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ChapterTwenty-One
Lexi
I raisedmy glass in a toast."To my best friend and her handsome new husband.Congratulations to you both.May your lives together be blessed with a lifetime of happiness and love."
"Cheers," Ryan said and everyone reached to the center of the table and clinked glasses.
The newlyweds kissed.They'd always been a showy couple, but matrimony had taken their passion to the next level.I felt a little like a voyeur sitting across from them, so to distract myself, I took a roll from the bread basket and broke it in half.
"It was a beautiful ceremony," Andrew said to me.He sat tense, uncomfortable.I couldn't be sure if it was because of the amorous display across the table, or the tension between us.
"It was."I put a piece of bread in my mouth.
"Look, Lex."He shifted so he was facing me.He was calmer, but I could see the anger from earlier simmering just under the surface."Are you going to tell me what the deal is with the wedding planner?"
I swallowed the dry bread hard and reached for my champagne.After a sip, I cleared my throat and whispered, "I don't really think this is the right time to talk about that."
"Fine," Andrew said and then turned to the couple and said, "Do you two want to cut this dinner short or what?"
They broke apart.Nicole made an attempt to fix her hair and they both adjusted themselves in their seats.
"Sorry, guys," Ryan said."I just can't believe this stunning creature finally agreed to be my wife.And there's just something about knowing that she's mine for the rest of our lives that makes it hard to keep my hands off her.You must know how it is?"he asked Andrew.
Andrew flicked a glance at me and said, "Yeah.I remember those days."
"Let's have cake," I declared, eager to change the topic.Andrew and I both knew how long it'd been since we'd had sex, let alone been in a stage when we couldn't keep our hands off each other.
Had it ever been like that between us?My thoughts flashed to Leo, the way it felt to look at him and yearn for his touch.The way my body reacted with a heat that was almost violent when he kissed me.Yes, it had been like that for me.Once.
"Lexi."Nicole's voice jerked me from my thoughts."We haven't even finished our meal yet."
"Right," I said.I hoped my confusion wasn't obvious to everyone, but a quick look at Andrew confirmed that he at least thought I was acting strangely.He raised his eyebrow at me in question.I ignored him."I just thought maybe you two were in a hurry to get on with your wedding night," I said to Nicole.
They both laughed.
"I think we can wait a little while at least," Ryan said.
Everyone turned back to their meals.I poked at my steak a little bit, before spearing a piece of asparagus.
The conversation turned to the details of the ceremony.Nicole and Ryan each toasted each other, and even Andrew stood and gave a short but thoughtful speech to the happy couple.The champagne flowed and I probably drank more than my share.But it was Nicole's wedding and the alcohol muted my feelings.I kept thinking that with one more glass I might stop thinking about Leo.
The champagne made it worse.He occupied every thought.
Moments after the servers cleared our dinner plates, the object of my distraction came into the room, wheeling the cake we'd seen at the ceremony.
"How was dinner?"Leo asked.
"Everything's been awesome," Ryan said and wrapped his arm around his new wife.
When Andrew's hand squeezed my thigh, it was so unexpected that I let out a small squeak, which I tried to cover by coughing into my napkin.
"Jesus, Lex," Andrew said under his breath.
"Are you okay?"Nicole said.
Andrew's hand slid further up my leg.
"I'm fine," I said and reached for my champagne.I took a sip and the bubbles hit the back of my throat.Leo looked at me; his face was worried with concern.When Andrew's thumb began stroking lazy circles on the silky fabric of my dress, I almost choked, but swallowed hard instead.
