Chapter 7
Eric
M y skin prickled from being watched. Out of the corner of my eye, I sensed someone standing there. When I turned around, it took me a moment to recognize her without the long, black hair, dark makeup, and baggy, black clothes. I almost looked away, creeped out, until I noticed her septum piercing, her thick dark eyebrows, and the barbed-wire tattoo across her arm. She always said it felt like she was living in a cage of barbed wire.
Lily.
And she's hot as hell. I can't help the smile that spreads across my face. Lily, in a garden of flowers, and she stands out amongst them all. A short, messy, dirty-blond bob shows off her striking jawline. Her lips are like wine. They match her dress, but it's subtle. My pulse races at the thought of kissing them again. And that dress? It clings to her slight curves and slender body. It's not skin-tight, but it's like the material can't resist touching all of her. Even the way it flutters across her knee with the breeze gives me chills.
Upon first glance, she's not the Lily I used to know, but she's the one I want to meet all over again. Gone are all my boyish attractions and boyish thoughts of her. I want to make up for all the time lost, love her the way a man loves a woman.
It's been a while since I've been speechless, even breathless when my body isn't exhausted. I always know the right thing to say, but as I stepped off toward her, I wrestled with the words biting at my tongue. Should I approach this with an apology first or compliment her beauty? Do I go in for the hug of long-separated friends or do I ask her how she's doing?
I didn't get the chance.
"Lily!"
A voice broke the trance, and she jerked in its direction. I followed her eyes to see the bride coming out of the church. For a split second, I imagined Lily in all white.
"You're here!" The bride grinned and like that, Lily slipped out of my reach. She hurried over to her friend.
Is that her new best friend? The one who took my place when I left? It struck me how much I didn't know about her life anymore. It's been over a decade. I don't know the people who are important to her now or how they met. But I want to know.
As much as I'm clueless about her, she's clueless about me, which would explain why she looked past me after a few seconds. She thought she recognized me but couldn't be sure? I mean, there's no reason for her to expect me to show up at her friend's wedding. It doesn't make sense. We shouldn't be here together right now. My whole attendance is a fluke. The only explanation I can find is serendipity.
While I don't know the bride, I'd like to kiss her feet for hiring Ryan and extending an open invitation to him that allows me to be here. Although, I don't think her soon-to-be husband would approve of that. I'd kiss his feet too if that helps. I'm grateful for all the circumstances that have led up to this moment. I have a lot to make up for, and if she allows it, I'll make sure to never let her go again.
My eyes were focused on her every move, afraid that if I looked away, she'd disappear.
"Hey, man. You don't look so good. You feeling okay?" Ethan took hold of my arm as Matt slapped the back of his hand across my forehead.
"Yeah, maybe it's a good idea for you to sit. Come on, let's find our seats." He looked over my shoulder to read the labels on the white-padded folding chairs, before turning back around. "It was nice speaking to you." He smiled at the bride's mom and her friends. "Your husband better keep you close and treat you right, or I might just snoop on in and snatch you up." He put on a Southern accent and winks at her, causing her cheeks to redden. I smiled at them as they walked away.
"Here. Come and sit,"" Ethan called from the back, and Matt took my arm.
"Stop fussing. I'm all right."" I shrugged him off.
"Tell that to the queasy look on your face. The redness in your skin is giving those ladies a run for their money. I'm not making you blush, am I?" Matt teased.
"Yeah, that's it. You look so damn good in a suit, I'm gagging,"" I joked.
"I know, right? I clean up pretty well." He looked down at himself, pulling on his jacket.
"Beats having to look at those scrawny legs in shorts all the time," I said, forced to stop looking at Lily and focus on them.
"You better take that back." He 'squared up.'
"Or what? You're going to stab me with your knee?" I grinned.
He dropped his fists and his eyes. "They're not that bad, are they?" He pulled at the legs of his pants.
"Nah, I'm just kidding." I wrapped my arm around his shoulders. "Did I take it too far?"
"Nah, 'cos I know I could steal your girl without even trying," he said, slapping me in the belly.
"Yeah? I'd love to see you try, you little shit." I groaned at the sting.
"Okay, let's see you manage to get a woman first. Ayo!" He pretended to 'score.'