Chapter 57
Chapter Fifty-Seven
WYATT
Seeing Nash through the crowd felt like being struck by lightning.
Or at least what I imagine it might be like.
Sudden, scary, thrilling, and painful all in a flash.
I tried to concentrate on the ceremony, but the entire time my heart was aching from the strike.
I tried my best to keep this fake like Nash needed, to make sure she gets everything, and that I had a chance to get what I desperately wanted to, but the thing about being struck by lightning is nothing is ever the same after.
And the same goes for what we’ve been doing because nothing will ever be the same after this.
I looked into Nash’s green eyes, and my instinct was to wink at her.
Playing my part as the always teasing friend, but when I got up to that altar, I had another life-changing moment, a second lightning strike.
I saw a sliver of what it could look like to stand at the altar on my own wedding day, waiting for Nash and her dad to walk toward me.
Waiting for my bride to meet me there and confess her love for me like I was ready to confess my love for her.
When the ceremony was over, and we were shuffled into different positions for pictures, all I wanted to do was get to Nash.
Thank God I never had a chance to send my agent that text.
Because I realize that I want to see Nash in white.
I want to be with her, wherever that is.
At this point, if she changed her mind about wanting to go back overseas, I would quit football altogether to follow her.
After spending this much time with her, living together, and fake dating, I can’t go back to a life without her being beside me.
I’m going to tell her. Tonight.
Fuck my brother. The wedding ceremony is over, and this is the party. It’s free game.
Standing just outside the double doors to the reception area, I can hear the bass of the music thumping as the DJ hypes everyone up for the entrance. I’m set to enter with Hazel’s sister, the maid of honor.
“What should we do for our entrance?”
“Just follow my lead,” she says as she takes my arm once again.
The huge doors open, there’s a pop song blaring as we start. It sucks that we have to go first, but someone’s gotta do it.
We’ve taken about three steps in, the crowd roaring their applause, when she looks at me. “Go long!”
“What?” I ask, thinking I mistook her over the noise of the music, but she just holds her bouquet up by her shoulders and motions me away from her. Oh my God, she’s going to throw those flowers like a football. I don’t have any better ideas, so this is what we’re doing.
I take off and make it about five steps before she throws it. I don’t know much about her, but she fucking launches that thing. She even leads me in steps, throwing it to where I’m just about to be. An absolute dime.
I catch it and hold the bouquet over my head, cheering like I just scored the game-winning touchdown.
She runs up to me and jumps up to chest bump me.
She’s so short, I don’t have to jump. If I did, I would have probably knocked her over backward.
We celebrate together, and then like nothing happened at all, we calmly collect ourselves and head to the side of the dance floor to await the new Mr. and Mrs.
It feels like forever as we stand and watch them be announced. They dance their way into the middle of the floor, and the DJ cuts it to a slow song. “Please give your attention to the new couple as they have their first dance.”
I watch as my brother and his new wife turn in slow circles to a country song. I’m glad everything went off without a hitch. No one got too drunk, no one was late, no one’s rental pants were too small. It was perfect. All that’s left of my job for today is the speech.
The song ends and everyone claps as we make our way to our seats. I head straight toward Nash and lean down to speak to her, not even bothering to take my seat first. We might have just a few minutes. “Nash, can we go somewhere and talk?”
She opens her mouth to respond when the DJ cuts in over the speakers. “Dinner is ready to be served. If the head table will please stand and go to the buffet line first. After them, someone will come around to your table to let you know when it’s your turn.”
The whole table rises, and we’re swept away toward the food line.
“What did you want to talk about,” Nash asks.
The buffet line waiting for dry chicken or overcooked beef is not where I wanted to have this conversation. “Ummm…I don’t remember. But I’m sure it will come to me later.”
During dinner, we make amicable conversation with the other members of the bridal party as we eat our mashed potatoes.
I try to enjoy my food, but my stomach is all twisted up with nerves.
The only order of events I was informed of for the entire night is my speech being right after dinner.
I’m in desperate need of a drink, but I have to refrain.
