“Sir, I understand, but the cake cutting isn’t for another thirty minutes.”
Paulie crossed his arms, eyeing Tristan. He’d been combative all night, trying to goad Tristan into sinking to his level, but Tristan constantly refused, killing him with kindness as his mother had taught him. But it only seemed to make matters worse.
“Are you calling me a liar?” Paulie’s tone was all hostility, yet Tristan’s placid demeanor didn’t crack. In the grand scheme of things, he wasn’t theworst person Tristan had ever dealt with. He wasn’t even in the top twenty.
“Aren’t you waiting on your steak?” Gideon asked dryly, and Tristan winced, knowing that he’d just poured kerosene on the fire.
Stepping over to the videographer, Paulie tried to get in Gideon’s face, but he came up a foot and a half short.
“Why aren’t you working?” he barked.
Gideon raised an eyebrow, unimpressed, and opened his mouth to retort, but someone else beat him to it.
“Quit bothering the staff.”
Tristan’s jaw dropped as Jax approached, his chef’s jacket gone, replaced with a black blazer and navy-blue tie, as if Jax were a guest, not The Pointe’s sous-chef.
Paulie rounded on Jax, spinning so fast that he almost stumbled. “Who the fuck are you?”
Jax briefly met Tristan’s gaze, gave him the smallest of smirks, and then crossed his arms, mimicking Paulie’s stance.
“Me? I’m J, the bride’s friend and the spokesperson for everyone. News flash, we’re all tired of your bullshit. You didn’t pay for this wedding, and you’re ruining the day by being an insufferable asshat.”
Paulie sputtered as Jax continued, the devil to Tristan’s angel.
“You’ve been hassling these guys like you have small-dick syndrome. Let them do their job.” Getting closer, Jax seemed to loom over Paulie. “I don’t wanna see you botherin’ anyone for the rest of the night.” He sounded like he was in a gangster movie, and his words echoed across the foyer. By this point, some guests and servers had gathered by the door, but Tristan didn’t see any of the bridal party yet.
Despite how angry Jax claimed to be, Tristan trusted him not to cross the line because he was using his powers for good, standing up for everyone like it was something he did all the time. Sure, his approach was unconventional and it might blow up in his face, but Jax was brave enough to try. Tristan could learn a thing or two from him.
“Y-You wanna take this outside?” Paulie stuttered after a good ten seconds of silence. There were more people watching now, and Tristan recognized the groom’s brother as he broke from the pack and walked over.
“Naw, Paulie, pack it in. I don’t know what’s going on with you, but thisguy’s right, and I don’t want you pissing off my brother.”
“I didn’t ask you,” Paulie snapped back, not at all deterred.
“You want me to go get my friends?” He took a threatening step closer, radiating the same kind of energy as Jax. “Because you can leave now, or we canmakeyou leave.”
“I’ll help!” Jax offered, raising a hand. Tristan met his gaze and Jax grinned this time, winking at him and making his heart race.
“But, I’m helping, Antonio! I’m making sure their day is on point!” Paulie went straight to defensive, and Gideon huffed while Jax rolled his eyes.
“And you can help even more byleaving.” Grabbing Paulie by the collar, Antonio quickly hauled him off. “I’ll tell the bride and groom you said goodnight!” he declared as they exited through the glass doors.
“I should have gotten that on camera!” Gideon exclaimed, laughing as Jax walked over.
“That could’ve gone really bad if the wrong people saw that.” Tristan couldn’t help but be impressed. “But thank you. The rest of the night will gomuchmore smoothly now.”
“You’re very welcome.” Jax dusted off his hands. “Although the other guy did most of the work.”
“Still, I appreciate you coming to the rescue,” Tristan chuckled, enamored with how Jax looked in his makeshift suit.
“I heard he was giving you a hard time. And you know what? That’smyjob.” The way Jax said it, along with the smirk on his face, had Tristan flushing.
“Oh, look, a wedding!” Gideon exclaimed, heading back into the main room as most of the audience dispersed, leaving Jax and Tristan alone in the corner.
“Buy me a drink after work?” Jax asked, their eyes still locked, and Tristan replied automatically, the last of his resistance crumbling.
“Of course.”
