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We make it through the ceremony, which was surprisingly shorter than I expected. As soon as the bride and groom, Simon and Alana–our third cousins–make it back down the aisle, everyone is escorted to a beautiful courtyard. Twinkle lights are strung between pillars and trees and a gazebo, attempting to contrast the night, now that the sun is starting to set. There’s a ring of small, white, high-top cocktail tables around the edge of the yard, and as soon as Troy and I grab a beer at the open bar, we find an empty one.
“I’ve never been to a wedding before. At this rate, I was thinking my first one would be Mack and Maci’s.”
“Do you think they will get married? I didn’t realize they got back together.”
“They haven’t yet. She was in Costa Rica with this Dean guy.” I take a sip of my beer before continuing with my thought, but Troy interjects, his glass freezing in midair on its way to his mouth.
“Uhhh, what?”
It’s weird he cares about this. “What?”
“She’s with Dean Porter?” He’s not thrilled or upset about this news, just intrigued.
“I don’t know his last name. Why?”
“He’s a buddy of mine.”
“Small world. Kind of. So, he’s a good guy?”
“He is. I don’t know what happened between them, though. Can’t imagine he’d let her go if he could help it. I only saw them together once, but he was very protective of her.”
“I would be too if I were him and you were hitting on my girlfriend.” I don’t have to lean up too far to kiss him since I’m wearing heels. He smiles into our kiss, his hand finding the bare skin on my back where my dress dips.
“Hey, I wasn’t flirting at all.”
“Troy, you’re always flirting.” I laugh. “But for real, while she’s stuck deciding between the two of them, I need you to pretend to be Team Mack with me, okay? That’s your job as my–” The word boyfriend flashes through my mind, but I push it away. “–wedding date.”
The way he’s looking at me, I know he caught my near slip up and is debating on whether or not to call me out on it. When he’s made up his mind, he says, “You’ll look amazing in a suit as best man.”
“Thank you.” I lean into his chest as he wraps his arm around me, taking a sip from his beer with his free hand. I’m about to ask if he’s ever been to a wedding when a couple around our age walks up to us.
“Hi!” the woman says in a peppy voice. Unlike Lauren’s, hers is obnoxious. “I’m Bri, and this is my husband Will. We are cousins of the groom. What about you two?” I’ll never understand people’s need to talk to random strangers like this. At least our story lines up with the bride’s side. Just have to see if it holds up. The way Troy and I can play any conversation at work every day, I’m not worried. Plus, we are mostly sticking to our true story and memorized random things about the bride and groom’s family.
“Hey, I’m Troy.” He sets his beer on the table before reaching across it to shake Will’s hand. “This is my fiancée, Lexy.”
Damn, why does that word sound different rolling off his tongue than it did mine when I proposed the idea? I pull away from Troy so I can shake their hands.
“Oooh, you two are engaged? Congrats! Let me see your ring!” Bri squeals.
“It just happened. It’s getting sized.” Troy’s quick thinking cuts in.
“How did you ever part with it?” Bri catches my gaze. “Tell me what it looks like!”
“Yeah, babe, tell her.” I can hear the grin in Troy’s voice without looking over at him. His fingers run along my lower back, leaving me wanting more of his touch.
I lean into the table, my chin propped up by my palm, searching my mind for an idea since it never occurred to me someone would ask. “It’s a diamond band, with a teardrop halo. The big gem in the middle is a ruby, though.” Dang, I’m not big on jewelry, but I’d wear this.
“Your ring is red?” She sounds judgmental as fuck.
I nod before looking at Troy to flash him a smile. “That way I’m always wearing red for him.”
Based on the heat in his eyes, you’d think that was the sexiest thing ever said. He smirks, his gaze holding mine. “That’s right.” He leans in closer and whispers, “You’re so good to me,” before kissing the skin below my ear.
“You give me everything I need. It’s the least I can do.” The words are part of the game, but I try to show him through a kiss that I truly mean them.
“You can totally tell you two just got engaged. It’s so cute how in love you are.” Bri bursts the bubble we were in. Not even the high pitch whine of her voice can overpower the intensity of what she said. My smile falters at the mention of the L word. It’s something I’ve never felt before and definitely don’t feel right now. “So, how did it happen?!” God, this girl is incessant.
My mind is blank.
