As I looked around, I saw a couple of reporters set off to the side with their cameras in hand, ready for the go-ahead to start clicking away. Only the magazine that had rights to their big day was on the grounds. Roman had been strict on that, but I’m sure if I went to the gates surrounding the house, there’d be plenty more waiting to get a glimpse of them. Rhys and Kevin were here with the happy couple, and the rest of the security team were keeping the riff-raff out.
I stepped away from Nikki’s nagging, and towards where Roman had Paisley wrapped up in his arms; my head just couldn't take it anymore. The sooner I could get a drink down her, the better. The bad-tempered dwarf usually turned into a submissive pixie the more she drank. My arms slipped around them as I pushed my head between them, smiling wide at my friends. “Congratulations.”
Roman gave me the side eye, “Dude!” I laughed as he shrugged my arms from them, he took one of his arms from around Paisley and turned to shake my hand, his scowl soon turned to a smile as I turned my attention to Paisley, it wasn’toften I gave her compliments, if ever, but as I looked at her now with her dark hair twisted into some kind of roll and her cheeks flushed with the excitement of the day, there was no doubt about how beautiful she was. I smiled, pulled her against me and kissed her cheek, “You look beautiful. Congratulations.” I whispered, squeezing her as she hugged me until I released her again.
“Thanks, Gav.” She slipped back into Roman’s side and sighed as she looked up at him, then turned her gaze back on me, “It means a lot.” Her cheek fell to his chest, and Roman kissed her head. I felt a twang, I'm not sure what, but something pulled at my empty heart, it almost felt like jealousy.What the fuck is going on?Not like before, but like I was missing something.
As I pulled back from her, I frowned, “Listen, I need to find some more painkillers or something, I’ve got a banging fucking headache….”My feet were already moving. “I’ll be back.” I needed five minutes to sort my fucking head out.
“Don’t be long, we’ve got photos being taken soon and I want you in them.” Roman called out. I threw my hand over my head to let him know I’d heard him and headed back towards the house. I rushed into the kitchen, went straight to the sink and ran the cold tap. I popped the lid on the little bottle again and filled a glass with water to wash down two more tablets. I took my sunglasses from my face, threw them down on the counter and cupped my hands beneath the ice-cold water. I splashed it over my face, cooling my overheated skin. The relief was instant. With the water on my face and the cold water in my system, I felt a little more human. Now, I needed this headache to go, once and for all, and I’d be sweet.
The photos had already begun when I joined the congregation again. The photographer was clicking away at Roman and Paisley as I walked back over. I came to stand next to Rhys and folded my arms across my chest. I needed this tuxjacket off, but I knew Paisley would probably kill me if I did. “Look at him, pussy whipped.”
Rhys’ snigger made me look up at him. I smirked and shrugged, “What? He is.”
“It might be you one day?” Rhys added as he looked around the grounds.
“Fucking doubt it, mate. Have you seen me?”I pointed at myself.
“Yeah, anyone that can put up with your impossible arse needs to be someone very fucking special.”
I laughed just as some bird called me over. Not by name, but she made eye contact and pointed; I guessed that was my cue. “My turn then?”
“I’d say so.”Rhys smiled, and his head nodded towards the shoot.
“Gav?” Roman called out impatiently. I sauntered over, straightened my bow tie, and shoved my hands in my pockets.
“Okay, can I have Roman and the best man, and then we’ll have Roman, Paisley and the best man and then we’ll do another with the maid of honour.” Some guy shouted his orders out. For the next half an hour, we were used like performing monkeys, pushed from here to there as three other photographers clicked away. I’d had enough already.
In the middle of all the male photographers, there was one female. She was small, not as small as Nikki, but her innocent face stood out; she wasn’t as confident as the others. I could tell that from here. I stared at her for a second as she fiddled with her camera, well, until the other guy started shouting his orders again. Her eyes met mine as she looked up, but she instantly looked away. I took no more notice and let the photographers do their job. The quicker they did that, the faster I could get a drink. I really needed one now.
