“Because we’re all just naturally better looking, obviously.” Parker stands up straighter and flexes his arms which has Lily loudly groaning and dramatically rolling her eyes at him.
“You look like a rat dragged you out of the gutter after you passed out there for two years,” Lily retorts and I really question how she comes up with the things she says.
“Why would a rat drag me out of the gutter? Wouldn’t it want to keep me there?” Parker smirks, folding his arms across his chest.
“I wouldn’t know, I don’t speak to rats like you do.”
“Aw, come on, Lil. You miss slumming it with me, don’t even lie.”
“Having fun?” A deep voice comes up behind me, and I hide my small jump at the sudden appearance of the man I’ve been desperately trying to ignore.
“I was.” I turn my head to the side slightly. “And then you appeared.”
Wes crowds my back, and I look around to see who’s paying attention, but when I try to step away he clamps a strong hand on my hip, stopping me. His mouth dips close to my ear, his hot breath tickling my skin as he speaks.
“This is your last warning, Angel. The next time you give me attitude I’m going to punish you, and trust me when I say it’s not going to be fun.”
My jaw drops. I’m not able to say anything before he’s walking over to Jameson, and I’m being surrounded by Sutton and Lily, who’s apparently no longer engaged in her face off with Parker.
“You okay?” Sutton asks, and I do my best to school my expression.
“Yeah, of course. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Because your face is so red it looks like you’re sunburnt,” Lily adds unhelpfully.
“Maybe I am.”
“No, I think it has to do with whatever Wes just said to you.” Lily smirks.
“Are there drinks here?” I look around, trying to completely divert all attention from me and my supposedly red face.
“You think alcohol will save you?” Lily teases and I ignore her because I know she’s just trying to goad me.
“Of course we do, come on.” Sutton leads me into the kitchen where I’m able to pour myself a drink.
Emily announces we’re going to run through the ceremony. We all make our way behind the house to where a beautiful floral arch is set up at the end of a small aisle flanked by a couple rows of chairs.
Jameson and Wes are instructed to stand by the arch while Lily and I are paired up with Jameson’s coworkers, Parker and Dave, and told when to walk down the aisle together.
“Trade me.” Lily nudges my arm.
“I don’t think it works that way,” I tell her.
“I don’t want this one,” she insists.
“I can hear you,” Parker whisper-yells.
“Good because I wanted you to,” she whisper-yells back.
“Everyone ready?” Emily announces.
Dave and I nod while Parker and Lily continue to bickerbehind us. We’re instructed on when to start walking with the timing of the song that’s playing. Even though we start several feet before the other two, I swear I can hear their quiet arguing the entire time before they finally separate to stand on opposite sides of the altar.
Sutton and Emily walk together, and I watch Jameson the whole time. The way his eyes never leave his fiancée, the way the love between them is so palpable it’s almost hard to watch. The way they smile at each other, lost in their own little world where no one else even exists.
“Then we do the ceremony and everyone lives happily ever after.” Emily smiles. “You guys will pair up again to walk out after Jameson and Sutton.”
“Do I have to or can I walk out solo? Actually, can I change jobs and be a flower girl or something?” Lily asks.
