Be Good (13 page)

Paige
and Molly rolled their eyes when I joined them. They indicated the bride. “She’s completely freaking out,” Paige said.

“Freaking out is an understatement,”
Molly added. “She’s totally lost it.”

I put my hand on
Olivia’s shoulder. “Can I help?”

“Can you fix this stupid thing?” she snapped and
pointed to her veil, which was a bit askew. I tried my best to straighten it.

“It just doesn’t feel right,” she moaned. “Is it straight?”

“It looks straight to me.”

Olivia
looked like she might break into tears at any moment. I wasn’t sure if I should say anything else. I didn’t want to push her over the edge.

“How do I know I’m not making a big mistake?” she
asked. I wasn’t sure it was a question I was supposed to answer but I did anyway.

“You don’t. I guess you just have to have faith that things will work out.”

She thought about it for a minute then she hopped down from the stool upon which she had been perched. She took in a deep breath. “Okay, I’m ready.”

Her mom breathed a sigh of relief. The other two bride
smaids glanced at each other and rolled their eyes again. I didn’t know them very well but I didn’t remember them being that bitchy when we were in college.

I could hear the faint sound of the wedding music begin to play.
Olivia glanced at me and smiled. “I guess I’m as ready as I’ll ever be. Let’s do this.”

I was paired with a groomsm
an, who I vaguely recognized from college. He had been in a few of my classes. I thought his name was Matt. With my heels on, we were about the same height. He definitely wasn’t someone I found attractive. He was a bit in the pudgy side and had a ruddy round baby face. He kept looking at me like I was a piece of meat he wanted to devour. When we lined up with the other bridesmaids and groomsmen, he leaned over and whispered into my ear, “You look beautiful.”

“Thanks,” I said trying to be polite but I didn’t look at him.

“I’m Matt, by the way.”

“I know.”

“You remember me?” He seemed surprised.

I didn’t respond. I could see he wanted something that wasn’t even a remote possibility and I didn’t want to lead him on.

“Can I get a dance at the reception,” he said quickly as we all headed toward the isle.

“I’m with someone
.”

“You mean like a boyfriend?” He sounded even more su
rprised. That pissed me off.

“Yeah, like a boyfriend.”

“Is it Joey Vincetti?” Now he was really pissing me off. I wanted him to just shut up because we were headed into the church.

“No, it’s not Joey.”

“Who is it?” He pushed.

“You probably don’t know him.”

“Try me.”

“Brett Conner.”

“Clown hair?” he said a little too loudly. I was furious. “What the hell are you doing with clown hair? You’ve got to be shitting me.”

I glared at him. “Are you ready to march down the aisle or what?”

He shook his head like he still couldn’t believe what I had just told him.

As Matt and I headed down the aisle, I scanned all of the pews to see where Brett was sitting. He was seated near the center of the church and close to the aisle. His eyes were on me when I walked by and I gave him a big smile. He returned the gesture.

The ceremony was like every other ceremony I attended. Pachelbel’s Cannon. The lighting of the Unity candle. The vows. Then we all marched back and suffered the receiving line and took a shitload of photos.

When all of the formalities were completed, I noticed Brett standing near the parking area, obviously waiting for me.

“You could have gone to the reception,” I said as I approached. “You didn’t have to wait for me in the parking lot.” I gave have him a quick kiss on the cheek.

He surprised me by pulling me close and giving me a passio
nate kiss. It was a kiss that said your mine and I want you right now.

“Wow,” was all I could say when we
gasped for air.

“I’ve been waiting to do that since I saw you in that dress
.” He looked me up and down. He had so much desire in his eyes it made my heart skip a few beats. My withered heart was blossoming in a big way.

“Why didn’t you kiss me like that earlier?” I asked.

“I didn’t want to mess up your make-up. I knew you’d be taking photos and I know how important those photos are to the bride.”

I wondered whether he knew that from personal experience when he and Sweater Vest were engaged. I had no idea how far their wedding plans had gotten before she broke things off.

“Ready to head to the reception?” Brett said as he grabbed my hand and we were off.

   Brett and I entered the reception hall still holding hands. The place was lavish and ornate.
Olivia’s family had spared no expense on the venue. There was even a Champagne fountain, which was a first for me, even though I had been to lots of receptions.

Brett noticed me eyeing the fountain. “Pretty isn’t it?”

I nodded.

“Do you want something to drink?” Brett asked. I could hear some
hesitancy in his voice. The moment of truth had arrived more quickly than I wanted.

“Maybe a Sprite or 7-Up.
Whatever they have,” I said as casually as I could. When I looked up at Brett he was staring at me. “Decided to be good?”

“I’m always good,” I said.

“That you are. I’ll be right back.”

I looked at the
Champagne fountain again. Lights underneath the bowl made it sparkle pink and emerald. I stiffened when I felt someone come up close to my back.

“Hey, Beautiful,” a familiar voice said. It was
Jason Richards.  He was standing so close to me I could feel his breath on my neck. I gulped.

I guessed he was on a break from
Jennifer but I asked anyway. “Where’s Jen?”

“Not here,” he said. He tucked a stray hair behind my ear. I tried to step away from him but he grabbed my arm. “Where are you going?”

I searched the room for a sign of Brett and I spotted him on the other side of the reception hall at a small bar. It looked like he was waiting for the bartender to get our sodas poured.

“I’m here with someone,” I said.

Jason laughed. “What do you mean, like a date?” He sounded incredulous. Why was it so difficult for everyone to believe that I had a date for the wedding? Jason got close to me again. “Baby, I thought you liked to play the field. I thought you’d have a little time to play with me tonight.”

