“What? Holy shit. I mean, she’s always had a thing for him. A lot of girls do. She showed up at the cabin a few times, but it was just one big party, you know? But…” he pauses and looks like he’s thinking too hard. “He’s been acting weird. I thought it was nerves. He disappeared for like an hour during the bachelor party Friday night, and yesterday he’s the one who wanted to quit before we even got halfway done with golf, even though the whole thing was his idea in the first place.”
“Great. All the times Stephanie ditched us match up with the times Calvin ditched you, so this isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment thing. Fantastic. I’m so glad we wasted so much time, effort, and money on this over-the-top wedding,” Lizzie spits sarcastically.
“Fuck the both of them, Lizzie. Those assholes deserve each other,” Haven says.
“Well, no use standing around crying about it. We have an award-winning chef making us dinner, and I promised Henry an epic dance party. We’re going to rearrange the seating a little. Sorry, boys, you’re getting bumped from the head table.” Lizzie stops and shakes her head. “Actually, I’m not sorry. Your friend is a sleazewad.”
I notice anything referring to the bride or groom has already been removed, which is probably Katie’s doing. I’m going to have to give her a raise. Lizzie walks to the front of the table and starts rearranging place cards. She and Amelia are now in the center of the table, with me on the other side of Amelia and Haven on the other side of Lizzie, followed by the other bridesmaid, Rachel.
She walks over to the closest guest table and dumps the place cards for Calvin’s friends on it. “Grandma, Grandpa, Barry, Joan, will you all please come sit up here with us?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” my dad says, kissing Lizzie’s forehead and then taking my mom’s hand to lead her to the big table. Amelia’s parents follow. Joan squeezes Lizzie’s hand before taking her place. Henry and Raelynn are put in booster chairs between my mom and Amelia’s mom.
Food and drinks are served. Guests glance toward our table often during the meal, especially Calvin’s friends and family. I’m pretty sure Katie and Gloria are becoming best friends from the way they’re laughing at their table, and if that isn’t a terrifying thought, I don’t know what is. Tiffany keeps glaring at us from the table she’s sharing with some of her family members, especially when I offer Amelia bites of my salmon, and she offers me bites of her beef Wellington.
“Are we taking bets on how long before Mom explodes?” Lizzie leans back in her chair.
“Who are we going to get to run the board?” Amelia asks. “Figure out the odds?”
“Grant could do the math, and Dax could do the board. He’s got surprisingly good handwriting.” Haven grins and blushes slightly.
Lizzie looks over at me and Amelia. “If either of you blushed as easily as Haven and Dax do, your crushes wouldn’t have stayed secret for a day, let alone a year.”
Amelia nods. “That boy hasn’t taken his eyes off her since we got here.”
“Why do I hang out with you two?” Haven shakes her head, even pinker than before.
“You love us.” Lizzie singsongs.
“Whatever,” Haven sighs.
“Ah, Haven, sweetie, we’re all just excited. He’s sweet, and I’ve seen him with Raelynn. They adore each other,” Amelia tells her.
“Yeah. He’s really great with her. But we just met like two weeks ago, so don’t get too excited yet, okay?”
“Just promise us you’ll give this a real chance,” Lizzie says. “This is coming from someone who just got left at the altar.”
Amelia points her fork at Lizzie. “Technically, you didn’t make it to the altar.”
“I know, but ‘left waiting to walk down the aisle’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
“True. Want me to tell that asswipe’s guests he’s not coming and they’re free to go find something else to do if they don’t want to party with us?” Amelia asks Lizzie.
“Nope, I’ve got this, MM.” Lizzie downs what’s left of her wine.
“MM?” I ask.
“Mama Minnie,” Lizzie explains with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m playing around with things to call her.”
Amelia groans. “You’re going to get me murdered. Between that and Alex’s tattoo, Tiffany is pushing me down an elevator shaft or something.”
“Oooh, very soap opera. Then you can come back as your own evil twin in a few seasons,” Lizzie says, winking at Amelia.
Then she stands with her fork and glass in her hands, but she doesn’t even need them because the focus of the entire room is already on her. She clinks them together anyway.
“I’d like to make a few toasts or speeches or whatever. First, to Calvin and my sister Stephanie, my groom and my maid of honor, wherever they may be since they’re not here, and it appears that they took off together.”
There’s an audible gasp from many of the guests.
