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"Funny," Kerry says, but she's so ready to get to Dean that we are practically skipping towards the sea.
Kerry and Dean have chosen to get married outside on a grassy spot looking out over the ocean. A small group of friends and family sit, awaiting our arrival. A single musician plays a soft melody. At the front, Dean faces the other away, but as the congregation stands, he turns to see his bride.
I know I shouldn't feel jealous of my sister. She's an amazing woman who has been through so much and deserves all the love that this man has pouring from his eyes. But I am envious. No one has ever looked at me the way he looks at her, and I want it. I want it so badly that it's physically painful. A clenching in my gut and heart makes me want to fold in two and crumple to the ground. I don't, though. I pull myself as straight as I can, head held high, and I walk my big sister to where her knight in white linen is waiting for her. All eyes are on us, and I look to find Dean's best men, who until now have just been the stuff of intriguing stories.
Two broad backs in crisp white shirts, dark hair cropped short at the nape and a little longer on the top. They turn, and I'm hit by four intense gray eyes that are made even more spectacular because they are framed by thick dark lashes. I see them taking in Kerry first, smiling broadly. Then both their gazes move to me, and I'm mesmerized. If I weren't currently holding on to Kerry's arm and being propelled along by her eagerness to join her husband-to-be, I'd probably have been fixed to the spot. I blow out my breath because the fluttery feeling in my tummy isn't something I'm used to. I don't remember the last time I was hit with such a wave of attraction. It's like a lightning bolt or a tidal wave. I blink slowly and watch as their smiles widen. I should smile back. I know I should, but my face isn't cooperating. I'm sure I look like a frightened deer, which is not a good look for a maid of honor.
Maid. I wince at the thought. Kerry is about to say vows for the second time, and I still haven't achieved my first. I feel my sister squeeze my arm, and I catch her looking at me and smiling. I beam back because she looks so full of hope and joy, and it's at least partly contagious.
At the front, she pauses so that I can take her bouquet, and then Dean is there, reaching for her hand, cradling it like it's a precious and fragile bird. I stand next to Kerry to witness her commit her life to Dean. Liam and Callum stand next to Dean to do the same.
The officiant makes quick work of the ceremony. One of the twins hands over the rings at the appropriate time, and my mind drifts, taking in the turquoise sea that spreads in front of us like a glittering carpet. I can't imagine a more perfect place to get married.
It's over so quickly I almost don't realizeuntil the crowd begins to clap, and I turn to find Kerry and Dean engaging in a very loving 'first kiss’.Behind them, Callum and Liam are smiling at the happy couple, then they both look up and grin at me. Two sets of amazing white teeth almost blind me. It's like looking into the sun, and I blink slowly, feeling weak in the knees.
Kerry and Dean turn to the crowd, and everyone begins to cheer. Before they make their way down the grassy path between the white chairs, she turns to reclaim her bouquet. It's then that I realize that I am going to have to walk behind her, flanked by two intimidatingly good-looking best men. I don't get a chance to think about how I might avoid it. Twin one is there, taking my left hand and slipping it through his arm. I look down at where our bodies are now touching. Then, before I have a chance to respond, twin two is at my right doing the same thing. The soloist increases the tempo of the music, and we all parade back down the aisle.
I know my cheeks are on fire. I can feel the blood tingling at the surface. It's so ridiculous to be embarrassed simply because I'm innocently touching two of Dean's best friends, but I can't help it. I don't know these men, and they are unnervingly good-looking and confident in a way that makes me feel small and pathetic.
"You're Bethany," one of them says gently as we make our way toward the place the photographer has set up for the formal photographs. I nod because my tongue is also a traitor. "I'm Liam," he says. "That's Callum." He nods towards his brother, and I glance over and nod too. God, this is awful. I'm cringing and embarrassed, and I just want this part to be over so that I can go and hide at the wedding reception and busy myself with the buffet and a triple gin and tonic. I know it's not classy to get drunk at your sister's wedding, but somehow it seems the only way I might get through this day in one piece.
"I'll bet Dean is glad you made it in time," I say when I manage to make conversation.
"Yeah," Callum says. "We nearly didn't. It was almost like something was working against us."
"We were worried about getting on a plane by the time we found a route to get here. So much had gone wrong. It almost felt like a sign."
"But you're here in one piece," I say.
"Two pieces." Callum sniggers, and I blush again. I'm going to need to start introducing myself as beetroot-head before long.
"I think Bethany probably noticed that about us already," Liam says in an almost scolding voice.
"You'll have to excuse me if I get you confused," I say.
"You won't be the first," Callum says.
"Or the last," Liam adds.
"Can I tell you a secret?" Callum leans in closer as though he intends to whisper something directly into my ear, and I get a nose full of a delicious-smelling cologne rising off warm skin. I nod because I'm feeling dazed. "Liam has a little scar on his forehead. That's how you can tell us apart."
Liam leans in close to catch the end of Callum's confession and sniggers. "There are other ways to tell us apart," he murmurs, "but we'd have to take our clothes off for that."
A shiver runs up my spine as I turn and am caught in his gaze. I don't know what to say. Dark and dirty thoughts flash through my mind of two gorgeous men standing naked before me. What differences might they have? Scars? Birthmarks? Maybe something naughtier. My cheeks feel warm, and Liam leans in even closer. "I think you know what I mean."
I inhale deeply. It's a shuddering breath that is partly nervous and partly aroused. I mean, how could I not be? They smell so good, and their voices are low with a slight husky edge that is just dripping with sex.
It's been such a long time since I thought about sex. Feeling worthless and down kills any kind of desire. I wasn't expecting to be feeling like this now at my sister's wedding, and certainly not about two men. I seriously must be losing my mind. Maybe it's the sun. I was at the beach for a long time yesterday. It could be sunstroke.
"Are you okay?" Callum asks.
I nod, and Liam chuckles. "I think she's blown a fuse!"
I look between them and snap myself back into reality. I'm here for Kerry. She needs me to keep my mind on the job — Maid of Honor extraordinaire. "We need to go over there for the photos," I say and walk away, leaving them behind.
2
COCKTAILS AND GAMES