I tore my arm from his grasp. “What part of I’m here with someone didn’t you get?” I
almost shouted. A few wedding quests actually turned to gawk at us.

By this time, Brett was on his way over with two sodas in his hand. He handed me one and then noticed
Jason standing next to me. “Hey, Jason,” Brett greeted him. He obviously hadn’t seen or heard what had been going on between us but I was surprised he couldn’t feel the tension that still hung in the air.

Jason
looked at Brett with utter disgust. “You’re with Clown Hair? He’s your date? You’ve got to be kidding me.”

When I looked at Brett, his expression was neutral but I could see some pain and hurt in his eyes. I decided to do som
ething to drive the point home that I was most definitely with Brett and Jason could stew in it. I gave a quick glace to Jason to make sure he was still watching and he was gawking at both of us, like he couldn’t believe I’d ever consider Brett over him. I gave Brett the most seductive look I could muster considering we had an audience and the anger that was raging inside of me. I caught Brett’s gaze and continued to stare into his beautiful green eyes as I placed my hands on his chest. I ran my hands seductively up his chest, still staring into his eyes, then I placed my hands on his face and pulled him in for a kiss. I kissed Brett like I had never kissed anyone in my life. I kissed him like there was no one else in the room with us and I was ready to eat him whole. He grabbed my ass and pulled me in close. He took over and practically devoured me. I knew we were putting on quite a show but I didn’t care. I wanted to make a point. I wanted all the bullshit questions and cheap shots to stop. I wanted everyone to know that not only was I with Brett, I thought he was sexy as hell and that I wanted him.

When we
came up for air, I was ready to take Brett upstairs and rip his clothes off. I was turned on beyond belief and I was sober. That was a first.

There were a few hoots and several people applauded our public display of affection. Brett didn’t take his eyes off of me. When I looked over at
Jason, his mouth gaped open and he was speechless.

I grabbed Brett’s hand and said, “Come on. Let’s sit down at our table.”

I led Brett over to the table we were sharing with the other two bridesmaids and their dates. I breathed a sigh of relief that Jason was seated at another table on the other side of the reception hall.

“I remember you,”
Paige said when Brett and I sat down. “You were a math tutor, weren’t you?”

Brett nodded.

Molly poked her head into the conversation. “Didn’t everyone call you clown hair?”

I was really starting to hate that moniker. It may have fit Brett when he was 18 but it was obvious it no longer fit 23-year old Brett. I glared at
Molly and she just rolled her eyes at me. It seemed to be her default facial expression.

Two good-looking muscular guys joined us at our table
, obviously Paige and Molly’s dates. I recognized the guy, who sat with Paige. His name was Vic. I hooked up with him a few times in college. I avoided his gaze hoping he wouldn’t remember me.

“Hey, Anna,” Vic said using a voice that was way to seductive for the situation we were in. “You’re looking hot as ever.”

Paige gave him a well-deserved shot on his shoulder. “Ouch,” he said rubbing the spot she punched. “What was that for?”

“That was for practically throwing yourself at Anna,”
Paige hissed. “Can’t you see she’s with someone? And, by the way, you’re supposed to be with me.”

Vic gave
Paige a quick peck on the cheek. “I know, Babe. I’m right here with you.”

Then Vic turned his attention to Brett. “Hey, Man.” He gave Brett a lazy half-wave. “I’m Vic.”

“I know,” Brett said. “I tutored you in math.”

Vic gave Brett another more focused glance.
“Dude that was you? I didn’t recognize you without the hair.”

Paige
put an arm around Vic’s shoulder as she kept her eyes trained on me. She was clearly marking her territory. As if I had any interest in Vic. Been there; done that. He wasn’t all that great, Honey.

The other guy had taken a seat next to
Molly. He seemed a bit more reserved that Vic. I noticed he was staring at me, though. After a moment, he pointed a finger at me.

“Do I know you?” he
asked. He was still staring at me.

I shook my head. “I don’t think so.”

He wasn’t convinced. “I know I know you.”

Molly
was now glaring at me. So, I hooked up with a lot of guys. I never lied or cheated on anyone. I was always a single girl out having some fun.

“Anna was very
popular
,” Molly said emphasizing the word
popular
like it was a disease. What she really wanted to say was that I got around. She continued, “You probably saw her at parties.”

The guy shook his head. Then, when
he said, “Where’d you go to high school,” I knew he wasn’t going to drop it.

“Tempe,” I said matter-of-factly.

He considered this for a minute. “Ever hang out with kids from Mesa?”

“Sure
.” I hung out with kids from lots of schools. The Valley was a big place and there were lots of schools with lots of kids.

“I was the quarterback for
Mesa Prep,” he said.

Of course, Casey Crawford.
He had filled out even more since high school and his hair was a lot longer and a little darker blond than it had been when we were in young. And I had hooked up with him once at a party at his parent’s place. I knew he got around a lot, so I wondered if he remembered being with me.

When his eyes turned into seductive slits and he bit his bo
ttom lip, I had an idea he was remembering being with me. “How is it possible that you look even better now than when we were in high school?”

Now
Molly was the one who slapped Casey on the upper arm. Casey turned to his date and said, “What? It’s the truth.”

Molly
responded with a glare.

Casey turned back to face Brett
and I. “So, Dude,” he said to Brett. “How do you know Anna?”

My head snapped toward Brett and I could see he was getting uncomfortable. If we hadn’t met in such an embarrassing way, the question would have been innocuous. I didn’t think he wanted to tell everyone that in an extremely drunken state, I
seduced him and slept with him but didn’t remember it. That’s not exactly a story for the romance novels. And definitely not one you want to tell your grandchildren.