Chapter 24 Taylor
TAYLOR
It turns out I didn’t have to worry about introducing Gabriel to my parents after all. When I snuck out from the back room where the bridal party was getting ready the morning of the wedding, I discovered my parents had already dragged him into their drama.
John shot daggers at Diane, who was hanging onto Gabriel’s arm. Pam was hanging back in a suspiciously cream-colored dress. While Gabriel had a polite smile plastered on his face, I could tell he was uncomfortable.
“Is this man bothering you?” Diane said to Gabriel with a syrupy voice, squeezing his arm. “I’d apologize for my ex-husband, but…”
“Ok, both of you. Seriously?” I stepped in between Gabriel and my mother, tucking him under my arm protectively. “Why don’t you go find your seats? You can play concerned parents some other time.”
“Oh, but honey, we’re just trying to get to know your date,” she continued with that cloying drawl.
Gabriel wrapped himself around my waist and squeezed.
“Nope,” I said firmly. “Not today. Today is about Margo, and I won’t have either of you causing problems. Go sit. The ceremony is about to start.”
I didn’t know if Gabriel had noticed that he’d tucked his pinky finger inside the waistband of my pants, right near my hip bone, but I sure did. The tiny touches against my skin calmed me.
When my parents finally left to find their seats, Gabriel leaned toward my face and spoke in a low voice. “I’ve never heard your dom voice before, but damn, how are you so hot when you’re all stern like that? I’m never going to be able to fight with you.”
I couldn’t help but laugh, breaking the tension, which is what he’d probably been hoping for. The man was a miracle worker on my nerves.
“It’s my secret evil plan,” I whispered back.
It was the first time I’d seen him today, so I stepped back to take in his whole look.
He was wearing a navy suit that fit him to perfection, with the burgundy floral tie we’d picked out together.
He’d even painted his nails to match the tie.
His hazel eyes looked absolutely captivating with a touch of smudged dark brown eyeliner.
It didn’t help that he was looking at me like he wanted to devour me.
“Are you done eye-fucking me?” I lifted a brow. “We need to get lined up for our grand entrance.”
Gabriel twirled his finger, indicating I should spin for him. “Almost.”
I obliged, one corner of my mouth lifting into a smile.
“Ok, now I’m done.” He pecked my cheek. “I’m going to go find a seat.”
Soon, it was time for the ceremony to begin in the main gallery. I squeezed Margo’s hands before making my way down the aisle, and I couldn’t help but find Gabriel’s face in the small crowd. He winked at me when I spotted him sitting on the aisle in the second row, and I almost stumbled.
I never pictured myself walking down an aisle. I guess since I’d spent so much time avoiding getting into the kind of relationship that might lead to marriage, it hadn’t crossed my mind.
You have to be in love to reach this point, and I didn’t want love. Right?
Every time I did the accounting of my life, I’d placed love firmly in the liabilities column.
But I was looking across at Benji’s face the moment Margo appeared at the door, and I was tempted to reconsider.
The gratitude, awe, and adoration in his expression were impossible to ignore.
I turned to Margo, noticing her eyes sparkling with unshed tears as she walked toward her husband-to-be.
I considered it the greatest accomplishment of my life that I’d been able to preserve that romantic optimism for her.
I was like a parent whose child still believed in Santa, knowing it was all a farce but getting so much enjoyment from their naive belief in magic. I never wanted Margo to stop believing.
I bent down to adjust the train of Margo’s gown, then grabbed her orchid bouquet as she took Benji’s hands.
“Margo, the day I walked into Graphic Design 101 and saw you in the front row, I knew my life had changed for the better…” Benji began.
It was impossible to keep tears from falling as I listened to the two of them exchange heartfelt vows.
It felt like I was swimming in a pool of emotion more than I was hearing individual words.
I could reach out and touch the love that Margo and Benji had for each other.
I never remember my parents having that, even before everything crumbled.
“Benji, you are my rock and my steadfast joy,” Margo said, beginning her lengthy vows. “I am so thankful you claimed you didn’t have a pen that day, so you’d have an excuse to sit next to me…”
Would it be possible for me to believe again? Maybe the liability that came alongside love, the vulnerability that left you open to heartbreak and pain, didn’t outweigh the asset love could be in your life.
Had I been doing the accounting all wrong?
I glanced out at the guests in attendance, and of course, my gaze immediately fell on Gabriel.
He wore the softest expression as he watched my sister and Benji exchange rings.
What was he thinking at that moment? As if I’d called out to him, he shifted his gaze to mine.
