Page 85 of Ski You Later
“We have to keep up pretenses. You get it,” he says with pretend seriousness. I can’t help but pull away slightly and raise my brow at him. His response being to plop a quick kiss to the tip of my nose before I can bat him away.
Carlos abruptly ends our little moment, as he flops down beside me with Henry in tow. They both make a ruckus as they take their seats. They look like twins in their matching tuxes, both boys sporting cute little noses and long blonde lashes. The only way to differentiate the two is due to Carlos’s shaggy blonde curls that are a direct contrast to Henry’s new buzz cut.
“Y’all want a drink?” Carlos slips us a flask, and I don’t think twice before taking a big swig.
I temper down a cough as some of the cheapest tequila I have ever had burns its way down my throat. Roman is much more of a champ as he swallows his sip the same as if it were water.
“Mate. That’s dreadful,” Roman says right after. Leaning over me to meet Carlos’s eyes, and the smile on Car’s face telling me everything I need to know.
“Ah, it’s going to be that kind of night,” I mutter. Taking another discreet swig of the flask as Henry joins the conversation.
“Rho, you wouldn’t believe how many people asked us if you paid Roman to be here. Can you imagine?” Henry whisper shouts to us, and my heart drops into my stomach.
“What! Who told you that,” I whisper-shout as I whip towards Henry.
“Uh, like a bunch of people, but Car Car and I are shutting them down. Don’t worry.” The thumbs up Henry sends back does nothing to ease my nerves and I quickly face the front, so they don’t see my panic. Obviously, I didn’t pay him to be here, but it’s not like he was my boyfriend when I invited him.
The muttering quickly quiets down, as everyone follows my lead in facing forward. Julian starts to walk down the aisle and I try my best to produce a smile for him. He looks great in a forest green suit and my aunt radiates with pride as she walks him down. The bridesmaids following close after them, everyone wearing a darker colour of pink as they walk down.
Jasmine is the last to walk down, her dress a dark pink that accentuates her glowing-bronze skin. I try not to look, but as I scan the small area, I don’t see any sign of Daniel sitting in the crowd.
Julian’s fiancé takes to the aisle not long after, and we all stand. Her cream dress is accented with hundreds of mini flowers, the design continuing to the train of the veil. The weddings entire design fits so well together, and I love the uniqueness of the whole thing.
The ceremony proceeds as usual after that, both parties smiling big as they face each other and get ready for the next stages of their life. I try my best to keep my gaze on the happy couple, but I can’t ignore the number of relatives looking back at me.
My cousins, aunts, and people I don’t even know make covert glances back, when their sole focus should be what’s happening up front. “Are you seeingthis?” I whisper up to Roman, thankful as he lowers his head to be more discreet.
“Yeah. Your family seems to be very inquisitive. Just ignore them, Langley. This day is about your cousin, so let’s just focus on him.” The swift kiss he places on my temple does nothing but strengthen my resolve, helping me face forward with more confidence.
Not long after that, cheering breaks out and everyone’s filled with joy as Julian becomes a husband. The pair of them are radiating love as they face the crowd and wave.
They do a couple more dramatic kisses that are met with a wall of cheers, and I’m glad everyone’s focused is fully on them.
Looking up at Romans smiling face, I send him a reassuring nod and lean into his side. We’ve gotten through half the event already; this should be completely fine.
CHAPTER 33
Violence is never the answer.
If I could go back in time and unthink that thought, I would. I really jinxed myself on this one.
Roman and I stand shoulder to shoulder, staring at the seating chart with twin looks of shock on our faces. My mom started to power walk away the second she saw it, but luckily dad caught her before she could do any damage.
Henry and Carlos join our group and then promptly stop when they see the chart for themselves. The circular table consists of Carlos, Mom, Dad, Roman, Henry, Daniel, and then me.
In that order.
“No fucking way,” Henry says into the space between us, as Roman attempts to peel off the names.
Our heads all turn in his direction and he just shrugs his shoulders. “It was worth a shot,” he muses, returning his hand to the side of my hip.
“Should we just, go home?” Carlos suggests, his question sounding like the best idea in my opinion.
“We can’t go home; we need to be here for Julian,” I counter immediately, but not putting much conviction into my voice.
Henry looks at me, raising his eyebrow in a skeptical way. “Ten bucks you don’t even know his wife’s name.”
“I know you don’t either,” I say without a second thought.
