Seph looks so beautiful, and Dad looks so proud, and I feel… good? Wow, it really does feel like things are good. But then my eyes dart back to the stupid bench and I know that if they sit on it, everything (metaphorically and literally) is going to come crashing down. I wonder if they’ll think I’ve done it on purpose, as an act of sabotage, because I’m jealous, or because it should have been mine, or because Dad wouldn’t lend me money – they could pin it on anything, not that it matters. Even as an accident, it feels unforgivable.
‘Please take your seats,’ the wedding official says.
It feels like my heart and my stomach swap places.
‘And the bride and groom, take your seats too,’ the official says, once Dad has handed Seph over to Chester.
Oh, God, I can’t watch. No, God, please, do not sit on that bench. I feel sick as they lower their bodies, their bums heading for the seat in what feels like super-slow motion, and while I’m sure I would probably make things worse by calling out andtelling them not to sit down, I don’t think there’s time to warn them anyway.
I wince as they make contact but… nothing happens. The bench holds their weight. They’re sitting on it, exactly as they should be, and nothing bad is happening.
I quickly whip my head around, to look at Ethan. He just smiles at me, winks, then gestures for me to turn my attention to the ceremony.
I don’t know how he’s done it, but he’s fucking done it. He’s fixed it. I could kiss him.
And to think, I brought Ethan here thinking he could ruin the wedding. It turns out that bringing him here has saved it.
49
It’s been non-stop since Seph and Chester said, ‘I do.’ If weddings are this exhausting for the guests, I can’t even imagine how knackering they must be for the happy couple.
The ceremony went well – and without a hitch – which was a huge relief. I know that Ethan must have done something to fix the bench but I was on the edge of my seat, willing them to stand up and not sit back down again. It was all good though, nothing bad happened, but I’m still waiting to hear how he pulled it off.
After the ceremony the bride and groom went off for their photo shoot while the rest of us were ushered into the marquee to start eating and drinking – I don’t think we’ve stopped doing that since.
It’s fortunate that the garden is so big here because, I swear, there must be at least one hundred guests – and if there aren’t, it certainly feels like there are.
Ethan and I are very much main characters at the wedding – much to Bea’s annoyance. She and Dad approached me earlier, said that they had been talking and that, if I needed somewhere to live, that I could move back in with them. They were keento insist that this would only be temporary, while I got set up somewhere new.
No – obviously. I didn’t say that though, because I felt Ethan’s reassuring hand on the small of my back, so I just thanked them for the offer. They did wish me happy birthday, as an afterthought, so at least there’s that.
The two of us have been mingling with guests all day. It’s like people are drawn to us – although they’re probably drawn to Ethan specifically, because everyone seems to love him. Well, what’s not to love? It’s nice though. I’ve never felt so welcome and accepted with this crowd – almost like we’re more palatable as a team, like I’m no longer the odd one out. There’s two of us now.
It’s been good though – the food was great, all four courses of it, and Ethan liked it too so he didn’t need to sneak Tim Tams (although I wouldn’t be surprised if he had some in his pocket).
The speeches were… interesting. Well, Beau’s especially. He talked about waiting for the right person, about how settling down didn’t actually involve settling – it sounded way more sophisticated when he said it, but you take my point. He’s not wrong.
He tried to talk to me earlier – to both of us – but it was only polite small talk. I think he’s taken the hint, that I’m not interested, after I gave him the cold shoulder yesterday.
I’m not – definitely – and I know that for sure now. I was initially attracted to him, obviously, and it would have been kind of cool to date an earl, but he was only ever a distraction from what I really wanted, that I thought I couldn’t have – Ethan.
We’re sitting at a large round table – and it is undoubtedly the singles table – not that we care. It’s kind of nice, sitting over here, looking at my family all together on the top table. It feels sort of like watching an old TV show, where you feel like you know the characters. They’re all in their own little bubble, and Iknow I’m not really a part of it, but I suddenly don’t mind being on the outside looking in. I think sometimes too much emphasis is put on the family you’re born into. I think accepting that we might not have much in common, or get on, or be all that close, is okay. Trying to get people’s approval – or kicking up a fuss in the opposite direction – isn’t the way to go. It’s all about being happy with yourself, and not giving a damn what anyone else thinks. Sure, it’s nice to have had better interactions with them, but I’m happy with the way things are. I couldn’t imagine doing this full-time, that’s for sure.
‘Would you care to dance, m’lady?’ Ethan asks in a silly posh voice, offering me his hand.
‘I would love to, m’lord,’ I reply.
It’s getting dark outside the marquee now. Honestly, the day has passed by so quickly – again, it must go even quicker, if it’s your own special day.
The music is soft and romantic – and the lighting above the dance floor is made to complement the music – so we slow dance. I think this might be the first minute we’ve had alone together all day.
‘I figured this might get us some privacy,’ he says with a smile.
‘It’s a good idea,’ I reply. ‘Unless someone wants to cut in.’
‘I’ll just say no,’ he says, laughing it off. ‘You look incredible, by the way. That’s a beautiful dress – different from the one you’ve had hanging in our room all week though. I really liked that one too.’
I can tell by his tone that he liked my original dress more, but he’s being very polite in saying he likes both.
