Chapter Four: Weddings and Revelations
Oh, if I could go back in time
When you only held me in my mind
Just a longing gone without a trace
Oh, I wish I'd never ever seen your face
I wish you were the one
Wish you were the one that got away
"The One That Got Away" by The Civil Wars
"Son of a bitch," I swore for the thousandth time as my heel got caught in the cobblestone walk. It was an hour until the wedding and I still hadn't been able to successfully walk the length of the path to the wedding arch. I smiled vaguely at someone passing by me to get to their seat further down the path before making my way, carefully, back to where Kim was hyperventilating into a paper bag. Raven caught my eye and rolled hers. I suppressed a grin and rubbed Kim's back.
"Give her a Xanax," Kim's mom, Judy Aterea, suggested.
"Oh if I had one," Raven said loud enough for only me to hear. "You'll mess up your makeup," she said to Kim. That got Kim's face away from the paper bag very quickly. We all exchanged grins.
"Let's get her into her dress," I suggested. "It's getting close." Forty-five minutes later a much more tranquil Kim waited with her father behind the church doors while the rest of us paired off. Paul looked shockingly handsome in a cream colored suit and red tie. He took my elbow gently to line us up behind Jake and Raven. I still hadn't spoken to Jake since the break up, even though I grew closer by the day to Raven.
"You look incredible," Paul said directly into my ear. He was quiet but Jake still shot a glance backward. Raven it turned out ran the local beauty salon. She had tamed my hair into controlled curls, gathered it with all kinds of pins to one side and it cascaded down my left shoulder. Leah had taken over the task of doing makeup from a hung over friend of Kim's. My eyes were heavily smoky and my lips matched my dress almost precisely.
"Don't let me trip," I hissed at Paul as the piano player started up the music. Just like Kim the choice wasn't conventional, but she had kept it fairly classic. "Only Hope" by Mandy Moore, minus the vocals, played lightly in the wind.
"It'd make for a funny story," he whispered back just as Jake and Raven made their way down the aisle. I couldn't help but think it was a bit of a trial run for them.
"Our turn," I said forcing my lips into some semblance of a smile. I slipped my hand into the crook of Paul's arm and we made our way to the arch. Luckily, I didn't even come close to tripping and took my place, rather gracefully, next to Raven. The ceremony went by in a blur for me. I held my small bouquet of wildflowers and tried not to cry when Jared got choked up during his vows. Then came all of the pictures. Honestly how many pictures did you really need. The wedding party. The couple. Then the couple and the wedding party. Then Jake and Raven. Me and Paul. Leah and Embry. Emily and Sam. Just the guys. Just the girls. I lost track of how many different poses were taken. At the end of it, I felt like I had run a marathon.
"Can I take my heels off?" I hissed at Kim as we filed into the ballroom for the reception.
"Do it and die," she threatened with a smile. I sighed and took my seat between Paul and Sam. Dinner was some sort of chicken, which was pretty good, and plenty of wine which I could now legally drink. I would need to be tipsy enough for the dancing I had been informed I was not exempt from. Luckily there were a few dances after dinner that didn't require my attention.
"All my girls on the floor please," Kim demanded in surround sound. I jumped.
"Jesus Christ who gave her a mic?" Raven asked and we all laughed. I bounced around obligatorily to "Single Ladies" by Beyonce with the other bridesmaids and then hightailed it for the bar. I downed a vodka cranberry while the guys did some ridiculous dance to a song I didn't know. Paul looked about as miserable as I felt.
"I need the wedding party on the floor," The DJ said. Oh thank god he took the microphone away from Kim. When "Give Me Love" by Ed Sheeran came through the speakers I breathed a sigh of relief. Kim had been very tight lipped about her music suggestions and I was afraid I would end up looking like an idiot trying to Harlem shake or something equally ridiculous. Paul held me carefully, very proper ballroom and I suppressed a smirk.
"What?" He asked. I shrugged.
"I never thought you were the ballroom type," I said.
"Kim made us all take lessons," he said. "It was ridiculous but apparently I am a natural at the waltz." The music shifted and he passed me off to Sam on the right. I stumbled slightly in surprise and Sam steadied me.
"Kim didn't warn you guys about this?" Sam asked. He was graceful but not as smooth as Paul had been. "We had to practice this shit." I laughed.
"No warning," I said.
"Next partner," he said spinning me slightly. Embry caught me squarely and we laughed as I stepped on his shoe.
"It was bound to happen," Embry said wryly.
"It would hurt less if Kim had let me go barefoot," I grumbled.
"Very true. Last partner," he said as I felt a familiar hand pull me in. It was Jake. I hadn't had the chance to think that far ahead yet.
"You look good Bells," he said quietly. He held me close with practiced familiarity that made my heart ache slightly.
"Thanks," I said softly. "Apparently I can tan. Who knew?" He laughed.
"The dress suits you," he said. "Raven said it would but I wasn't sure with your skin."
"She's got a great eye," I said. I could do this. I could get through this dance. I could be civil and not think about how before if we were this close we were kissing. I could do this.
"Have to in her line of work," he said. "When do you head back to school?" He asked.
"I graduated early," I said. "They had an accelerated summer program. I start my internship next week." Before he could ask any more questions the song ended and I stepped away quickly. Paul was already at the bar when I got there.
"What can I get for you?" The bartender asked.
"White wine is fine," I said leaning into the bar.
"So you survived that," Paul said. He sipped a glass with amber liquid in it.
"Barely," I said. "Thanks," I said to the bartender when he slid a glass of white wine across the bar at me. I took a sip.
"Shit the garter toss," Paul said. He swallowed the remainder of his drink and hauled ass to the dance floor. Kim was blushing as Jared slid a rose encrusted garter down her thigh. I made my way back to my seat and sighed with relief to give my abused feet a rest. A minute later everyone filed back to the table, laughing at Jake's red face as he dangled the garter from one finger.
"He aimed it at me," Jake claimed. "I call bullshit."
"His eyes were closed," Sam said. He shoved the garter into the front pocket of his suit. "Wear it proud my friend." Someone pressed a cold shot glass between my fingers. I looked to my left and saw Paul with a similar glass.
"Tequila makes the sappiness easier to take," he whispered. I downed the shot and tried not to choke as the alcohol burned my lungs. Six forced group dances later, one of them the dreaded chicken dance, I had to agree. The tequila made it more bearable to deal with the smiling happy couples around me.
"All right guys it's the last dance of the night. Pick your partner and make your way to the floor," the DJ proclaimed. Finally I was free. I jumped when a bronze hand appeared in front of my face. Paul held his hand out steadily. I raised one eyebrow.
"You can't be the only bridesmaid not dancing," he teased. I took his hand and followed him to the dance floor. He clasped me more firmly to his body this time, cradling our clasped hands to his chest.
"I love this song," I sighed as "The Lady in Red" by Chris DeBurgh radiated from the speakers.
"This song is why you guys are wearing red dresses," Paul said. "Kim loves it." Hesitantly I let my cheek rest on his shoulder. I let my eyes close as we moved gracefully around to the beautiful song. I opened my eyes to meet Paul's. He was watching me steadily, his gaze unguarded for once. A bright flash disrupted the moment in time and I found myself wanting to punch the photographer. A moment later the music ended. Paul released me reluctantly and I found myself just as reluctant to move away. What the hell was going on here?
"I have to go deal with the bouquet toss," I blurted out only a second before I bolted.