Chapter 41
Can I cut in?
Alex
Ididn’t dance with Amelia at the Christmas party eight months ago.
I wanted to and was a fool for not taking her in my arms then.
I won’t make that mistake again.
She and Lizzie walk into the reception a step ahead of me, arm in arm.
I know I’ll have to share the woman I love with my daughter, not just tonight but for the rest of my life, but that’s okay with me.
Her fierce loyalty and affection for her best friend are two of the things I love most about her.
The tables are full of bewildered guests. The wedding party is standing behind the long table at the front of the room, looking confused as hell. The three of us head their way.
“Any idea where your buddy Calvin is?” Amelia asks the four guys.
They exchange glances, and then they all shake their heads. “We left him by the side door to come line up in the back, and that’s the last any of us saw him. He’s not answering his phone,” one of them says.
“So, none of you know anything about him and Stephanie going missing at the same time?”
“What? Holy shit. I mean, she’s always had a thing for him.
A lot of girls do. She showed up at the cabin a few times, but it was just one big party, you know?
But…” he pauses and looks like he’s thinking too hard.
“He’s been acting weird. I thought it was nerves.
He disappeared for like an hour during the bachelor party Friday night, and yesterday he’s the one who wanted to quit before we even got halfway done with golf, even though the whole thing was his idea in the first place. ”
“Great. All the times Stephanie ditched us match up with the times Calvin ditched you, so this isn’t just a spur-of-the-moment thing. Fantastic. I’m so glad we wasted so much time, effort, and money on this over-the-top wedding,” Lizzie spits sarcastically.
“Fuck the both of them, Lizzie. Those assholes deserve each other,” Haven says.
“Well, no use standing around crying about it. We have an award-winning chef making us dinner, and I promised Henry an epic dance party. We’re going to rearrange the seating a little.
Sorry, boys, you’re getting bumped from the head table.
” Lizzie stops and shakes her head. “Actually, I’m not sorry. Your friend is a sleazewad.”
I notice anything referring to the bride or groom has already been removed, which is probably Katie’s doing.
I’m going to have to give her a raise. Lizzie walks to the front of the table and starts rearranging place cards.
She and Amelia are now in the center of the table, with me on the other side of Amelia and Haven on the other side of Lizzie, followed by the other bridesmaid, Rachel.
She walks over to the closest guest table and dumps the place cards for Calvin’s friends on it. “Grandma, Grandpa, Barry, Joan, will you all please come sit up here with us?”
“Of course, sweetheart,” my dad says, kissing Lizzie’s forehead and then taking my mom’s hand to lead her to the big table. Amelia’s parents follow. Joan squeezes Lizzie’s hand before taking her place. Henry and Raelynn are put in booster chairs between my mom and Amelia’s mom.
Food and drinks are served. Guests glance toward our table often during the meal, especially Calvin’s friends and family.
I’m pretty sure Katie and Gloria are becoming best friends from the way they’re laughing at their table, and if that isn’t a terrifying thought, I don’t know what is.
Tiffany keeps glaring at us from the table she’s sharing with some of her family members, especially when I offer Amelia bites of my salmon, and she offers me bites of her beef Wellington.
“Are we taking bets on how long before Mom explodes?” Lizzie leans back in her chair.
“Who are we going to get to run the board?” Amelia asks. “Figure out the odds?”
“Grant could do the math, and Dax could do the board. He’s got surprisingly good handwriting.” Haven grins and blushes slightly.
Lizzie looks over at me and Amelia. “If either of you blushed as easily as Haven and Dax do, your crushes wouldn’t have stayed secret for a day, let alone a year.”
Amelia nods. “That boy hasn’t taken his eyes off her since we got here.”
“Why do I hang out with you two?” Haven shakes her head, even pinker than before.
“You love us.” Lizzie singsongs.
“Whatever,” Haven sighs.
“Ah, Haven, sweetie, we’re all just excited. He’s sweet, and I’ve seen him with Raelynn. They adore each other,” Amelia tells her.
“Yeah. He’s really great with her. But we just met like two weeks ago, so don’t get too excited yet, okay?”
“Just promise us you’ll give this a real chance,” Lizzie says. “This is coming from someone who just got left at the altar.”
Amelia points her fork at Lizzie. “Technically, you didn’t make it to the altar.”
“I know, but ‘left waiting to walk down the aisle’ just doesn’t have the same ring to it.”
