Page 8 of Hold Still

“Oh, I plan on it. Follow my lead.”

The MC says, “The groom’s brother and best man, Jayson Manchester, together with maid-of-honor McKenna James.”

Hoots and hollers greet us as the doors are opened. Jayson grabs my left hand and tugs me forward, then raises both of his in the air. Since I’m connected to him, my left one goes up with his, and I lift my right one with my bouquet, too. Halfway across the dancefloor, he stops, drops to the floor and does the worm. The worm! I do my fancy kick move when he jumps back to his feet. He twirls me around, ending by dipping me down to the floor. I suck in my breath as the zipper pinches my side, extend my right arm and hold the pose. The MC says, “Well, that certainly was an entrance.”

Standing upright, I hug my partner and offer a silent prayer that the zipper held. We walk over to the parents. Ken shakes his head while Lynn looks only slightly horrified. Standing next to Cole and Jayson’s father, I clap for Emma as she makes a beeline to her dad, who scoops her up.

“And now the couple of the hour, please make some noise for Mr. and Mrs. Manchester!”

“Woo-hoo!!” I scream while Jayson whistles and guests clap and stomp. The couple walks out to the center of the dancefloor and does a full circle. The MC announces their first dance and everyone crowds around.

Rose and Cole dance to “Unforgettable,” performed beautifully by the band. After a minute or so, the MC invites us all to join them. Jayson pulls me forward and we assume a formal dance posture as he waltzes me around. I didn’t know he had these moves, but I’m thankful to be—at least momentarily—swept away from the man I know is in the crowd and who I’ll have to face again before the night is through.

When we approach the bride and groom he says to his brother, “Guess we shouldn’t show up the happy couple,” and whacks him on the shoulder. Cole replies, “Not a chance, baby bro,” and whisks Rose away with some fancy footwork of his own. I laugh at their antics.

When the song ends, Jayson leads me over to his boyfriend, Carl. Kissing him, Jayson says, “You’re all mine now.” He turns to me. “Of course, feel free to drag me out to the dancefloor if your date isn’t up to snuff.”

I high-five both men. They don’t know I came alone. Perfect. It’s not like I need a partner to dance with anyway. I make my own dances, thank you very much. I hope Ozzy doesn’t figure out I’m here sans date. Although he didn’t seem to care when he was offering me a good time, washed down with drugs.

After Cole and Rose dance with their new in-laws—the traditional pairings can’t be made—everyone is invited to take their seats for the toasts. Which means I’m up first.

Grabbing a champagne flute from my place setting—far away from the man I want to avoid, thank you Rose for honoring my seating request—I walk over to the MC and grab the mic. Pulling my notes out of my pocket, I start, “Can you believe the day has finally arrived?”

One-hundred-plus wedding guests laugh and clap. Encouraged, I continue, “I’ve known Rookie since we were freshmen roommates at NYU. She had this huge crush on the star of all the musicals on campus, and dragged me not only to Cole’s shows, but also to all of his solo performances around the City. I thought it was cute, since half the school had the hots for him. Myself excluded, of course.”

Laughter bubbles up from the crowd as Rose blushes. Cole grabs her hand. If only I could bottle their love, I’d make a fortune. My money worries would be a thing of the past.

I clear my throat. “Now, Rose and Cole met up much later and that’s where their real romance started. We all know what they went through to get to today.” I pause. “And I want to say I’ve never seen two people more in love than they are. They love each other, yes, but they also like each other. And treat each other with respect and kindness. Their relationship is one love ballads aspire to capture.” The several musicians in the room show their appreciation with applause at this line. I refuse to check if Ozzy’s one of them.

“It doesn’t matter that Cole’s an international rockstar or that Rose is a totally up-and-coming PR guru. Together, they are the perfect combination.”

I raise my glass. “So, please, let’s give a toast to my best friend and her husband, the newly-minted Manchesters. May they have a long, happy and joyful life together.”

I take a sip and then rush over to them. Hugging her, I say, “I love you, Rookie.” And she whispers the same back to me. After kissing Cole on the cheek again, I return to my seat.

The reception continues and I dance with people I know, people I don’t know and by myself. Emilie’s fiancé Wills even took a turn on the dancefloor with me.

Eventually, I need to come up for air, so I head to the bar. Taking a spot near the end, my eyes skim over the crowded dance floor. Ozzy’s nowhere to be found.

“The lady will have a mojito, and I’ll take a Cuba Libre.”

My back stiffens. Muscular arms bracket my body while we wait for the bartender to make our drinks. I remain ramrod straight. No, I’m not going to lean back into his hard body. One I remember so well. One that has given me more pleasure than I ever thought possible.He’s high.

“Still know your drink, babes,” he says directly into my ear. Hot puffs of his breath skid across my sensitive skin.

“Yes,” my voice croaks.

“I also know what else you like. To swallow.” He punctuates his last sentence with a nip to my lobe.

My breathing hitches. He flexes his hips into my backside, his size XXL cock making contact with my butt. Stay strong, McKenna. I don’t move a muscle. That he can see. Kegels on the other hand….

The bartender brings our drinks and I gratefully grab mine and slip away from Ozzy’s quasi-embrace. From a few steps away, I chug a quarter of it and lift it to him. “Thanks.”

He closes the gap I created. “I know how you could thank me.” Running his fingers down my bare arm, he continues, “I couldn’t stop thinking about you on my flight over here from Vegas. It was so lonely on my plane.”

“I bet the flight attendants and other passengers in first class kept you entertained.”

He wraps his large hand around my wrist, overlapping his fingers. His size dwarfs me. Makes me even feel small. “Nah. Flew private.”

Nice life. I had to save for months to afford my flight from Vegas. I rip my arm from his grip. “Yeah, well, us commoners fly coach.”

“Aww, c’mon. Don’t be like this.” He traces my jawline with his finger, causing me to purse my lips. “You know we’re fucking amazing together. I could take you over there,” he juts his chin toward a closed door, “and make you feel real good.”

Looking into his tiny pupils, my resolve to push him away strengthens. Even if he’s my drug of choice, I will not give in to the desire swirling low in my belly. Too much rides on my shoulders now. I promised Daddy I’d take care of Mom, and she needs all my attention. “Not going to happen, Ozzy.”

He bends down and puts his nose in my hair, inhales deeply, then trails his lips over to my mouth. Kissing me, he says, “Sure there’s no way I can tempt you?”

He’s a living, breathing walking temptation. To me and to every female on earth. Okay, maybe not to Rookie, but still. I raise my chin. “No.”Shit.Why did I sound breathless?

My cell phone vibrates. I place my half-full mojito on a nearby table and reach into my pocket. My stomach clenches when Becky’s name shows on the screen. Turning away from him, I accept the call.

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