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Oh, how she wished she could be the woman for him.
The ceremony ended, and the guests were directed into a larger room that looked like a winter wonderland. The tables were decorated with white linen tablecloths, icy-blue place settings, and crystal water goblets as well as champagne flutes. The tall, slender crystal centerpieces glowed blue and contained frosted branches and blue and white calla lilies and hydrangeas. Twinkling lights hung from the ceiling, along with a chandelier, and a roaring fire in the fireplace that was the focal point of the room completed the ambiance.
It was elegant, yet simple, a lot like the newly married couple. Dakota thought about how the whole weekend had been a perfect reflection of the bride and groom and made a mental note to offer her kudos to Yvette for doing such a beautiful job.
They were in the middle of dinner and people started clinking their glasses for the bride and groom to kiss. It was the third time since they’d sat down at the bridal table, but the happy couple didn’t seem to mind in the least.
After obliging the guests, a cheer went up and people resumed eating. Moments later, Dakota noticed Barbie, the woman Zach had brought to the Cape over the Fourth of July, standing at the head table in front of Zach with one hand on her hip while she gestured wildly with the other. Zach glanced around as if embarrassed and got up from his chair to escort her out of the room. Zoe remained seated with a dignified expression, as if nothing was wrong, but Dakota could sense her pain and humiliation.
She sent the woman an energetic hug.
Zoe must have felt it because ten minutes later, she sat down next to Dakota and said with a way-too-cheerful smile, “So, I’ve been thinking about adopting a dog.”
Dakota was happy to tell her all about the dogs she knew were available through ARF, knowing the woman wasn’t really listening. But she did a good job pretending she wasn’t affected by whatever the hell just happened with Zach and Barbie, so Dakota was happy to play along. Not to mention, it helped her avoid the conversation she could tell Aiden was itching to have.
****
Aiden
Whitney sat down next to Zoe and hugged her around her shoulders. If you asked Aiden, it was Zach who needed the hug. The poor guy looked absolutely wrecked as he sat at the head table alone, stealing pathetic glances at Zoe every three seconds.
For her part, Zoe had managed to look cool as a cucumber when Zach pulled Barbie away, only to return sans the stripper ten minutes later. But the damage had been done, and Zoe quickly made a beeline to Dakota, and Zach didn’t follow.
The DJ called out through the speakers, “Mrs. Steven Ericson, you’re wanted on the dance floor. Mrs. Steven Ericson.”
Whitney looked surprised and exclaimed, “Oh! That’s me!” before jumping up. She pushed in her chair and warned, “You guys better plan on shaking a tail feather with us. And don’t forget the party favors for when it turns midnight.”
Zoe gave a small shake of her head. “I don’t think I’m going to make it until midnight; I’m sorry.”
The bride tilted her head and offered a small smile. “I don’t like it, but I understand. I’m so sorry.”
“I’ll be okay, I promise.”
She might be, but Aiden had serious doubts about Zach. He was a little worried about the guy.
God, is that how Aiden was going to be when he and Dakota broke up?
The fact that he had accepted it as a foregone conclusion was concerning. What the hell were they even doing? Their relationship was obviously one-sided, and he’d be damned if he was going to be the guy who waited around hoping the girl would eventually fall for the good guy for once.
He was determined to make the best of their weekend together, but the writing was on the wall. Once they got back to Boston tomorrow, he would be starting the new year alone.
He glanced over at her talking with Zoe, and she smiled when she noticed him watching her, making his heart splinter. He was going to miss everything about his hippy chick.
The DJ called for people to join the bride and groom on the dance floor at the end of their first dance. Aiden stood and gestured to the door leading to the lobby, where the temporary dance floor was set up.
With an outstretched hand, he asked “Would you care to dance?”
She took his offered hand as she rose from her chair. “I’d love to.”
Just as he placed an arm around her back and pulled her close, the song ended, and another began. He huffed out a little laugh when Elvis’s voice began to croon, “Wise men say, only fools rush in…”
Ain’t that the fucking truth.
Message received, Universe.
Jesus Christ, she had him talking to the damn Universe now.
But as he pulled her closer and she laid her head on his shoulder, he realized even if their relationship was ending, he wouldn’t have missed the ride with her for anything.