I’m going to get up there, I’m going to do my speech, people are going to clap, and then I’m immediately beelining it to the bar.
Nash’s hand resting on my thigh pulls me out of my anxiety. “You’re going to be great.” Her eyes are full of encouragement. It’s like her hand is soaking up all of my worries.
I kiss her on the cheek before rising. “Thanks, sugar.”
When the wedding coordinator approaches me, she asks, “You good to go?”
“Yeah, I’m ready.”
The DJ gets on his mic and introduces me. “Let’s welcome Mr. Wyatt Vandergriff, the best man!”
People clap and I can’t help but think about how much clapping you do in one night at a wedding. More than any other night, but probably less than a concert. I’m just thinking about stupid shit to distract myself as the DJ hands me the microphone.
“Hello,” I say, and immediately it’s way too loud.
My eyes flash to where Nash is sitting, and she moves both her hands down in a stay calm gesture.
“For those of you who don’t know me,” I start, and God, why hasn’t anyone invented any other way to start this speech?
“My name is Wyatt Vandergriff and I’m Henry’s younger brother.
I could talk about Henry and what a good guy he is and how much fun we’ve had throughout our lives as brothers, but tonight I want to focus on who we all know is the star of the show,” I turn more toward her, and away from the audience so I can address her. “Hazel, hi.”
“Hi,” she says back.
“Welcome to the family.”
“Thank you.” A light wave of laughter ripples through the crowd.
“I’m assuming you’ll be living in Henry’s house on Vandergriff Farm, so I’ve selected a few things I think you’ll need to make your life easier.
” I hold my hand out and Grant plops a wooden spoon in it.
I take it from him and hand it to a surprised Hazel.
“Growing up, Ma and Pa popped us with one of these when we were misbehaving. I just thought you’d like to have one of your own for when Henry steps out of line.
Check the handle.” She does and a laugh bursts out of her.
“I had Vandergriff engraved on it so you don’t confuse this one with any other wooden spoons you might have in your kitchen.
” I address Henry now. “So next time you want to have ice cream before dinner, or a beer when it’s too early to start drinking, you’d better think twice.
” I hold my hand out for the next item. It’s just a sign the size of a regular sheet of paper.
I hold it facing out so the crowd can see it, and there’s another round of laughter.
Hell yeah. I’m killing this. I let the crowd laugh their fill and then turn so Hazel and Henry can see it.
“Dude, what?” Henry asks incredulously.
“We all know that when Henry gets to talking, it’s sometimes hard to get him to stop.
That’s why I drew you this sign that just says ‘shut up’.
” Pause for laughter… “I also got it laminated so he can’t “accidentally” spill his drink on it.
Next time he’s going off about the newest crypto he’s going to invest in, or how badly his fantasy football team is losing, you can just whip this bad boy out. ”
Henry puts his head in his hands.
“And for my final gift…”
“Thank God,” Henry moans. I don’t know what he expected. Everyone knows that the perfect best man speech pokes fun at the groom and compliments the bride.
One last time I gesture to Grant to hand me the cherry on top of my perfect speech.
“Finally, I have for you a Wyatt Vandergriff Houston Hurricanes game-worn jersey, signed by yours truly. By marrying into this family, you are granted immediate entry to my personal fan club.” Pause for effect.
“I am also promoting you to vice president of said fan club. Behind my wonderful girlfriend, Nash, who is, of course, the president.” I pretend to cover the microphone and talk just to Hazel.
“We’ll iron out the details of what that will mean for you later,” and then back to everyone, “but for now, I know you’ll love wearing a Hurricanes jersey in Butcher territory.
” My grin is FDA certified because I’ve got this crowd eating out of the palm of my hand.
Grant pulls a second jersey from behind the table and hands it to Henry. “Don’t worry, bro. I got you one too.”
When the laughter dies down, I bring it home. “But seriously, you guys are so great together. I know this is going to be a long marriage full of joy and laughter. I’m so happy for both of you.” I raise my water glass, “Cheers to the new Vandergriffs.”
