Page 17 of OneTime Lovers
The large room has been transformed with potted palms, twinkling fairy lights, and swaths of greenery dripping down from the ceiling. It’s like a tropical rainforest has sprouted inside. The glass doors at the opposite end of the room have been pulled back fully to open the room to the garden beyond.
Lined up down the room are two long tables covered in crisp white linen and festooned with vibrant fuchsia, orange, and yellow tropical flowers as if the flowers have dropped from the forest canopy above.
Along the length of each table are five towering arrangements made up of candles, ferns, flowers, and fresh fruits. Each place setting is decorated with pink and orange striped napkins and palm leaf shaped place cards with a guest’s name embossed in a gold fancy script. It’s lavish, opulent, and entirely beautiful.
While tonight is officially being called theRehearsal Dinnerthere is nothing traditional about the event. Of course, we don’t really need to rehearse for tomorrow’s late afternoon informal wedding on the lawn overlooking the beach, but Cassie was not going to let a little thing like that stop her from having a good party.
I spot Cassie standing at the head of one of the tables, glowing, her eyes sparkling in the candlelight with unshed tears as she looks up at Luke. I’m so happy for my friend I almost shed a tear of my own.
Lily grabs my arm, and we begin circling the tables, to find our place cards. For dinner, I’ll be sitting next to Ben, the handsome bearded man who arrived late to the party with Scott. Lily and Parker are seated opposite us. Thankfully, Scott is sitting at the other side of the same long table, a little further along between Trudy and Bec.
I was introduced to Ben earlier, so we instantly begin chatting and he’s a fun and interesting dinner companion. Along with Parker, the guys have Lily and I laughing uncontrollably before we’ve even finished the first course of a conch tropical salad.
As dinner progresses to the main course of baked fish, Ben’s teasing becomes even more outrageous and highly entertaining though I can’t help noticing Scott doesn’t look amused. In fact, Scott looks grumpy as he sits eating, only occasionally looking up, his eyes shooting daggers at Ben, or maybe me. I wonder if he thinks I’m interested in Ben.
Sure, Ben is good-looking, and it’s obvious from the pull of his shirt across his back, he has the ripped body to match. But for me there isn’t the same visceral attraction I feel with Scott.
Maybe another time and another place I would have been interested in a fling but not now––especially not after this afternoon’s interlude. No, if there is any fling to be had then it will be with Scott.
As I drag my thoughts away from Scott again, I settle back to enjoy my delicious dinner, even better dessert, and the funny speeches from both Luke and Cassie that follow.
After dinner the guests slowly filter out of the forest room and into the sheltered gardens. Waiters weave between small groups of guests congregated on the lawn, handing out more chilled glasses of champagne as music floats out into the still, clear night.
Several glasses of champagne later with my gal pals and Cassie is looking a little tipsy. We made a pact that we’d all stop at four cocktails to be fresh tomorrow for Cassie’s big day, and by my counting we’ve gone beyond our limit. I guess we forgot to factor in glasses of champagne. Oops.
Most of the other guests have already drifted off to their rooms, leaving my girl gang from Manhattan, still sipping on glasses of tepid champagne at one of the outdoor tables. Cassie’s sister, Chloe and high school friend, Madison, are sitting not far away on the loungers by the pool, while Luke and his friends are gathered around the bar.
Yes, I think it’s time for our bride to call it a night. I give Lily the nod that says it’s time to go, as Cassie looks ready to refill her glass.
Trudy catches on quick to our plan and wanders over to the bar, returning shortly after with bottles of water for everyone. I quickly finish off my glass of champagne then take several gulps of water before taking Cassie’s right arm and signaling Lily to move in to take her left one.
“Hey, Cass, it’s time we call it a night. Our princess bride needs her beauty sleep,” Lily encourages gently.
“Really, already? It’s still only early. Isn’t it?” As I suspected she has completely lost track of time and probably the number of drinks she’s had too.
“Come on, Cass. Let’s find Luke so you can say goodnight to him for the last time as a single woman.”
Saying a quick goodnight to the others we point and march her in the direction of Luke. And within feet of him she enthusiastically wraps her arms around her man, and they launch into a smoking hot kiss.
“Oh seriously, this is going to be the longest goodnight kiss ever. I need another drink,” I complain as I try to get the barman’s attention to the sounds of Scott and Ben’s laughter.
Lily shakes her head. “I’m out. I’ll see you back at the room. Just don’t let Cassie out of your sight.”
“Gee, thanks for the support, Lil.”
Ben agrees with Lily as he laughingly tells us, “I’m out too. I don’t need to be seeing this,” before walking over to join the girls on the pool loungers. I’m not surprised Ben would rather flirt with the single ladies.
Scott stands his ground looking over at me. “I guess we’re immune to them after a couple of days.”
Luke breaks his kiss with Cassie long enough to say he’ll walk Cassie back to the bungalow. I make him promise not to keep her out too late then watch smiling as they leave arm in arm. Turning back to the bar I pick up my glass, realizing Scott and I are now left alone. So much for trying to avoid him.
“Do you mind if I stay and have a drink with you?” he asks as he leans his elbow on the bar looking sideways at me.
“Why would I mind?” I say although I know why he might be thinking that.
“I don’t know––maybe because I get the feeling you might be trying to avoid me after this afternoon.”
Damn, I guess tonight I wasn’t as subtle as I thought I was being.
