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“Do you want me to make a big speech about love and trust and relationships before I bring you out?” I asked with a grin.
“That’s really not necessary,” Jonas said.
“Yeah, let’s just do this. I’m hungry.”
I laughed and made my way back outside and into the reception tent. I stepped up onto the stage and picked up the microphone. As I introduced the happy couple, the crowd burst into cheers and applause. I scanned the room for Grace, and my eyes locked on hers.
Jonas and Ella began dancing, holding each other close, and I kept my eyes on Grace as I sang. I know the bride should be the most beautiful woman in the room but, damn, Grace was the most beautiful woman in the world. She swayed with the music, and her hips were just begging to be grabbed and held close.
As the song ended, I made a snap decision. Possibly a terrible decision, but the words were coming out of my mouth before I could stop them.
“Before we sit for dinner,” I said, trying to hide my smile, “I’d like to play one more song, if that’s okay with the newlyweds.”
Jonas and Ella looked at each other and nodded their heads in unison. I cleared my throat, deciding right then to make a huge deceleration.
“If everyone could find their partner and come out to the dance floor, I’d like to dedicate this song to the love of my life.”
The whispers across the tent started slowly, but they spread quickly. I saw people looking at each other, and glancing around the room, trying to figure out who I was talking about. I caught Grace’s eyes for just a moment before she sat down on a chair and dropped her head into her hands.
I looked over to Ella, and her eyes were sharp with fury. It was in that moment that I realized I had just made this event all about me and my secret lover. Ella was never going to forgive me for this, and rightfully so.
But I couldn’t back down now. I picked up the microphone and began to sing, trying not to look directly at Grace. Jonas and Ella danced in the middle of the floor with several other couples surrounding them, but her grimace never went away.
As soon as the song was over and I turned off the microphone, I let out a long breath. I fucked up. I looked around for Grace, but she was nowhere to be found. Clearly, my declaration of love had not been well-received. I wasn’t sure what I was going to do now, but I knew I had a few apologies to make.
I pickedat my dinner as I sat with all of the other groomsmen and bridesmaids. Ella had unknowingly sat me next to Grace which was incredible, but also extremely awkward. I still hadn’t had the chance to talk to her and apologize or explain or even get her perspective on what had happened.
Instead of speaking, we sat silently next to one another, sipping our champagne and trying not to make things awkward. I pulled out my phone and saw I had a massive amount of messages from various friends, my agent, and my publicist, all wondering what the hell I had done and who the hell I was talking about.
“You’re trending on Twitter,” my publicist said. “You can’t just drop a bomb like that without talking to me first.”
“Are you going all sappy romance on us? If so, we may have to discuss your future,” my agent told me.
“Dude, who’s the chick?” Matteo asked.
I stopped scrolling through the messages, knowing they were all going to be saying the same thing. I knew I messed up. I didn’t need a reminder from the entire world. The look on Ella’s face was enough to make me want to keep my mouth shut for the rest of my life.
After dinner was cleared and everyone returned to the dance floor, I stayed in my seat, trying to keep in the shadows. I didn’t need any more attention on me than what I had already. Of course, I have never been able to remain a wallflower, and countless people approached me asking about my girlfriend and trying to get details. I even caught one of Jonas’ cousins recording my voice on his phone as if I was going to reveal every intimate detail of my life to a man I had just met half an hour ago.
Finally, I had a moment to myself, and I wanted to go apologize to Ella, but I couldn’t take her away from her own party. She was in the middle of the dance floor with a drink in her hand, clearly having the time of her life surrounded by all of her friends.
Grace briefly sat in the chair next to me and leaned over without getting too close. It was the first time we had spoken all night.
“You need to talk to her.”
“I know, but when?”
“Do you want me to go get her?”
“No—I don’t know. I already ruined her night. I don’t want to make it any worse.”
“I don’t think you should let her leave on her honeymoon without talking to her.”
“You’re probably right.”
We were quiet for a moment, and I expected she would get up and leave, but to my surprise, she remained for just a second longer.
“Thank you.”
