Chapter 28
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
JAMES
Dinner was delicious, but the trio of desserts were even better. Always had more of a sweet tooth over savoury.
I was still annoyed with Nate, and I haven't let him forget it.
First, he made me feel like utter shit at the reception when I leant on him, instantly giving me the cold shoulder and walking away when I had no idea what I had done; secondly, acting like a complete jerk over the guy from the next table along.
I was telling the truth.
I was looking around the room and just people watching when he caught my attention and smiled at me, I done the polite thing that most humans do and smiled back.
If I was flirting or thought he was attractive then I would have made it very known. I'm not a liar. He has insulted me so now he can swivel and I’ll fester in my mood.
Slicing my eyes to where Keaton stands, he begins to glide over to where Connie and Kaleb are sitting. Killian and her moms are at the head table.
“Speech time, here we go,” Titus laughs and Amora rolls her eyes.
“This should be good,” Nate mumbles and Titus gives me a knowing nod.
“It may be nothing like you're expecting,” Ari glares at her dad then slices her gaze to Nate. Kaleb stands, tapping his champagne flute with his knife and everyone settles down.
“On behalf of myself and my wife,” he pauses for a moment and looks down at Connie who is sitting all glassy eyed as she looks up at the man she loves. “We would like to thank each and every one of you that have travelled all the way to watch our special day,” everyone begins to clap as Kaleb holds his glass up and it's not long before the clapping silences. “The Hamptons holds fond memories for me and Connie, and we have the big man over at table two to thank for that,” he bows his head at Titus and Titus just gives him a soft nod and Amora leans into him all giddy. “We had to get out of the city, and I didn't know where to go until Titus offered up his little cottage, love lodge ,” and light laughter implodes around the room. “At this point Connie was purely a job, her dad...” and now Kaleb twists to Killian and Killian sits back, fingers laced into his lap, “hired me to keep an eye on her.”
“He done a bit more than that,” Keaton calls out from beside him and Reese places her thumb and finger under her tongue as she whistles.
“Jesus Christ,” Killian grumbles which causes Lara to laugh and lean her head on his shoulder and I freeze when I feel Nate's fingers skate under the slit in my dress.
I clasp his hand and push it away before my hands are back on the top of the table.
“Anyway!” Kaleb's voice gets a little louder, “Things haven't been easy, we've had our ups and downs, but it has led us to this moment,” Kaleb looks down at his new bride again, “and I will forever be grateful to you, Killian.” He holds his glass towards his new father-in-law. “Thank you for trusting me with your daughter, thank you for crossing my path, thank you for letting me love her with all of me”
And Connie is crying.
“Lara, Katie,” Kaleb turns his attention to her moms. “Thank you for raising such a kind hearted, strong willed, sometimes a little stubborn woman,” Kaleb's brows raise as he looks out at the tables of guest and laughter ripples through. “I am indebted to both of you,” he winks and they raise their glasses. “And finally, to you, Connie, my wife...” and he blinks back the tears. “Wow, that sounds strange but so fucking good,” he groans, “thank you for loving me, thank you for healing me in ways you'll never understand, thank you for being you. You look phenomenal, so beautiful and I will forever, until the day I die, count my lucky stars for you darling, I love you for eternity. One life will never be enough for us baby, we will always find each other, I promise,” and she stands, locking her arm around his neck as their mouths slant and she kisses him, showing him just how much he means to her. A tear tickles down my cheek, and I dab it away with my ring finger. When I look at our table, there isn't a single dry eye.
And finally, I look at Nate and see the tears resting on his bottom lash.
He does have a heart. He does feel.
It just takes a hell of a lot to find that emotion it seems.
“To my wife,” Kaleb finishes his speech as he holds his glass up and everyone cheers, raising their flutes or drink of choice as they silently well wish the happy couple.
