Anna didn’t tell me she was catering an event today. She never asked me to watch Mills, either. No wonder the child was stuffing her face at the dessert table; she had to follow her mother to work.
Guilt ate at my chest. I didn’t want my sister to feel like she couldn’t rely on me, but it also felt nice not having to postpone plans because I had to babysit. Had she asked me to take care of her daughter today, I probably would’ve skipped the wedding because of it. So, maybe it was a good thing she decided not to bring me into it.
We left the cheerful child to continue drowning in chocolate once we spotted Eli and Javier, the boyfriends mingling with whom I assumed to be the groom’s family. We went to them, introducing ourselves and then stuttering when asked how we were related to the bride.
I caught a glimpse of the groom, and I could tell why Emerson was so eager to say ‘I do.’ He and the groomsmen mingled with champagne in hand, expensive jewelry decorating their wrists. His brunette hair glistened from the amount of gel used to style it, and his rugged stubble accompanied the muscles that were threatening to burst out of his suit.
Eli told me he was in the military, and it sure showed. His chiseled jaw was sharp enough to cut through Javier’s cockiness. That was saying a lot.
After tasting the most amazing meatballs I’d ever had in my life, it was time for the ceremony. My boyfriend and I sat toward the back on the bride’s side, and I had to make sure my hands weren’t saucy before taking a seat on the white cloth.
The groom—Ryder was his name—stood with his hands clasped before him and his head held high. His best man and two groomsmen were in a diagonal formation, their matching gray suits standing out.
Gabriela stood on the bride’s side, her yellow floral dress complementing the bride’s long gown. Emerson’s hair was styled in an updo, her brown curls peeking at the top. The two of them stood happily. There were no bridesmaids.
But I would say that only made Emerson and Gabriela look even more stunning. I’d say Easton agreed despite the uninterested, brooding attitude he continuously gave off. It was gone in this moment, the bored look in his eyes replaced with mesmerization.
The bridal song gradually grew in volume as fluorescent white dragged along the aisle. There was no flower girl at this wedding, and Millie wouldn’t stop whispering to me about how she should’ve been it. She’d have to wait until my or her mother’s potential wedding, I guessed.
After the officiant spoke, he allowed them to say their vows. Emerson’s were long and heartfelt, speaking about their future together and how she never believed it could come true. Ryder’s were a tad short. It sounded like he had made them on the spot, but his bride swooned over it, so maybe I was wrong.
The room sounded with claps and cheers as the officiant said, “You may now kiss the bride.” I had to wipe a stray tear, and River refused to let it go that I was crying at a wedding.
But when Emerson and Ryder’s kiss turned into a full-blown tongue battle, I was crying for a different reason. Time and a place, people.
“They’re practicing for when they get home tonight,” River snickered beside me.
Ignoring my childish boyfriend, I clapped along with the rest of the crowd. Emerson and Ryder got a standing ovation as they walked down the aisle hand in hand. If I didn’t know any better, I’d say the bride's twin shed a tear.
A while later, it was time for the bouquet toss. All the girls bunched up behind Emerson, eager to be the one to catch the flowers. Even Anna moved to catch it, and naturally, Millie did too.
When the flowers flew in the air, the one to catch them was Gabriela. The girl's smile reached her ears as she held the bouquet above her head, waving it around. It was the exact opposite expression her brother wore.
“You aren’t getting married next,” Javier grumbled to his sister.
Gabriela shoved the pretty flowers in his face. “Tell that to these!”
She tapped him on the head with it until his lips curled into a smile. Begrudgingly, of course.
When the ceremony was over, everyone started talking about the after-party. What wedding had an after-party? I didn’t know, but this one did. And get this—it was at my sister’s place.
When Anna signed up to cater the event, she also offered her living room for the after-party that the bride desired. It was a way to make her some extra cash, and Emerson and Ryder agreed because it was cheaper than renting elsewhere to hold it.
White and black balloons covered Anna’s living room with a tall white cake displayed on the center table. It was edible, unlike the one at the wedding ceremony.
My sister had many talents, one being a professional at mixing drinks. She worked as a bartender for some time, so she liked to put those skills to use whenever she could.
Emerson and Ryder drunkenly swayed to the music playing from the speaker, along with some of Ryder’s family members. River and I sat by the bar while Anna fixed him a drink. My sister insisted that she fix him the best Bloody Mary in the world.
My boyfriend sipped it twice. His initial reaction was unreadable, but his second was pure bliss. “I’m gonna get you to make all of my drinks.”
“I told you I’m a pro.” Anna flipped her hair with pride. Her eyes shifted. “You want one?”
She nodded at Eli, who had only just taken a seat beside me. The smile on his face wavered. It was like for a second he’d forgotten something, and the realization of it hurt.
My friend shook his head, his smile shaky. I would have stopped Anna from asking him in the first place if I could have. Luckily, she respected people’s wishes and went back to making others’ drinks.
“You predicted it.” I nudged Eli with a grin. “River and I are a thing.”
