When Matt walked back into the ballroom he immediately started looking around for Gabby. He knew they had a lot to talk about and he could only hope that she would listen to it all because he knew he had hurt her - in more ways than one- but he needed to make things right before the night was over. He finally spotted her at the bar with Kelly, Stella and some of the 51 crew, but before he could make it over to them she was being led out onto the dance floor by some guy he didn't recognize.
"Hey." Matt said as he approached the group, trying to keep the questions off his face regarding who the man with Gabby was.
"Hey man." Kelly said, handing Matt a shot of whatever it was they were drinking,
Before Matt really registered what was happening he was raising his glass with the rest of the group and downing the shot.
As the guys kept talking Matt slowly made his way to Stella, knowing she'd have the answer to his main question."Hey Stella."
"She's single." Stella says, not even turning to look at Matt.
"What?" He said, surprised and a little confused.
"Gabby. That isn't her boyfriend, just a cousin we invited that asked her to dance."
"I'm not-"
"Don't even try it. I know you Matt and I've been watching you all night." Stella said, cutting him off, "Both of you." She said, finally turning to look at him. "Don't screw it up this time, because you won't get another chance."
Before Matt could answer Stella had walked back over to Kelly, leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Gabby had seen Matt come back inside the hall without Brett but she tried not to give herself any hope. She knew coming to this that Matt had moved on with her former best friend, but she didn't anticipate it hurting as much as she did. She didn't have any high hopes for them when she had agreed to be Stella's maid of honour, but she also didn't think it would be as awkward and uncomfortable as it was between the three of them. Her dance partner had turned her back to Stella, Matt, Kelly and the rest of their group and by the time he had turned her back around Matt was no longer there, instead, she saw him tapping on her partner's shoulder and asking if he could cut in. "Sure, Matt." Gabby said, and before she knew it she was in her ex-husband's arms, knowing that the conversation he had been trying to have with her all day was about to happen.