If his eyes could become even fonder, I watched it happen as he smiled at me.
He blew me a little kiss, and my heart cracked open.
I could see it. The two of us exchanging I love yous. Exchanging keys to our apartments. Exchanging rings. Gabriel, sitting on the window seat of our imaginary future home, maybe with a cat, surrounded by his plants. I could see it as if it were a memory, and I was terrified.
Applause jolted me from my imagination as Margo and Benji shared their first kiss as husband and wife. Joining the celebration, I handed Margo her bouquet and watched them make their way down the aisle, stopping for more kisses along the way.
The ceremony did a number on my emotions, and my insides were all jumbled up, but I was happy to have Gabriel’s hand in mine again as we mingled during the brief cocktail hour.
“Are you nervous to give your Man of Honor speech?” he asked with a mischievous twinkle in his golden eyes.
“Finding nice things to say about Margo is not hard… public speaking is another story.” I grabbed two glasses from a passing tray and handed one to Gabriel. “The champagne will help, though.”
“I know I just met Margo and Benji, but you could feel how much they love each other,” he said wistfully as he accepted a glass. “I felt lucky to witness it.”
“It was beautiful, and everything’s gone so smoothly—knock on wood. I know she worked hard on making this day special.”
“You put in your fair share of blood, sweat, and tears for today.” Gabriel tugged me close by the lapel of my jacket. “Give yourself some credit.”
“The suit looks just as good out here in the wild as it did in the store,” a familiar voice called from behind us, and we turned to see Elie from the suit shop.
Before Elie could swoop in for a hug, Gabriel leaned into my face and licked my cheek, shocking me into laughter.
“Oh, honey. I know he’s yours, but if you’re going to put on a show for me, I’d like to bring a guest. Come meet my husband, Theo.”
I noticed that Margo had taken my suggestion and seated our parents at tables as far apart as possible.
I’d been so frustrated that she wanted to invite them, but I’d done it to myself by shielding her from how terrible our parents were when we were young.
At least she’d refused to have either of them walk her down the aisle, and they weren’t invited to do speeches or dances.
No special attention directed their way was ideal for me, although it was not ideal for them.
They wanted to take the credit for Margo surviving and thriving as the kick-ass person she became.
After dinner was served, the DJ introduced me and thrust a mic into my hand.
My palms were covered in sweat, and I rubbed my free hand against my pant leg.
I’d ditched the suit jacket and rolled up my sleeves, but I still felt hot.
I did not love the spotlight. But I could do this for Margo. I locked eyes with her as I spoke.
“Margo, you’ve been my favorite person since I was eight years old. Meanwhile, you’ve been lucky to know your favorite person your whole life.”
Guests chuckled as I gestured to myself, and Margo raised her glass with a smile in her eyes.
“There was a time when I thought this day wouldn’t come, that I’d be robbed of the magic of watching you grow up and cover the world in your bright light.
” My voice cracked. “Lucky for me, and for Benji, you’re a fighter.
You’ve always thrown yourself fully into every experience, you’ve faced every fear with courage, and you love harder than anyone I’ve met.
As the Emperor said to bi-icon, Li Shang, in your favorite movie, Mulan: ‘you don’t meet a girl like that every dynasty. ’”
I chuckled wetly through blurry eyes. “It’s been such a gift to witness you fall in love, and I couldn’t ask for a better brother-in-law than Benji.
When you came home from college on break and couldn’t stop gushing about this adorable web designer in your class, I had a hunch he was going to be special.
Here we are, years later, celebrating the next chapter in your story, and I’m so honored to be a part of it.
May you have many more happy years together. Cheers!”
I raised my glass in a toast, and all of Margo and Benji’s friends and family joined in applauding them as they kissed.
Breathing a sigh of relief, I practically dove back into my seat. Gabriel’s arm immediately went around my shoulder, and his fingers traced up my arm.
“You did great, carino.”
He’d never called me that before. I may not have remembered much from my Spanish class, but my gut clenched at the evident affection in his voice.
“I’m glad you’re here with me.” I couldn’t help telling the truth, even though I felt myself being pulled into the undertow.
I had to kiss him, too, tasting the sparkling wine on his lips and threading my fingers through the hair at the back of his neck.
He’d opened a few buttons on his dress shirt, making my throat dry.
Everything was completely out of control as he grabbed my hand and tugged me out onto the dance floor.
I was drowning, and Gabriel was fresh air incarnate.
I couldn’t ignore him any more than I could ignore breathing.