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12
ARIA
The McBride wedding proved to be one of my smoothest events ever. The couple was older, their tastes much simpler than the monstrosity of a wedding I’d done for the Howie couple last weekend. They’d chosen a soothing, pale blue for their wedding color, had only their maid of honor and best man in the wedding party, and there were only about thirty guests.
I checked my watch, nerves singing through my body. I still had two more hours before Will would be here. My entire being hummed with the need to see him. To feel his arms around me and his lips on mine. Why couldn’t time speed up, just a little?
Lyndi walked over, her fancy black camera hanging from the strap around her neck. “How’s it going?”
“Great,” I replied. “I love having older couples. The drama factor is always super low.”
“Yeah, this seems like a pretty chill crowd.”
We stood off to the side of the reception area, watching the festivities near one of the poles of the massive white tent we popped up on wedding weekends. The guests milled about with cocktails in hand. A live band played smooth jazz in the corner, the vibe reminding me more of a mature gathering of well-dressed people than the rowdy weddings with a DJ and dancing.
“I’ve got shots of like every person here,” Lyndi said, scrolling through the photos on the small square screen of her camera. “If I take too many more photos, I think it’ll cross the line into stalking territory.”
Now that all of the major moments were over, there wasn’t much else for her to document. They’d said their I do’s and had their traditional dances. Dinner was long-over, the cake had been cut, the bouquet tossed, and the garter thrown. From here, it was just a matter of waiting for them to slowly trickle out after giving the bride and groom their final well-wishes.
“Well, I’m sure they’ll be happy with everything you’ve captured tonight. I’d say you could take off, but as soon as I do, something will happen that you’ll want to get on camera.”
She waved a hand. “Nah, I can’t leave yet. I’ve got to take the shots of the bride and groom heading off to their honeymoon suite.”
“Oh, crap. Duh.” Where was my head? I knew exactly where, actually. It was a jumble of longing for a certain handsome Marine.
The newly married couple had arranged for their guests to line the stairs leading to the B&B holding sparklers for their ascent into married bliss. Those photos, with the glittering light from the sparklers bouncing off smiling faces, were always priceless. The sun was still up thanks to the long days of summer, but by the time they did their big send-off I was sure the sunset would give Lyndi amazing light to work with.
“What’s up with you tonight?” Lyndi asked, looking up from her camera and studying my face. “You’ve seemed a little spacey.”
“Spacey? I’m not spacey.”
“You’re right. Usually, you’re not. But tonight, you are.”
I waved a hand, unwilling to get into my soul-crushing love for my brother’s best friend. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind.”
“Well, I’m here if you wanna chat about it.”
“Thanks, girl.”
“Hey, can I ask you something?”
I smiled, though something in her tone had me nervous. “Sure.”
“How ironclad is that no-kissing clause in Beau’s contract?”
Startled, I blinked. “Uh, pretty solid. He wouldn’t break it even for Amber, and she tried. Hard.”
A sour feeling settled into my belly at the thought of that perky woman. I’d hated seeing her on Will’s arm at Bobby and Cassidy’s wedding. Before Beau showed up and made her run away like a heartbroken teenybopper, she’d been all over Will. She’d held his arm like he was a prize she was showing off, laughing at his jokes with an exaggerated head-thrown-back, open-mouthed cackle that had grated on my nerves. He hadn’t even been saying anything that funny.
But I had to admit, some part of me jumped for joy when I saw her take off after her run-in with Beau. But then my joy turned to bitterness when Will dutifully went after her, then drank beer outside the bathroom while she cried over another man. How could he care enough to do that for a relationship he didn’t even take seriously, when there I was, never having been moved to tears by anyone but him?
I shook away the memories, getting back to the conversation with Lyndi. “Anyway, why do you ask about the kissing clause?”
She shrugged, shifting her weight. “I don’t know. Layla’s amazing. And beautiful. And smart. And funny. I bet if anyone could make him break his rules it would be her.”
I noted the hint of sadness in her tone and slowly turned to her. Lyndi was all of those things too, but she was the younger sister and more reserved than Layla. She was quiet and bookish, always with her nose either behind her camera or in a book. She was much more comfortable letting other people have fun while she stayed behind the lens or read about their fictional adventures.
Layla, on the other hand, was boisterous. She was always smiling, always having a great time no matter where she was. They were best friends in addition to sisters, but they also couldn’t be more different. The camera was the perfect metaphor, one enjoyed the spotlight while the other shied away from it.
