Well, crap. I’d better be careful. If a stranger can see it, my family, specifically Vicky, will see it.
“Why are you here?” he asks, and I find it quite a rude question.
I don’t bother answering. Instead, I ask him the same question. “Why areyouhere?”
Alec is leaning even closer now—not like “he’s gonna kiss me” close, but closer. “I asked you first.”
Sighing, I admit, “I’m here to serve them.” I use my thumb to gesture to the women. “I’m currently their waitress.”
Alec’s face, which was sort of smiling before, is now frowning. “That’s bullshit.”
“Yeah, well…” I snort. “That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. I’m the personal attendant. I’m attending.”
“No.” He shakes his head, and I can’t help noticing how nice his hair is. The movement back and forth of his head causes the top of his hair, which is longer than the sides, to move. Light from the dance floor flickers, and I notice the shine in his dark locks. I have the sudden urge to run my fingers through his hair. I do myself a favor and shove my hands into the front pocket of my old jeans. “I looked it up. Your job is to help the bride on the wedding day. It isn’t to do their bidding.”
“You looked it up?” I snort again. Then I laugh. “What’d you do? Google it?”
“Something like that.”
“Why?”
He shrugs. “Bored.”
“Bored?” What does that mean? When did he have time to get bored today? No matter, I mimic him and shrug too. “It’s the way it is forthiswedding.” Besides, I’m doing my best to get back into Vicky’s good graces. I’ve missed her.
Just then, two things happen. First, Chrissie has made her way out of the booth and is currently latched onto Alec’s left arm. At the same time, Vicky is yelling my name. “Hey,” she snaps her fingers at me like I’m actual server. Even then, that’s so rude, “Mattie.” I look over and see her raised glass is empty. She’s moving it back and forth. “I need a refill.”
Like they planned it, the five women surrounding the bride raise their glasses and say, “Me toooooooo.”
Since Chrissie is next to me, she doesn’t bother with a raised glass. Instead, she snaps, “Yeah, get us all another one.” Then she shoves me with her shoulder, hard enough that I lose my balance.
Luckily, one of the groomsmen, a guy I only glanced at during the dance rehearsal, is there to break my fall, sort of. He’s a buffer, so when I do hit the floor, it’s not very hard. In the process, though, I nearly knock him off his feet too.
I half expect him to look down at me with concern, an arm extended to help me up, but nope. “Jesus. You nearly made me spill my drink,” he growls. “If you’re that wasted, whatever your name is, you should probably get a cab. Nobody wants to deal withyoudrunk.”
I hear the other guys and some of the girls laugh, and while part of me wishes I could laugh too, the other part wants to cry. That part also wants to leave. Right now.
That’s when a deep voice asks, “Are you okay, Matilda?”
I feel hands slip beneath my armpits. I’m lifted off the ground like I weigh nothing until I’m on my feet. The next thing I know, Alec is leaning into the guy who was just pretty darn rude to me. I’m not sure what he’s saying, and I don’t wait around to find out. Instead, I make a beeline for the door. I’ve had my fill of the wedding party for one day. Maybe for a lifetime.
ChapterFive
Alec
“Well,that’s one way to get rid of her.” That statement comes from Chrissie, and it gets laughs from the rest of the women at the table.
I point at Anthony. “I’m outta here.”
“What?” He jumps up from his spot next to Vicky. “Why?”
Instead of getting into it with him, I wave him off and say loudly enough for him to hear, “Tired.” Sure, I’d love to tell every single one of those assholes how rude they are, but I wasn’t lying. I’m tired. I flew in late last night and had to wake up early to get to that fucking dance class. I wave to Angelo, and since I’m standing closest to Adrian, I add, “Tell them I’ll see you all at the hotel for breakfast.”
Once outside, I pause to breathe in the cool evening air. Cool for June in Chicago, that’s for sure. Reaching into my pocket, I find the keys to my rental. As I’m about to turn right, I hear her. “Thanks for helping back there.”
I look down and a little left. Matilda is standing at the curb, phone in hand. “You’re welcome.” I pause. “You okay?
“Oh, yeah. Great.” She’s nodding a bit too enthusiastically. “Terrific. Spectacularly fine.”