I wasn’t sure how much more lovey-dovey shit I could take. If it wasn’t for the fact that I was the best man, I’d have bailed a while ago. But this was Roman, and I owed him way more than just sticking around here.
With one elbow placed on top of the bar, I pressed my back into the corner and sighed as I looked over the calibre of guests. This wasn’t your everyday friends and family having fun and enjoying themselves at a family wedding; no, this was a case of networking with the rich and famous of Hollywood Hills. His career had really taken off and I was proud of him.
Lifting my hand to the barman, he came over, “Double vodka with two ice cubes, please.” It hadn’t taken him long to make, and place it on the makeshift bar, I picked it straight up and took a large gulp, the ice numbing my lips as I drank.
When we moved here permanently, Roman hired me as his security/driver. I did the more personal outings. Kevin wasn’t here all the time since he had a family back home, but he made it back for the big events Roman needed him for. Like today. You could say that I took Kevin’s role. Rhys is his main guy. It wasn’t surprising; the guy looked the part. Broad shoulders, six feet plus and built like a brick shithouse. His shaved head even made him look like a thug; he wasn’t. Rhys was a good guy; he always had been. Loyal, and had everyone’s back. Even mine when I’d fucked up over and over again.
As my gaze fell back on Roman and Paisley, I lifted the glass back to my lips. His arm had been fixed around her waist all evening; she’d barely moved from his side. She smiled and laughed at something he’d said, and between them sat her small,perfectly rounded bump as they mingled. She was around six months gone now with their first baby.
As I drank my alcohol of choice, I wondered where all the single females were. Weddings were usually filled with single women. I scanned the room, but every woman I saw was hanging off the arm of some douchebag model or rich older guy. How the fuck was I supposed to compete? More to the point, what had I got to offer? Fuck, why was I thinking about that? I didn’t need a girlfriend or partner, that wasn’t me.
With a heavy huff, I turned back to the bar and gulped down the contents of my glass. I needed something stronger. “Yo!” I called out to the barman at the other end. He nodded my way as he was finishing up serving some other guy, so patiently, I waited. As my arms rested on the bar, someone barrelled into me. “What’s up, fuckface?” Nikki asked, knocking her hip into me.
The barman came over and Nikki jumped in first. “Tequila, please.” the barman glanced at me, not in the least bit sorry that he just gave in to the pretty redhead at my side.
“Make that two.” I said, and the barman turned to grab the bottle.
“Why don’t we make that four?” Nikki stated as a grin pulled at her mouth. Her shoulder brushed my arm as she leaned in.
“Is everything a competition?” I asked, smirking.
“No but why have one when we can double up.” The barman waited for confirmation, so I nodded. He lined all the shot glasses on the bar, tipped the bottle and poured the tequila, it ran from the first glass to the last and he stood the bottle back up. He seemed quite amused as he looked between us and grinned, leant his hands on the edge of the bar and watched as we picked up the first glass. “Let’s go then.” We clinked the glasses, then knocked the first one back simultaneously. Then following straight after, we necked the other one. Nikki’s lipsshone as the alcohol stuck to her lipstick. Her tongue darted out, and fuck if it didn’t do things to my dick.
“Another round,” I said to the barman, “but make it six.”
“Now who’s being competitive?” Nikki said as her tongue rolled over her lips. With the tequila gone from her lips, she captured her bottom lip between her teeth and smiled around it. While the barman poured more tequila, I stared at her, I couldn’t help it. Her red hair framed her fair, porcelain skin, and her green eyes stood out, glinting as the coloured lights hit them. The barman drew my attention back to him as he set the glasses down and poured more tequila into them. I quickly nodded at him and picked up two glasses with a smirk, and handed one off to Nikki. She took it, smiling as she lifted it in a toast. “To our best friends?”