We hear the sound of a throat clearing and Killian stands up, his head dipped as he fumbles inside the pocket of his suit and pulls out a perfectly folded piece of paper. Unfolding it, his smile only widens as he skims over his penned words before he lifts his eyes to meet the room.
“I'm not going to give some big spiel,” he side-eyes Kaleb who in turn flips him off which Killian returns with a chuckle. “Kaleb pretty much summed up a lot of what my speech says,” and again, he looks down at his son-in-law who gives him a soft shrug.
“But of course I need to mention just how beautiful my daughter looks today,” and Connie turns her face up to her dad, eyes still glassy from Kaleb's speech.
We all, once again, lift our glasses.
“Myself and her moms, Lara and Katie, are immensely proud of her, of all she has achieved. She hasn't had it easy; she has dealt with things she shouldn’t have had to...” he pauses as he swallows, pressing his hand to his lips as he tries to control his emotions.
“But Kaleb, well, as much as I struggled with it at first and I did do some things I'm not proud of,” he gazes at Reese and she gives him a soft nod, her own eyes glistening and my breath catches at the back of my throat. “But Connie, she's one of my proudest moments,” and Connie chokes on a sob, ring finger running under her eyes to stop the tears from staining her cheeks and running a line down her make up. “You deserve every ounce of happiness, and I know Kaleb will spend the rest of his life showing you just what happiness is.”
Connie nods as Kaleb places a kiss on her cheek and she leans into him.
“You truly deserve this,” and he pauses for a beat before his eyes move to Kaleb, “both of you.” His glass pushes towards Kaleb and Connie, and we all take a mouthful of the delicious champagne.
Connie stands and wraps her arms around her dad as he clings onto her, lowering his lips to the top of her head as he places a lingering kiss there.
The room is silent for long, and we all wait with bated breath for Keaton to stand.
Nate shuffles beside me, eyeing Titus who already has a shit eating grin on his face.
“This is either going to be epic, or a fucking disaster.”
“Let’s hope it's the first,” I say as I take another sip and wet my tongue. I don't know much about any of these guys, but I do know that Keaton is sarcastic and thrives off people’s reactions. He loves winding people up, so they bite. Nate said he was even worse before Arizona.
He stands, his eyes finding Arizona and she blows him a kiss.
“Er, hi,” he holds his hand up, his eyes cast down on his paper as he goes silent for a moment and begins to read over his words. We all wait, looking around the table and Ari gives us a shrug. She looks as confused as we do. “I had this big speech planned,” he pauses for a moment, and I feel nervous for him as his hand curls around the back of his head, squeezing his neck slightly as he looks at his brother.
“As some of you may or may not know,” his brow raises, “Kaleb is my twin brother.”
“The older one, just in case you were wondering.”
“By a few minutes,” Keaton rolls his eyes and Kaleb chuckles knowing he has wound him up.
“Anyway,” he continues, “I was going to do this big speech but honestly, I don't think I need to.” He turns to look at his brother and Connie. “You two are so deserving of each other. Kaleb has always been the greatest protector.” Keaton nods to himself, his bottom lip wobbling. “I owe you so much,” and I cast my eye to Arizona who has her hands in front of her lips, pressed together like she is praying. I catch Titus staring at Nate, but Nate is too focused on Kaleb. “I know you're both going to have the most amazing life together... and Killian, I bet you're so glad you hired my brother for the job.”
And Killian chuckles, shaking his head from side to side as if in disbelief.
It's hard to keep up as the newbie.
“But finally, to you both... to family ,” and we toast one last time. Kaleb stands, stepping aside of where Connie is seated and he embraces his brother, holding each other close. Kaleb's hands are on the back of Keaton's head, Keaton's hand is patting against Kaleb's back, and I hear Nate clear his throat.
“You okay?” I find myself asking and he turns to look at me, a soft smile pulling at his lips before he mutters, “Yeah I am.”
Soft chatter begins to fill the room again and Ari stands to go and fetch her husband, Titus has his arm slung around the back of Amora's chair and Killian finally makes his way over to where Reese is waiting for him.
