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“But what about the rehearsal dinner, Brick?”
"They don't need me for that. Come on, let's go." I took Leah's arm and guided her out of the church.
"Where are you two going?" Shelly slides next to me, squeezing her body against mine.
I step back out of her reach, “To the Tree Lighting Ceremony.”
"How fun. Come on, everybody, we’re going to the Tree Lighting Ceremony with Brick and his friend Leann.” Shelly waves over her shoulder at the rest of the wedding party. “I’ll just ride with you two.” Shelly wrinkles up her nose and tips her head.
I start to tell her no, but Leah cuts me off, “It’s fine, Brick, she can ride with us.”
Leah gives me a sad smile, and all I want to do is take her somewhere private and show her she is more than just a friend.
* * *
Leah
I don't know how I held it together with Shelly riding in the car with us, commenting on everything from the back seat of the car. "Look, Brick, there's the old pizza place. Remember all the times we went there after the movies." Shelly leans forward, grazing her arm against Brick’s arm as she points to what is now a convenience store.
The car stops, and Shelly jumps out, walking to stand next to Brick, “Come on, I want to show you the new ice-skating rink,” She loops her arm through Brick’s.
“No, Shelly, I’m with Leah now.” He plucks Shelly’s arm out of his and walks over to my side of the car. “Are you ready, Leah?” He holds his hand out to me.
"Yes," I take his hand and let him lead me away from Shelly and down to the giant Christmas tree in the center of town.
We find a spot by the Christmas tree, waiting for Mayor Evan’s to announce the start of the Christmas season by turning on the lights.
“I’m sorry about Shelly. I’ve never seen her act like that before,” His thumb rubs across my lower lip. “Can I kiss you?”
I nod my head just as the Mayor announces the lighting of the Christmas tree, and instead of seeing fireworks when Brick's lips touch mine, I see the twinkle of hundreds of Christmas lights shining back at me.
Brick deepens the kiss, ignoring the lights around us, “You’re missing the lighting of the Christmas Tree.” I whispered against his lips.
"Kissing you is better than any Christmas lights." I almost swooned at his words. It's a good thing he is holding me in his strong arms. "Let's go home, and I will show you how much better kissing you is than watching an old Christmas tree light up."
CHAPTER10
BRICK
"Are you ready for your big day?" I throw my garment bag on the groom's changing room couch at the church. The rest of the groomsmen sit around the room in various stages of dress. Some are fully dressed, most not.
“I can’t wait to make Carla my wife.” Sid gushes like a man in love. “I can’t believe we waited so long.”
"About that, when did you decide it was time to ask Carla to marry you? You dated forever. What changed?" I ask. My thoughts turn to Leah and how she makes me feel. It can't be love, not this soon, can it?
"I'm not sure I really loved her until I lost her. We were too young to know what love meant when we first started dating. Then, as the years went by, our relationship became comfortable." He shrugs, "But when I saw her again after two years away from each other, it was like something clicked, almost like love at first sight."
I smile at his description. That’s how I felt when I met Leah for the first time. I loved her from the moment I laid eyes on her in the locker room.
I love Leah. The realization is like a shock to my system. I love Leah, and I can't wait to tell her.
"Gentleman, it's time to take your places." The wedding planner pops her head into the room. "We can't keep the bride waiting."
The groomsmen, now fully clothed, grumble and leave the dressing room, leaving just me and Sid. "I'm happy for you, man." I clap Sid on the back. "Let's get you married."
Sid takes a deep breath, “I’ll meet you out there. There’s one more thing I need to do.”
I nod and leave the room. I'm the last groomsman to leave the dressing room. In my haste, I accidentally bump into Shelly, who is standing right outside the door. "No cell phones, per the bride." Shelly holds out a basket filled with a few cell phones.
