Because she and Dallas were the maid of honor and best man, I’d had the distinct privilege of watching her glide down the aisle as I stood between Derek and Luca at Jax’s side. It was the first time I’d seen her all day, and I had to pry my eyes away as Liv made her entry.
After the ceremony, the wedding party had been swept away in a flurry of flashbulbs. Ella, Grace, and Katie all wore coordinating peach dresses, while Antoni was decked out in a peach tuxedo made entirely of sequins. Jax, Dallas, Derek, Luca, and I all wore navy tuxedos with peach ties and boutonnières. Even though Brady was still stuck handling security, he’d gotten a matching tux so he could join us in some of the photos.
I found myself at a table, looking across the dance floor to the entryway of the courtyard for Ella. As I glanced around, I noticed Katie join Dallas and Derek who stood off to the side watching Jax and Liv spin around the floor.
Antoni sighed as he plopped down beside me. “I just love weddings, honey. The cake, the dancing, the feeling of love in the air, the free booze—it all makes me feel like I’m in a fairytale.”
I chuckled. “I don’t think there’s alcohol in fairytales.”
“Well, there should be.”
“Speaking of love being in the air, where’s your date?”
“He’s over at the bar getting me a Cosmopolitan.” He pointed over to his new boyfriend, Nate, who caught Antoni’s eye and winked. Nate looked like he could have easily walked off the pages of an Armani advertisement. I’d only met him a couple of times, but he was sharp and sophisticated and gave off an air of confidence without being arrogant. “Mmmmmm. Isn’t he delicious? I’d sip his bath water with a straw.”
I choked on a laugh as the song came to an end, and the band started playing a more upbeat tune, inviting everyone out on the floor.
“Look at her.” Antoni clutched his hands to his chest, his eyes landing on the entryway. “Doesn’t she look stunning today?”
I turned to follow his gaze and watched as Ella floated into the courtyard looking like a walking daydream. She was a vision draped in peach chiffon with her tanned skin peeking out from beneath the high slit of her dress. A broad smile spread across her face as her eyes settled on something I couldn’t see, causing my heart rate to pick up speed. Before I could even think about what I was doing, I was on my feet. I didn’t have a plan. All I knew was I had to ask her to dance.
But before my legs could carry me in her direction, I watched as Ella walked into the waiting arms of a guy who was a dead ringer for Matthew McConaughey. As if it wasn’t bad enough that Nate made all of us guys look bad.
He kissed her on the cheek, and it felt like someone had punched me in the gut. My eyes followed her as they smiled and giggled their way to the bar. I wondered what they were talking about. There was no way he could be that good lookingandfunny, right? My mouth suddenly felt dry, as though it was full of cotton. I grabbed a glass of water from the table and nearly drained it in one gulp. I stretched awkwardly, clearing my throat before returning to my seat.
“And she’s got herself a hot date,” Antoni purred as Nate joined us at the table, two cocktails in hand. Nate and I nodded a greeting to each other, and Antoni took a long pull from his drink. “He’s cute, but I wouldn’t peg him for being Ella’s type.”
“Who?” Nate asked. “The Matthew McConaughey guy? I’m pretty sure he’d be everybody’s type.”
I take it all back. Nate is the worst.
“Why do you say that?” I asked Antoni, decidedly desperate for there to be some reason,anyreason, as to why this thing with Ella and Matthew McConaughey couldn’t work.
“Oh, I don’t know,” Antoni said. “I’m probably just being silly.”
“Tell me,” I urged. “Why do you think he’s not her type?”
Antoni shrugged. “I guess I always thought you two would end up together somehow... or at least I hoped you would.” My hands involuntarily loosened my tie in a futile attempt to cool the burn I felt rising in my chest. Antoni drained the rest of his cocktail in one fell swoop and laughed. “Anyway, if you’ll excuse me, I believe I hear the sweet sound of Beyoncé calling my name. Nate?”
He reached for Nate’s hand, and they set off toward the dance floor, leaving me alone with the grenade of truth Antoni had just hurled at me.
* * *
“Areyou going to sit here by yourself all night?” Grace’s voice interrupted my thoughts. I’d been trying to distract myself by watching Antoni and Nate swing each other around on the dance floor. Somehow my eyes always ended up on Ella and Matthew McConaughey. Ella only stepped away from him long enough to help with the cutting of the cake, beaming as Liv smushed white buttercream into Jax’s face. After the cake had been served, I noticed Ella and her date take a seat at another table across the courtyard.
“Just enjoying some people watching,” I said with a smile as the band transitioned from “Uptown Funk” to the opening notes of “Stand By Me.” “I saw you out there dancing with Sam a while ago. You guys seem to have fun together.”
A soft blush crept onto her cheeks as she glanced over to where Sam Corbyn stood talking to Dallas. Sam’s eyes seemed to instinctively find Grace’s, and his mouth broke into a goofy grin. “He’s okay.” She shrugged, but her face betrayed her with a smile.
“I think he’s taken a shine to you.”
She studied him for a moment, appearing to consider my statement before turning her attention back to me. “Come dance with me.”
“Me? I’m sure Sam is itching to get back out there with you.”
“That may be,” Grace said matter-of-factly. “But I asked you.”
“Well, how can I turn down an invitation like that?” I asked, rising to my feet and offering her my arm.
