Chapter forty-six
Izzy
Thereisafineline between drunk bridesmaid and just-tipsy-enough-to-give-a-hilarious-speech bridesmaid. Lila, the asshole who doesn’t have to give a speech, is falling on the drunk side of the line. Luckily, she has JT to catch her.
Based on the sporadic, light chuckles my speech elicited, I fear I may have been too far on the other side. Actually, you know what? My speech was hilarious. These people just need to work on their humor.
Too tired to dance anymore, I make my way to my seat. I’ve been on the dance floor for almost two hours straight, alternating between ridiculously dancing with Bryn and Lila to fast songs and casually dancing with a few of Jameson’s golf friends during the slow ones.
I’ve met so many new people at this thing that I’m starting to realize maybe I actually am a people person. I’d still rather curl up on the couch with a book than go to almost any social event, but maybe I’m not as awkward as I’ve always felt.
“So, Iz,” my cousin says as he sits next to me at the now-empty head table, “I heard a rumor you were dating Jaxon Steele.”
He says it with a smirk that’s douchey enough for me to know he doesn’t believe it. To be fair to my cousin Dale, he isn’t from Wild Bluffs, and as far as I know, he’s unaware of the fact that Jaxon Steele is actually Jaxon Reid, my best friend growing up.
I shrug. “I heard a rumor that your last girlfriend broke up with you because you sleep with a picture of your mom on your nightstand. Not even you and your mom, just your mom,” I say. “But seeing as I haven’t talked to you in almost three years, I wasn’t going to lead with that.”
I’m not usually a dick, but I’m done with being walked over by people just for the sake of keeping the peace.
Dale chuckles. “Put your claws away, Izzy. I was just kidding.”
There is nothing he could’ve said that would make me want to scratch his eyes out more.
“The aunts were talking earlier about how sad you must be—alone at your little sister’s wedding—and Aunt Jen mentioned you were dating Jaxon Steele. I have questions.”
Honestly, it’s to be expected. My mom is the middle of five sisters, and when they all get together, they survive solely off the family tea that’s spilled. It was the reason I wanted a date to this thing in the first place.
I toss back the champagne that has been sitting in front of me half-finished since the toasts.
“Ask away,” I say.
“So are you actually dating Jaxon Steele?” Dale asks, and I groan inwardly as I drink the rest of Kelsey’s champagne from her spot next to mine.
I lift my shoulders as I nod. “Yep.”
Dale’s eyes widen. “Really? LiketheJaxon Steele? I thought Aunt Jen just didn’t know that there was a famous Jaxon Steele or was getting your boyfriend’s name wrong or something.”
“Nope,” I say, popping the “p.”
My gaze strays to Bryn and Jameson as they dance in each other’s arms. Her face is turned up toward him, saying something that is clearly amusing him. His smile isn’t huge, but it’s so genuine it makes my heart tighten.
“How…how didyouend up dating Jaxon Steele?” Dale asks once he picks his jaw up off the floor. I don’t miss the way he emphasizes the word “you” like it’s completely believable that Bryn would be marrying a professional golfer, but me dating a famous musician? Inconceivable.
“Met in a bar,” I say, sticking as close to the vaguest version of the truth possible as I can. It’s not technically accurate, since I have no idea when I met Jaxon. Sometime before my third birthday party, when he brought me chalk and I kissed him in thanks.
“No shit?” Dale asks. “And you just started…dating? Are you sure he knew you were dating? Not just…ya know?” He raises his eyebrows twice as he says the last part.
Dale isn’t my favorite cousin. He’s fine. Considering we were the closest in age of all twelve of the cousins growing up, you’d think we’d be better friends, but we never got along well. He whined a lot the few times a year our families would get together, and if he wasn’t causing some scene or another, he tended to be meaner than I felt necessary. Never shared his toys and whatnot. My mom said it was because he’s an only child, but now that I’m an adult, I’m pretty sure it’s because he was mirroring his dad’s behavior.
Or maybe he’s just an asshole.
“Are you asking me about my sex life, Dale?” I ask.
He looks horrified at the thought. “No.”
“Ah, well, that’s a shame. It’s the best part of the entire Jaxon Steele tale.”
“So, you aren’t dating, then?”