“You done so well baby,” Arizona whispers against Keaton's lips before kissing him softly, hand resting on his palm. Reese leads Killian towards where Celeste is and Arizona and Keaton follow.
“Come on big man,” Amora stands, holding her hand out for Titus and with a heavy sigh, he pushes from the table. “Do either of you want drinks?”
“I'll have a margarita; the bubbles are going to my head.” I say through a gentle laugh and Nate opts for a beer over whiskey.
Titus repeats the order and then disappears off with Amora.
And now it's just me and Nate.
He looks at me, I look at him but when he breaks the gaze, I glance around the room and continue to people watch.
Our moment alone doesn't last long when Titus leans across the both of us and places my margarita down in front of me.
I lick my lips.
Nate glances across and I give him a tight-lipped smile.
“Lovers tiff?” Amora asks as she sits next to me and I turn my body to face her and give her a smirk.
“Something like that. Maybe...”
She gives a knowing nod.
“He got all jealous,” I find myself indulging, not even sure if she was just asking to be polite or whatever but now, I am just spilling to her, “because of the blond man on the table next to ours...” I pause as Amora looks over her shoulder at the bronzed God sitting all suited and booted before her eyes flash with agreement.
“He is rather dishy though, right,” she sneaks another look and then waves her hand towards Nate. “They're all the same babe,” she twists to look at me, “would you rather your husband not be jealous?”
“I mean...” I trail off and take one last look at him before I settle my blue eyes on Nate.
“He is obsessed with you, we were talking about it last night,” and I find myself snapping my head around to look at her and my lips tug into a smile.
If only you knew.
“I don’t know about that,” I snort a soft laugh, and she shakes her head.
“Honestly, he has never looked at anyone the way he looks at you.”
“He has never introduced you to anyone else though has he?” she rolls her lips, shaking her head from side to side. “So how do you know?” I smirk, teasing her.
I wrap my finger around the stem of my delicate margarita glass and bring it to my lips, pursing my lips around the rim as I wait for her answer.
“I just know,” she sits a little taller as she mirrors my move and brings her own glass to her lips and takes a mouthful just as I do.
Our conversation dwindles out when Connie and Kaleb walk back into the function room and it's announced that they will be doing their first dance.
I sit for just a moment before standing, Reese and Ari are now next to us as well as Sage and we watch as they dance slowly to this – Megan Mckenna. One palm is pressed to my chest, the other hangs by my side and I am desperate to have mine linked through his.
I am so lost in watching them, the perfect couple, when Arizona nudges softly into me and I cast my attention to her, but she just raises her brows in the direction of Nate. Slowly letting my eyes glide towards him, his eyes are locked on me, all hazy and glassy. Lips curled into the smallest smile, and I smile back at him.
“May I have this dance, Mrs King?” Titus swoops in between me and Arizona, his arms wrapping around her waist as he leads her to the dance floor, with her giggling, and one by one the girls are plucked by their husbands to dance with the bride and groom.
I wait patiently for him to ask me, but as the song fades out another slow song begins, and I know he never is. Curling my fingers around the back of my chair, I slowly drag it out to sit myself down when the tall, handsome blond guy from the table next to ours approaches me, a glimmering smile on his face as his green eyes bounce with mine.
“May I have this dance?” and I drop my eyes down to his hand that is outstretched for me to take. I am cautious, eyes lifting back to his before I turn and look at my husband who just glares at me as if he wants me dead. But then I realise it's not me he is glaring at. It's him.
The man who is asking me to dance.
If looks could kill he would already be dead and buried.
And I know I should politely decline with a soft smile and a tilt of the head, but I have a fire burning deep inside of me.
If he wants to be jealous, then I may as well give him something to be jealous about, right?
“You may,” placing my hand into his he leans down and places a kiss on the back of my hand and my heart jolts in my chest.
I am playing with fire, but I am ready to be burned.