AllFreeNovel
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It’s a terrifying thing, all this overwhelming choice.
But Zane… Being near him makes everything a little easier, like the fight isn’t mine alone to bear. A salve to my weary young soul.
It’s honestly crazy how at peace I feel when I’m with him. I’ve spent all my life silently fighting the chains of my father’s expectations, but now I’m finally free to let go. Relax. Entrust my safety in the hands of someone I know I can trust. I know it’s only been a few days, but I trust Zane with my life.
“Okay,” I whisper back to him.
The Phillips brothers leave our table and make their way over to the VIP bar. Just as he promised, Zane stands where he can see me.
“You two are cute together,” Darlene comments.
“Oh, it’s…” My face flushes with heat. “It’s just a little fun.”
“Well, I personally think it’s great. That just means I get to invite more guests to the wedding.”
The bottle girl arrives with my drink, as well as a refill for Darlene. I take a sip, my face curling up slightly at the after taste. It’s a lot more bitter than I was expecting. I cough around a drop of my drink when I say, “You want me at your wedding?”
“I know, I know. Knox thinks it’s silly that I want you there. But you know what? Screw what Knox thinks. He’s just grumpy because he’s still single andnotthriving.”
“I mean… That’s really sweet of you, but are you sure?”
Darlene nudges me with her elbow. “If my future brother-in-law likes you, then I like you. Besides, it’s a celebration of our love. Why the hell not? Come, eat, get wasted. It’s going to be the best Christmas to ever Christmas.”
I find myself smiling wide. Is this what it’s like to have a friend? Darlene has an amazing energy about her, ever bright and cheerful. It feels wonderful to be a part of something bigger than myself. To feel like I actually belong.
“You know what? I’d be honored to come to your wedding.”
Darlene squeals. “Oh, wonderful! Don’t worry, I won’t force you to do any of that annoying bridesmaid crap with the matching dresses and having you run around like some kind of lapdog.”
“I didn’t realize that was a thing,” I reply, taking another sip. My drink is starting to grow on me.
“Haven’t you ever seenMy Big Fat Greek WeddingorThe Proposalor literally a hundred other wedding-centered movies?”
I shake my head. “My father never allowed me to watch TV. I don’t think I’ve ever seen a movie.”
Darlene gives me a quizzical look. “Oh. Well, that sucks. The point is they always look like a chaotic mess before the big sweeping resolution. My wedding is going to be nice and simple.” She giggles, smiling at me like she’s about to share a massive secret. “We’re going to have an Elvis impersonator marry us. Ain’t that cute?”
“It’s definitely… unique. Unforgettable.”
“That’s what I said. I knew I liked you for a reason.”
Zane and Heath return to rejoin our party. Knox is notably absent.
I toss him a questioning glance, but Zane only shakes his head in response. I figure it’s probably best if I don’t push the subject.
“Zane!” Darlene says. “I was just talking to Willow about how she’s never seenMy Big Fat Greek Wedding, or any movies at all.”
His eyebrows rise a little. “Is that so?”
“Well, that sucks,” Heath says. His hair is slightly disheveled, and his face is a bit pink. He seems irritated, his usual sunny disposition nowhere in sight.
Darlene pats her fiancé on the knee. “That’s what I said.”
“We’ll have to rectify that,” Zane says. His voice and face are perfectly calm, but his posture is stiff and rigid. I can tell something is off, but I can’t put my finger on it. If I had to guess, I’d bet it has something to do with Knox. Maybe his foul mood rubbed off on his older brothers.
Zane doesn’t give me much time to speculate. He takes my hand and guides me down the steps of the mezzanine to the dance floor. We’re surrounded on all sides by partying club goers, dancing to the electric beat. The music is so loud I can feel the sound waves vibrating in my chest. Flashing lights and lasers are timed to be in sync with the music, the hypnotizing sights and sounds easy to get lost in.
I allow Zane to hold me close. Closer than any man has ever held me. In the dim lighting of the club, nobody pays us any mind. We are free to feel the press of our bodies, the heat of our skin, the warmth of our breath as we sway in time to the melody. I feel alive at this moment, my skull buzzing with the effects of my drink.
