Page 78 of Harrison's Wedding

“So, how are you enjoying working for Cooper?” I ask Maddy in an undertone, aware that Helen is sitting next to her.

Her eyes dart to Helen before she turns back to me and smiles. “Good. I’ve finished my degree now, so I’m hoping to move on to working on client accounts with the guys.”

She looks across the table, and I follow her gaze. She’s looking at Samuel; her eyes linger on him for a few seconds more, and I wonder if she has a crush on him.

“You’ve always done a good job when Cooper’s had you do stuff for us. I’m sure you’ll do really well,” I tell her and give her a reassuring smile.

“Thanks, I really like working at Powell Management; it’s been great to learn from Cooper.”

“He’s very good at what he does, that’s for sure,” I nod.

I take a sip of my wine and notice that they must have changed what they’re giving us because it tastes different. A lot of these fancy events will serve a different wine paired specifically to each course. This one has a strange flavor, not unpleasant, but very different.

I take my time eating my meal, it’s a bleu cheese filet mignon, and it’s possibly one of the best meals I’ve ever tasted.

“I can’t get over how good this food is,” I say when I’m about halfway through eating.

“It’s phenomenal,” Gabriel agrees, looking at me in amazement.

“I think it’s the best food I’ve ever tasted,” Maddy tells me.

I turn to her with wide eyes and gasp, “Yes! I was just thinking that exact thing.”

She laughs at me and says, “Great minds think alike.”

I laugh too, and I’ve never noticed before how beautiful Maddy is. Earlier, I was thinking that she looked very pretty tonight, but now it’s like I can trulyseeher. I should tell her how beautiful she is. She should know.

“Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are?” I ask her.

She flushes pink and says, “Um, no. Has anyone ever toldyouthat?”

“I’m a rock star. I could probably find someone online who’s said it.” We both giggle and I grin at her.

“What about Heather? Is she beautiful?” Maddy wonders.

I picture Heather in my mind, long blonde hair and stunning blue eyes. With her perfect curves and long legs. I think about how wonderful she is, and I grin at Maddy.

“She’s out of this world beautiful,” I tell her. “Heather outshines the moon and the stars. Her beauty is incomparable, and I worship at her feet. She fills my life with love, and I’m the luckiest man on the face of the planet because she’s mine.

“Whenever she’s in a room, she just completely fills it. She takes over with her presence and people are drawn to her. She’s charming and charismatic and Seb loves her because she’s so amazing, but she’s mine, and she loves me and she wants to be with me.

“And now she’s doing Saturday Night Live, and the whole world will see how beautiful she is. Everyone else will fall in love with her because she’s an angel. No, she’s a goddess. A goddess sent to this Earth to grace us mere mortals with her presence.”

I finish my rant and Maddy is staring at me with wide eyes. “She sounds amazing. I could easily fall in love with a woman like that.”

“That’s why I did,” I laugh. I take another bite of my food and say loudly, “This food issogood!”

Sebastian says, “It really is. It’s the best food I’ve ever eaten.”

“That’s what I said!” Maddy and I say at the same time and burst into laughter.

“Great minds think alike,” I remind her.

Everyone is in agreement that the food is amazing, and our waiter brings us a second glass of wine. I didn’t even notice that I’d finished mine.

Gabriel says to Ariana, “I want to fuck you, baby.”

Sex is a good idea. I’m sure that every one of my nerve endings is on fire, and I want to fuck, too. I look at Maddy, and she’s looking back at me with sexual desire written all over her face.

---