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“Sorry,” he mumbled, sitting back and turning his attention to the wedding that was actually happening.
But now Jessica was distracted.WasWhitney getting cold feet? Something was definitely up with her, but was it that? When the two had first gotten engaged, Whitney had been all about a short engagement, but then a couple of months later, her time frame changed. The two of them never kept things from each other, but Jess was sitting on her own secret. Maybe Whitney had one as well.
“You’d tell me, though, right? If you knew something?” Trent whispered.
Would she? She was loyal to her friends, but she was also close to Trent and her family. She wouldn’t want to see any of the people she cared about end up hurt. “I’d tell you,” she said, and the couple kissed at the altar.
Trent handed her a tissue, and she dabbed the tears away from her eyes, then stood and clapped as the couple were announced husband and wife. They made their way back down the aisle together while guests tossed silver and white confetti after them.
As people dispersed, Trent asked, “Where are you sitting?”
Jessica checked the seating card she was given. “Table nineteen. You?”
“Three.”
“How did you get VIP seating?” she asked, following the procession to the receiving line.
“I played football with John for years. You’re welcome to take Whitney’s seat by me,” he said.
She shook her head. “Your table is no doubt all couples. I’ll take my chances at the singles’ reject table far in the back.”
“Want me to sit with you?”
“Nope. You’re too cute and I don’t want the single guys here thinking I’m taken.” Although most of them seemed to be. Maybe there was someone she’d missed in her perusing…or someone worth a second look.
Trent laughed. “Okay. Good luck, tiger.”
She pretended to growl and pounce as he headed toward the bride and groom to offer his congratulations. Instead of joining the long line of well-wishers, Jessica headed into the reception area inside the country club. She’d have plenty of time to talk to the happy couple later. She wanted to choose a great seat at table nineteen with the best view to watch the speeches and the couple’s first dance.
Inside, tables of eight were positioned around the head table in the center of the room. White tablecloths reached the floor and bouquets of white roses in silver vases kept with the look of crisp, clean elegance. Tea lights would illuminate the room beautifully once the sun set. Tiny light blue and silver heart-shaped confetti littered the tabletop and a small box of chocolates sat at each place setting. In the middle, next to the table wine, were white disposable cameras for anyone to take candid shots of the evening.
Jessica loved that idea. The best wedding photos were often the non-formal, spontaneous moments captured between the bride and groom. She was the one who’d suggested it to Emily the day the bride had selected her wedding cake design. Or rather, the third and final time she’d selected a design.
A pianist played soft, romantic notes in the corner, but a DJ was already setting up near the dance floor. She’d worn flats, prepared to dance the night away. Hoping she’d have a tall, dark, and handsome partner to twirl her around the room.
She’d settle for short, cute, and interesting.
“You’re at this table, too?”
Flirty smile in place, she looked up at average height, blond, and sexy. And alone. “Yes. I’m Jess,” she said, extending a hand.
“Niall.”
She loved that name. Strong and masculine. “Nice to meet you. Are you a friend of the bride or groom?”
“Bride. I’m actually her hair stylist.”
“Really? Wow. I used to date the groom…and I made the cake.” Geez, why had she mentioned the first thing? “I made the cake. Full stop.”
Niall laughed. “So this is the hired help table?”
His smile revealed the straightest, whitest, most perfect teeth Jessica had ever seen and dimples that seemed endless. So far this guy was checking a lot of the right boxes.
“Should we get into the wine early?” he asked, pulling her chair out for her.
Manners. A gentleman.
She wouldn’t start naming babies yet…but a little girl with his blue eyes and her dark hair would be adorable.