“True. Want me to tell that asswipe’s guests he’s not coming and they’re free to go find something else to do if they don’t want to party with us?” Amelia asks Lizzie.
“Nope, I’ve got this, MM.” Lizzie downs what’s left of her wine.
“MM?” I ask.
“Mama Minnie,” Lizzie explains with a laugh, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “I’m playing around with things to call her.”
Amelia groans. “You’re going to get me murdered. Between that and Alex’s tattoo, Tiffany is pushing me down an elevator shaft or something.”
“Oooh, very soap opera. Then you can come back as your own evil twin in a few seasons,” Lizzie says, winking at Amelia.
Then she stands with her fork and glass in her hands, but she doesn’t even need them because the focus of the entire room is already on her. She clinks them together anyway.
“I’d like to make a few toasts or speeches or whatever. First, to Calvin and my sister Stephanie, my groom and my maid of honor, wherever they may be since they’re not here, and it appears that they took off together.”
There’s an audible gasp from many of the guests.
“Yeah, I was shocked, too. So if that two-timing douchecanoe invited you and you don’t feel like celebrating the fact that I found out what an asshat he is before it was too late, please feel free to leave our little shindig here.
You can hit up the pool, watch movies in your room, and tomorrow you can go to the spa or the golf course, but you’re also free to leave the resort if you want.
Seriously, we’re going to party it up tonight and for the next couple of days.
So thank you to everyone who came here to celebrate, whether you decide to stay or not.
My girls here, my grandparents, my second family, and my brothers,” she motions to Haven and Rachel, my parents, Amelia’s parents, and the table full of Sinclair and Boyd kids in turn. “I’m so very thankful for you all.”
Lizzie pauses for a minute, getting her bearings.
Then she turns and smiles at me. “Dad, thank you for being so amazing. You paid for this whole thing without question, even though it exceeded any kind of normal standards. You’ve always been there for me, even when it wasn’t easy on you or fair to you. ”
She turns slightly toward Amelia, with tears glistening in her eyes, and takes her hand.
“Minnie, you’ve been my best friend since we were like seven.
You’ve been the best best friend I could have ever asked for.
You didn’t make me feel bad for not making you my maid of honor, even though I know it hurt you, and you deserved the title.
And you still ended up doing so much of the work.
Without you, I wouldn’t have had a bachelorette party or a bridal shower.
Without you, I would have had roses everywhere, even though I can’t stand them, I would have a cake I’m slightly allergic to, and there would have been glitter and confetti in the invitations. ”
Cringing, she laughs a little and shakes her head before continuing.
“This last week, I dragged you out to the falls, up a mountain, and over to the coast, and while you complained a lot, you went. I love you. Thank you for being my biggest fan, my biggest support system for so long.” I see Amelia squeeze Lizzie’s hand.
Lizzie sits back down and hugs Amelia to her.
“And thank you for giving him another chance,” Lizzie whispers close to Amelia’s ear.
“Love you, too, Bean.”
I lean over a bit. “A cake you’re slightly allergic to?”
“Yeah, Mom tried to order one with raspberry filling. But the baker called me to confirm, and I was like ‘no, fuck that, I’d rather have roses than a cake I can’t eat’. Which didn’t make any sense to her, but whatever, she made the cake I wanted instead.”
“There is definitely something wrong with that woman,” I say, scowling as I look toward Tiffany. "As fucked up as everything else she’s done has been, trying to order a cake that the bride is allergic to? That really takes the cake.”
Amelia snorts, and Lizzie groans.
“Oh my god, that was such a dad joke, Dad!” She scowls at me but then she grins and laughs when I wink at her.
The bar opens and the cake is brought out, already cut into pieces.
“Dad, I’m calling dibs on Minnie for the first dance, the second dance, and the right to cut in at any moment later,” Lizzie says.
I frown and pretend to think it over. “Alright, but only for tonight. Future deals will be discussed as opportunities arise.”
“Hmmm, I’ve missed Boardroom Alex.” Amelia tucks her bottom lip between her teeth, making my dick twitch and my brain start to play out some office fantasies.
“None of that right now. We’ve got a dance floor calling our names.” Linking her arm through Amelia’s, Lizzie drags her away.
While they open the dancing to the theme song from Friends, I walk to the bar and order a Scotch for myself and a chocolate mint martini that I assume is listed on the specialty menu solely for Amelia.
Tiffany slinks up next to me while I wait. “She didn’t thank me for putting this whole thing together.” Her voice drips with resentment.