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Rick throws his arm around Lennon, and kisses him on the cheek. In his other hand, he holds a glass of champagne. I groan, because I think I know what’s coming, and someone’s going to be embarrassed. I just hope it’s not me.
“Can I have everybody’s attention, please,” Rick calls out. The crowd goes quiet and turns to look at him. Even people on the beach who aren’t in the wedding party stop and look at him with interest. “As the best man, and Lennon’s best friend—”
“Second best friend,” Gary coughs.
“Best friend,” Rick repeats, scowling at Gary. “I want to be the first to publicly congratulate the happy couple on their marriage.” He reaches a hand up to loosen his tie, then takes a mouthful of champagne. “Now, let me tell you a little story about my friend, Lennon, here. This little gem took place back when we were in middle school, and Lennon was just beginning to blossom into the handsome young man he is today—”
“Don’t you dare,” Lennon growls from the side of his mouth, and turning a deep shade of red.
The crowd laughs and cheers Rick on, wanting to hear the story. Hell, I do too. I raise one eyebrow at Lennon, who bows his head and groans.
“Now, where was I?” Rick continues. “Right. So, our little Lennon was twelve, and going through his first crush. The girl in question was a lovely young girl named, Amber.” Rick glances at me. “Don’t worry, Darcy. She had nothing on you.”
I smile and shake my head, feeling sorry for poor Lennon. I squeeze his hand to try and show some support. Thank, God, I haven’t been friends with Cindy long enough for her to build up a backlist of embarrassing stories about me.
“So, Lennon decided he was going to ask Amber out. Naturally, he came to speak to his best friend, yours truly, for some advice on how to woo his new love. I told him he needed to impress her. Do something she couldn’t ignore. Something big. Go all out, or go home. Then I sent him on his way.” He glances at Lennon. “Maybe you should finish the story?”
Lennon shakes his head. “No way. I’m sure you’ll embellish it, and tell it so much better.”
Rick shrugs. “Okay, your funeral,” he says, and the crowd erupts into laughter again. “So, Lennon had an idea. He wrote her a song. He went all out, learned it on his guitar, hired a suit, and paid his friends,” Rick says, motioning to himself, “to be his back-up singers. Think, Boyz2Men, only better.
“Then he sent the video to her—at the end of which he added a heartfelt recording, pouring out all his feelings—to Amber.” Rick chuckles as he glances at Lennon again. “Turns out, she didn’t feel the same way about him. Thought he was a dork, and by the following day, that video was on YouTube, and it was everywhere. All over school, people in town knew… and everyone made fun of poor Lennon.”
I laugh along with everyone else, but I feel so sorry for twelve-year-old Lennon. I step closer, and curl my arm around him, stealing him away from Rick.
“And on that note, I just want to say congratulations to two of the most amazing people I know. Please join me in wishing them both nothing but happiness,” Rick grins.
Giggling, I wrap my arms around Lennon’s neck as everyone claps and whoops.
“Give the poor boy a kiss,” someone calls out.
Everyone laughs, but I’m more than happy to oblige. I lean up and kiss him softly on the lips amidst cheers and whistles. Lennon looks at me with an amused expression on his face as he wraps his arms around my waist.
“So, did that really happen?” I whisper to him.
“Unfortunately, yes,” he says, cringing. “It took years to live that down.”
“If it’s any consolation, I thought it was adorable. I wish someone would’ve done that for me,” I giggle.
“It can be arranged,” he murmurs, raising his eyebrows. “I still have my guitar at home, you know.”
“The only instrument I want you to be playing right now, is me,” I say, kissing him again.
***
I smile up at Lennon, feeling completely exhausted. It’s been a great day, considering everything that went wrong before it, but as fun as the day has been, I’m so looking forward to curling up in bed with my new husband. I dance with Lennon, my hands draped around his waist. He kisses me on the forehead, and I smile, my eyes closed as our bodies sway to the music.