“Cheers,” the crowd says in reply. The sounds of delicately clinking glasses fills the space and the DJ comes on the mic to welcome Hazel’s sister to do her maid of honor speech.
I stand and listen to her talk about how wonderful her sister is, and how everyone loves her, and cringe a little when I realize that she didn’t fully prepare for this.
She’s kind of just up there rambling. She ends her speech the same as mine, asking everyone to raise a glass for the new Mr. and Mrs.
The DJ announces that the dance floor is now open, and I make a straight shot to the bar.
I jump when Nash comes up to me from behind and rests the side of her face on my back. “You were amazing! Everyone was cracking up.”
I suck in a deep, dramatic breath knowing she can feel it in my chest. “I’m just glad my job is done.” I take my beer from the bartender in one hand, and turn Nash around me with the other. “Is now a good time for that talk?”
The first notes of “YMCA” play over the speakers, and Henry appears besides me taking me and Nash both by a hand as he pulls us onto the dance floor. “Come on,” he says, “it’s your job to help get the party started.”
I look at Nash, just for a second. She’s already letting Henry bring her onto the dance floor, head bopping to the beat. And I let myself be pulled too. Now’s not the right time.
We groove to whatever songs come on, family members and friends moving in and out of our little dance circle, but the whole time I’m watching Nash.
She looks so free tonight. Like the weight of the Moons and our fake relationship are off her shoulders.
Like she took everything on her own and made it succeed with the sheer force of her will, and now she’s out here dancing like she’s celebrating more than just Henry and Hazel.
“We’re going to take it down now, folks,” the DJ says in a sultry voice, and the first few notes of a slow song comes on.
I put my empty beer down on the nearest table and pull Nash into my arms. I’ve barely had a chance to talk to her today.
“I missed you,” I say, my breath coasting over the shell of her ear making her shiver.
“I missed you, too.”
“I saw you sitting with Layla.”
“Yeah,” she nods. “She’s really cool. I was wrong to be jealous of her. That was immature of me.”
“What about taking it out on me?” I ask petulantly.
She kisses me quickly on the cheek. “I was wrong to take it out on you, too.”
I move us slightly to the right to avoid running us into my aunt and uncle as they dance. “Did you see the news?”
“About Clark?” I nod and she continues. “I did. You were expecting it, right?” Hearing her speak so plainly on what was once my second biggest secret (behind being in love with her for years) makes me regret not saying anything sooner.
Everyone would have understood. I nod and she continues. “What did everyone say?”
“They basically said ‘good riddance’. They feel the same way I do: that he got his MVPs and his sponsorship deals and his commercials and choked in every championship game.”
Her brows shoot up in surprise. “Henry said that?”
“He did. And Grant agreed.” The song changes from one slow song to the next. I’m relieved. I was not ready to let Nash go.
“Did you say anything?”
“I told them everything I had been wanting to say.” I shrug. “They were totally cool with it. I’ll have to fess up to Ma and Pa tomorrow, but I’ll deal with that then.”
“I’m so happy for you,” she says and rests her head against my chest as we sway in small circles.
“I’m sure Chad or Grant have already told their parents, who have probably already told my parents. Those two can’t keep their mouths shut.”
“What does this mean for you?”
“I haven’t signed a new contract with the Hurricanes but I’m–” Someone taps me on the shoulder, and I could scream right now. How many fucking times is someone going to interrupt me.
“Can I steal her for a dance?” Henry asks, and I can’t say no to a man on his wedding day.
I step back from Nash. “I’ll be right over there,” I say to her before heading toward our seats and leaving her in the hands of Henry.
Before I step away, she says, “I’ll support you no matter what.” Her face is warm with encouragement and something else… Determination? Weird.
For the rest of the night, no matter how hard I try, I’m interrupted at every turn. By the time they’re ushering all of us out of the venue so the bride and groom can have a private last dance, I’m out of patience.
I’ll just wait until we get back to the farmhouse where no one can interrupt us.