Chapter 18: The Ceremony

They slipped into their seats next to Sasha and Xavier at the ceremony.

"Hey guys… they're about to start." Sasha kept her eyes on Becky.

"Oh… Damn…" Finn hadn't noticed the time on their walk from her hotel room.

"Yeah, I took a while to get ready." Becky jumped in, and he nodded, accepting the excuse.

"Oh you did?" Sasha caught her eye with a knowing look, but the music starting saved her from responding.

They stood as Tom walked down the isle and into his position.

"He looks so happy," Finn whispered in her ear.

"Yeah…" she smiled, glancing over at him.

Becky tried to focus on the ceremony, but her mind was anywhere but. She thought about the quickie with The Demon on the dresser, his face when she walked in that strappy black dress… Coming down to earth for a moment, she touched her neck and realized her necklace was twisted around to her back. She reached around and pulled the gemstone back into place. It caught Sasha's eye, and she raised an eyebrow to Becky's blushing.

Admittedly, she'd missed The Demon the week she'd been away. Sure, she talked to Finn plenty. Facetimed with him after her match on Tuesday night, and he'd texted her on Wednesday a picture of his grinning face next to the completed Lego Helicopter. But his hands around her waist, and his lips grazing her neck, those were things she couldn't match. Watching him smile at her over the phone screen, all she wanted was to tell him how much she missed him, but he wouldn't understand.

The vows were underway now, she could hardly keep up with the passing time. A sniffle came from her left side and she caught Finn's scrunched up face and blinking eyes.

"You crying?" she whispered, he shook his head sheepishly and they both laughed.

A couple in front of them turned around at the sound and she covered her mouth guiltily. He glanced over at her and mouthed oops to a little snicker. She looked at his twinkling blue eyes, that big grin on his face. When he looked at her like that, she wished she could just lean over and kiss his lips. When she was younger, she used to wonder what it would really feel like, and these days she wondered what he'd say if she ever did.

Everyone around them stood, and getting to her feet, she realized how long she'd been staring at him.

"That was pretty painless," he whispered in her ear. She glanced back and him and smiled, looking again at that part of his lip that was always chapped no matter what he did.

"Very."

xxxxxxxxx

"I never want to have small talk ever again," Becky groaned as they made their way from the cocktail hour to reception.

"It's over now," Sami said, looking over his shoulder at her, "we're sticking together right?"

"Oh, we're not gonna be that clique at a wedding are we?" Sasha protested.

"I am in favor of bein' that clique at this wedding." Said Finn, who was leading the group.

They waited among a small crowd to find place cards, Sami handed Sasha's hers as he picked up his and scooted off to the side

"Table 12."

Finn scanned over the table looking puzzled. Becky reached over him and picked up one of the place cards.

"Think that might the issue," she said, handing it to him.

Rebecca Quin and Fergal Devitt

Table 12

"Oh…" his eyes lit up and he chuckled. "I guess that's what happens when you don't fill out your own RSVP card?"

"Guess so. C'mon."

"What's up now?" Asked Xavier as they started walking towards the ballroom.

"The planner must've thought we were a couple because we sent in one RSVP." Finn responded, looking around the crowded ballroom for their table. Hearing it aloud made Becky blush. The others laughed and Sami made eye contact with Finn saying,

"Oh,"

"Typical," Sasha said with a smile, and Becky shot her a glare.

They found their table and settled in, Sasha shifted for Finn to sit next to Becky, and him glancing over at Sami on her other side.

"Refills everyone?" asked Finn above the sound of the band.

Xavier sent Sasha with his order and Becky didn't bother moving. Finn would know what she wanted. But instead, Sami looked over her as he stood up and said,

"I got you, what're you drinking?"

"Oh, uh," out of the corner of her eye, she saw Finn also surprised as he had begun to stand "Vodka sour?"

"Make it two? You're the best," Finn called after Sami, sitting back down.

"I thought that was me," she teased.

"You're not getting me a drink."

She looked over at Sami at the bar. "It was a sweet gesture," she said quietly.

"But you're not feelin' it?"

"I really don't wanna talk about this with you."

"Aiight."

Sasha and Sami returned and Becky thanked him, but quickly moved her gaze away quickly. She sipped her drink and listened to the chatter of the group, never fully taking her eyes off Finn. Why did he care whether she was accepting Sami's advances? Was he hoping to help set them up? Honestly, there was probably nothing that would make him happier than his two best friends dating. Nothing? It sparked a strange anger in her stomach thinking that he was hopeful for Sami, at the idea that he didn't realize she belonged with him. Okay, in fairness, it wasn't his fault that he didn't know what they were doing under his sheets all the time. But it stung to think that maybe he just didn't feel it, their chemistry, or their compatibility. The heat between them even now as their knees brushed at dinner. He smiled at her with those shimmering eyes. How could he not feel it?