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They arrived thirty minutes before people were going to be seated for dinner. In the ballroom, they had seating for one-hundred-and-forty guests, and that still left room for a dais for the family to sit at, a DJ booth, and a substantial amount of floor space for people to dance.
“You made it. I was worried it would be like brunch,” her mother said as she came up and grasped Lainey’s hands and gave her air kisses. Then she did the same thing to Mateo. “You both look marvelous. Don’t forget to mingle. Have you seen your father?” she asked Lainey.
Lainey shook her head and then her mother walked off. Lainey turned to Mateo and motioned for him to bend down, not that he had all that far to go with her in five-inch heels.
“This alpha crap is horse manure. You’re a scientist. You brewed up something to give her a personality transplant.”
Mateo chuckled softly. “Swear to God, I didn’t. Let’s go somewhere close to a beer to mingle.”
“If we find Lee, we’ll find a beer.”
Mateo looked around the big room and thought he spotted his dark head. He pulled Lainey’s hand through the crook of his arm and led her through the throng of people. Lainey did a great job of mingling. He was surprised by how many people she knew, but he shouldn’t have been. After all, she had grown up here.
“Lainey, Mother’s looking for you,” Bennett said with delight.
“What are you doing here?” Lainey asked the pregnant woman who looked like her. But once again she looked like she was training for the Olympic event of lemon sucking.
Bennett leaned into Lainey and they did that creepy air kiss.
“I just couldn’t miss Mother and Father’s big night. I’ll go back to the hotel after the festivities are over. Really, Lainey, is that gown the best you could do?”
Lainey sighed. “Let me introduce you to my date, Matt Agular.”
She put out her hand. “A pleasure, I’m sure.”
Jesus, she’s as bad as her mother.
Mateo shook her hand.
Mateo gave Bennett’s husband a chin tilt. He’d already met the man and didn’t much like him. His face was looking red, which told Mateo that he’d already hit the sauce pretty hard. That was just great, because rumor had it they’d all be seated together tonight, hopefully not too close together.
“But what did Mom have to say about your dress?” Bennett asked.
Enough already.
“Rose said your sister looked marvelous,” Mateo said.
“Rose? Trey didn’t call Mother Rose until we were engaged,” Bennett squawked.
“Don’t know what to tell you. She told me to call her Rose at brunch today.”
“The brunch you were late for?” Bennett asked.
What a snide bitch.
“Yes,” Lainey answered.
“I see Lee waving to us. Gotta go,” Mateo said as he grabbed Lainey’s hand and led her away from the bad seed.
“Did you really see Lee?”
“Yeah, but he’s heading outside. But he was near that bartender, so I’ve got high hopes I can get a Heineken.”
“Lainey, you’re looking lovely.”
Mateo turned to see another older couple coming up to greet Lainey.
“Hello, Mr. Morrison. Mrs. Morrison. I’m so glad you could make it tonight. I’d like to introduce you to my date, Matt Agular.”
