I wave.
Released, we head back toward the reception hall, both of us walking in the grass on our toes so our heels don’t sink.
“That was the most beautiful ceremony I have ever seen,” Cath says, dabbing under her eye with one knuckle even now. “Did you see Ridge’s face when she came through the doors? And the vows, Carla. Jasper is getting a very pointed phone call tonight about renewing ours, I can tell you that much.” She fans her face with her hand. “My sister married a good one.”
“She really did.”
We reach the hall and walk inside, and I stop for a second just past the doors, because the whole place looks even better with people in it. There are round tables draped in white, each one crowned with an arrangement of white roses and greenery, gold-rimmed glassware catching the light from the strings of warm bulbs crisscrossing the ceiling. Champagne-colored ribbon loops along the backs of the chairs. There is a hum of conversations and laughter.
Robyn is going to lose it when she sees this, and in the best way.
Our table is the long one at the head of the room, facing everyone else, with the bride and groom’s seats in the middle. Little gold cards mark each place, and Cath and I work our way along, reading names.
Cath is sitting next to Flint, since she didn’t bring her husband and he doesn’t have a date. Next to them is Brook. So it looks like she and Magma are sitting on one side of Robyn and Ridge, and Malachite and I are on the other.
I release a pent-up breath. I’m glad I don’t have to sit right next to Brook and Magma. It makes things easier. I can be on my side of the newlyweds, being fun and charming and normal, without having a front-row view of the two of them all night.
Small mercies. I’ll take them.
The couple placed next to Malachite and me is Britt Jenkins and her hubby. Britt is also a surgeon and works with Robyn, and I know her husband, Tom, from seeing him at various work functions over the years. They’re good, easy company. Britt tells stories about the OR that should be horrifying and somehow always end up hilarious.
Malachite sees me and stands. Brook does too, rising from her seat further down the table.
Malachite gets to me first and gives me a big hug, arms all the way around me, lifting me a little off my heels.
Shit! He really is trying hard. I might need to have another word with him. I don’t want him getting his hopes up. I really don’t want a relationship right now, and I told him that.
In his defense, he did say that he would try really hard to change my mind, and he is. Still, I don’t want him to be disappointed; he’s a nice guy.
“There you are,” he says, putting me down. “You’ve been gone for ages. At least I know Dr. Jenk…Britt. She introduced me to Tom. They’re nice. I’ve been talking with them. How were the photos?”
“Endless,” I say, and he laughs.
Brook is there when Malachite releases me.
“Hi. I’m Brook,” she says, putting out her hand. “We met before, at?—”
“Yes, of course, I remember who you are,” I say, and I make sure it comes out warm, taking her hand. “It’s good to see you again, Brook. Hello.”
She turns to Malachite, and they introduce themselves.
“It’s nice to meet you,” she tells him. Her smile is wide and genuine, and up close she is somehow even prettier. “You look incredible, by the way,” she tells me. “So much better than the last time I saw you. I’m really glad.”
She means it. That’s the worst part. There’s not a single catty note in it anywhere. She’s so nice. I wish she wasn’t, because I don’t want to like her, but I can’t help it.
“Thank you,” I say. “I feel much better too.” I glance toward the doors. “Magma will be back soon. The photographer was nearly done with the guys.”
“We’ll talk more later.” She lifts her brows.
“Of course.” I nod.
She smiles again and drifts back toward her seat.
I watch her go, gold glittering under the lights, and I make myself a promise.
I will be nice to her. All night. Genuinely nice, not fake nice.
It’s not her fault I accidentally fell in love with her boyfriend before they got together.
