Page 93 of Second Chance Vacation

Liam, Gabe, and Gabe’s girlfriend, Kara, approach behind us, both Liam and Gabe following my previous interaction, slapping Wes on his shoulder in a silent congratulation. The five of us stand together by the bar as people, mostly family, begin to shuffle into the room. Servers circle the space with a variety of finger foods.

I notice now that Wes is alarmingly on edge. Parties don’t stress him out, but when I look at him, I’m reminded of the anxious tornado he was in the kitchen the day we hiked in France. The day he proposed to Savannah.

Odd.

As most seats are filled, Savannah finally comes into view, a breathtaking display so meticulous, you would think it was their wedding. Her dress has those little beads on them that I am certain will find their way onto the floor by the end of the night. There’s no way they’re properly secured. Wes wraps his arm around her waist, planting a kiss against her cheek, causing Savannah to melt into his touch.

My breath catches in my throat as my eyes divert to the beautiful, ethereal breath of fresh air standing behind Savannah. Gen is dressed in a purple velvet dress, and somehow it manages to hug her body so perfectly that I even manage to forget I’m mad at her. Her hair is draped over one shoulder, formed into vintage waves that remind me of an old Hollywood starlet. I want to tell her how beautiful she looks, but I refrain. Gulping down the beer in my hand, I turn toward the bar, managing to divert my eyes from the sun.

“You look great, Wesley,” Gen says to my best friend, her voice more timid than normal.

“Thanks, Gen, you look great too. Not as great as someone—” He nods his head toward Savannah, who slaps him on the lapel.

“Oh, stop.” She rolls her eyes, not-so-secretly loving every second of it.

“Of course not. She’s the bride, after all. The bride is supposed to stand out at wedding events.”

I fight off the urge to roll my eyes at Gen’s obvious diversion from her own beauty. Savannah is conventionally pretty, beautiful even, but it doesn’t hit quite the same as Gen’s brand of beauty.

Eyeing Gen from behind, a small smile spreads across my lips. Savannah’s eyes dart to my own, a look of confusion mixed with mischief in her expression. I do my best to appear unbothered by Gen’s presence, but I’m sure my face wears it like a mask. Stifling the grin that had crept forward, I down the rest of the beer I was holding in one fell swoop.

String music permeates the room as Wes and Savannah make their way around, greeting their guests individually.

“Can we talk?” Gen’s voice travels from behind me, startling me from my daze.

As if he could hear my silent plea for salvation, Wes grabs the microphone, pulling the attention of everyone in the room.

“Not right now.”

I walk away, not allowing another word to transpire between us. Gen might be okay with getting into a fight and making a scene at Wes and Savannah’s engagement party, but I sure as hell am not.

“Thank you so much to everyone who made the time to be here on such short notice…” Wes says, placing his arm around Savannah’s waist. She gazes at him with the same look of adoration I’ve seen from him when she’s around. They really are a beautiful couple. “…I just wish it weren’t under false pretenses…”

Wait, what?

My eyes instantly dart to Liam, Gabe, and Kara, where Liam just shrugs, obviously just as confused as I am. Looking to Gen for an answer, the expression she’s sporting is just as lost as my own. So no one knows what is going on—that feels ominous.

“We brought you here today under the assumption we would be celebrating our engagement…”

Savannah grabs the microphone from Wes’s hands, her obvious excitement too much for her to handle. “We’re getting married!”

The crowd laughs in response to her stating the obvious.

“No—I mean, we’re getting married. Like, today. We’re getting married today.”

Oh shit.

Well, that’s a turn of events.

“Jackson, Gen,” Savannah’s eyes dart to mine and then Gen’s, “can you guys come over here and help us for a bit?”

Instinctively, I set my glass down on the bar top and make my way over to the happy couple. The guests disperse, but the hustle and bustle that wasn’t in the room before are entrancing. The excitement of their announcement leaves the guests in a fog of delight, while it leaves me in a state of despair. I was set that I wouldn’t have to talk to Gen today, I could just avoid her throughout the party, but as the best man and maid of honor at this impromptu wedding, I’m inclined to believe that’s no longer in the cards.

“Oh my God!” Gen squeals, pulling Savannah into a tight hug, whispering something in her ear. Savannah nods, a look of delight on her face as she looks to me, allowing herself to linger for no more than a couple of seconds.

Wes takes over explanations as Savannah is too busy with Gen, completely enthralled in their own excitement on the matter.

“Really, man?” I laugh, looking at Wes.

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