Oh, yes. Thank you." She nodded her head, turning to follow the rest into the hallway that led to the reception hall.
The DJ spoke into the mic, introducing each pair in the wedding party. First, Rebecca Quin with Kevin Steen, followed by Ashley Fleihr with Matthew Polinsky, Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado with Eric Arndt, and Leah Van Dale with Bill Morrissey. Though Leighton knew them as Becky Lynch, Kevin Owens, Sasha Banks, Corey Graves, Charlotte, Enzo Amore, Carmella and Big Cass. She watched each couple make their way into the hall until the DJ spoke up once again.
"And introducing the Maid of Honor and the Best Man; Leighton Martinez and Fergal Devitt." The wedding attendees cheered as they did for each couple before them as the Irishman and the youngest Martinez crossed the dance floor with him spinning her before doing his signature pose with his arms in the air as they reached their designated spots.
"And finally, it is an honor and a privilege to introduce for the first time, Mr and Mrs. Rami Sebei!" The crowd cheered almost as loud as the fans would in the stand of any WWE event. Leighton couldn't help but smile as she watched how happy her cousin was, now in the middle of the dance floor for her first dance with her husband.
"May I escort ye t'our table, miss?" Fergal spoke softly with Leighton's hand still in his. This caused Leighton to turn her focus back to the attractive man beside her. With a simple nod, the two headed for the table.
After hours of drinking, dancing, many toasts and trips to the photo booth with Pam and her work friends, Leighton found herself watching Fergal as he spoke to a few wedding attendants. Maybe Pam was right. Maybe he would be good for her. Sure, they'd just met, but she had already spent most of the wedding with him. They talked, laughed, even danced together. In all the years she had been dating, she never clicked so well and so quick with anyone before. That should mean something right?
With a schedule as busy as his, she knew it was a long shot. At the very least the two could be friends. Finally making a decision, the brunette approached the Irishman, her hands nervously playing with the other. Before she could even speak, his attention was on her. The smile on his face immediately made everything seem so easy for Leighton.
"Hey. I was hoping we could exchange numbers? I've spent so much time with everyone else in the wedding party, except you. Figured we might as well make a friendship out of this, right?" Her own blue orbs locked on his, searching for any hint of disgust or potential interest. Without much time to read him, he held out his hand.
"May I see yer phone, love?" He asked with a chuckle before Leighton reached for the nonexistent pocket of her dress. "Oh.." The color of her cheeks rose in embarrassment only to be handed his phone.
"I've got ye covered." He licked his lips, watching as she took the iPhone from his hands, their fingertips meeting. Just that touch alone sent a shiver down the brunette's spine. She decided to pay it no attention, opening the contacts of his phone and adding her own number to it.
"It was a pleasure to finally meet the man my cousin speaks so highly about. You're her best friend you know?" Leighton brought her eyes back to him as she returned the phone to his already extended palm. "Is that so, Leigh? I may call ye that, yeah?" A nod was all he needed for the confirmation. "Twas an honor to meet such a beautiful woman. Dah pleasure is all mine." Fergal lifted her hand to his lips, placing a chaste kiss on the back of her hand.
"Goodnight, Fergal. I hope to hear from you soon." With that, the two parted ways. Leighton said her goodbyes and met with her Uber driver to return to her hotel while Fergal finished the night with his closest friends.
Throughout the reception, Fergal couldn't get Leighton out of his head. He had heard so much about her from her cousin. So much that he eventually grew tiresome of it, that was until he finally met her. Pam had been right. Weddings can be magical. You get swept up by the emotions and outpouring of love. You may even find your true love. Fergal was sure that he had finally found the one he could share his life and love for wrestling with.