Page 77 of Mr. Big Mistake
“Hooray!”
“Here they come!”
“Oh my God, take pictures. Get your phone out. Hurry!”
I spun around as everyone in the casino stood and held their drinks in the air. I furrowed my brow as I watched the doors of the place burst open, revealing a very happy bride and groom. Everyone yelled and clapped. Some even whistled and hollered. The bride threw her bouquet into the crowd, and I heard women screaming while they reached for it, hoping to be the lucky woman to catch the falling flowers.
“I got it, I got it!”
Everyone clapped as the bride rushed over and hugged the woman holding the flowers. Men patted the groom’s back and handed him a drink. An older man with salted hair at his temples lit a cigar for the young man before shoving it between his lips. I sipped my drink as I made my way into a corner, trying not to detract from their moment.
And every time the couple looked at one another, I saw love in their eyes.
Kelly.
She was the only person I could think about as I threw back the rest of my drink. While the blushing bride kept hugging people, I kept envisioning Kelly in a beautiful, flowing white gown. I thought about the cigar Zane would want to share with me after being my best man at my wedding. Because I knew damn good and well, my father wouldn't give a shit. Or, more aptly, would find some reason for it to disappoint him.
Nonetheless, I couldn't stop daydreaming about Kelly and the kind of wedding she’d actually want.
“My stars, is that Brenden Hearthstone?”
The familiar voice pulled me from my trance, and I automatically wished I had another drink.
“It is, it is,” I said.
LaShonda sauntered in front of me before she plucked my empty glass from my hand. Before exchanging it with another drink that was identical to the one I had been sipping.
I chuckled. “How long have you been watching me?”
“Such a terrible word, ‘watching.’ Maybe I simply noticed you when you walked into a room. And I do know your habits, Brenden.”
“That’s very true.”
She giggled. “So, what are you doing crashing a wedding party?”
I paused. “You know the bride and the groom?”
Her hand fell against my chest. “Shows how much you remember from when we dated. That’s my sister, sweetheart.”
I paused. “Right.”
She patted me. “It’s okay that you forgot. I always thought that trait was endearing.”
“I’m sure you did.”
She stepped a bit closer to me. “So, what are you doing for the rest of your day? Got the day off work, by any chance?”
I threw the drink back with one swallow. “Actually, just coming off my lunch break.”
“So, I take it, that means you can’t stay? Maybe have a dance or two with me?”
I slipped away from her. “I need to head home.”
She followed me. “I thought you were heading back to the office.”
“I’m heading somewhere, yes.”
“Come on, stay with me. Just one dance. That’s all I’m asking.”
