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6
AVERY
Weddings.My least favourite function to work. Family feuds lurking below the respectable surface are unearthed by copious amounts of alcohol, and this makes weddings unpredictable on a number of levels. The noise in the room grows louder as the day grows later. Attempting to shut down my body’s response to the rock star, I hold my breath as I edge around their table to collect plates and hand out desserts. I don’t know if Bryn gives me any more ‘looks’ because I won’t ‘look’ at him. I plead with Kim to serve the coffee because my ability to control liquid tonight hasn’t been great, and I’m convinced I’ll end up scalding someone else who won’t be as understanding.
The bright sunshine of the day disappears into a winter’s evening; the snow remains thick on the ground and looks set to stay that way. At least, with no new falls today, the taxi I need to get home will manage to reach the castle.
The room is rearranged, furniture pushed back to open up the dance floor and prepare for the evening. Guests in various states of inebriation either dance or loiter around the tables and when I return from the kitchen, the bride and groom have already taken to the dance floor.
More couple happiness.Ugh.
I head out to swap empty water jugs for the full ones I’m carrying in each hand. The Blue Phoenix band members have split: Dylan and his girlfriend dance, and Jem plus his red-haired girlfriend are head to head in the corner. No Bryn. Why would somebody like him come to a wedding alone? Surely, he’d have no shortage of volunteers to attend with him. Hell, I bet he could’ve auctioned off the spot to the highest bidder.
Liam’s extended family occupies two tables close by and although most are older, I’ve noticed a couple of dewy-eyed girls watching Bryn. The cliché about best man and bridesmaid is out—one of them is five and the other currently has her face glued to another guy. I put a jug of water on the table and lean across to pick up the empty one.
Somebody squeezes my ass then proceeds to slide a hand up the back of my short skirt toward a place that definitely isn’t my ass, or accidental.
I twist around, smacking the hand away. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”
A guy with short-brown hair and eyes awash with alcohol smiles at me. “Just being friendly, love.”
I gape. “Friendly? That’s assault!”
He laughs at me. “Calm down.”
Too late, my brain has tripped my body into shaking anger and disgust, away from rational reactions. I grab the full water jug and tip the contents slowly over his head. For a moment, he remains seated, confusion flowing across his face to match the water flowing down his back. Gathering his wits, the guy jumps up.
“What the hell are you doing?” he shouts and gestures to the other table occupants. “Look at what she did!”
He looks at the middle-aged couple next to him who stare at me in a similar stupefied fashion. Through the dimly lit room, I’m aware the spectacle I’ve created has attracted the attention of the majority of the wedding guests. And my boss.
* * *
Attemptingto quell the adrenaline racing through my system, I rest against the stone wall with my thick, black jacket wrapped around me. I won’t be able to stay outside long. My toes already feel the bite of the cold, but if I remain inside, my bad evening would get infinitely worse. Worse than losing my job? Probably, because when the stupid cow sacked me, the things she said riled me so badly I wanted to slap her. I’m not a violent person but tonight has tested my limits.
I breathe deeply and look at the stars that manage to peek out from behind the grey clouds, watching my breath fog in front of me. At least this isn’t my real job—another semester at uni and I can look for something more worthwhile. Something away from spillable liquids.
The door creaks open behind and a tall figure appears next to me. “You okay?”
I jerk my head round in surprise and meet the concerned eyes of Bryn, simultaneously losing all the oxygen from my lungs.
I clear my throat. “I will be.”
“Bad night, huh?” he asks and rests against the wall next to me.
“You could say that,” I reply with a small laugh.
Bryn’s jacket-less, the heavy muscles of his forearms stretching the fabric of the white shirt underneath. He’s dispensed with the tie he wore earlier and his smooth, defined chest is visible where the top buttons of his shirt are undone.Hello again, hormones.
“You checking me out, Avery?” he asks.
“No.”
“‘Course not.”
I pull my jacket tighter and bury my nose into the padded material.Well, maybe a little.We stand in silence for a couple of minutes while I attempt to figure out exactly why he’s outside in the freezing weather. I’m pretty sure he hasn’t just been abused and sacked.
“Bad night for you, too?” I ask eventually.
