Chapter 18
That was the most beautiful and heartfelt wedding I have ever been to, and I have been to a lot of weddings. Alyssa and Brody may as well be a prince and princess. They even wrote their vows. I cried twice. Now I’m standing off near the catering tent listening to Celia rant about how she has never worked with a better couple. I believe her. She’s also been regaling the staff with wedding horror stories. She’s traded in her bright pink attire for a softer light pink which she says is because she would never attempt to steal the spotlight from a bride.
I’m pretending it’s her antics that have kept me locked into place here and not the nerves of Ben possibly asking me to dance at any moment. Not that he would have a chance. Alyssa’s niece and flower girl Jules has kept him busy. The fiery little four-year-old pulled him onto the dance floor the first chance she got. Anytime he attempts to break away she puffs her lip out. It’s sweet how he humors her. Not that I’ve been staring at them. It’s hard not to notice. They are adorable.
I spot Brody coming over to the pair of them and bowing to Jules as he extends his hand. Ben has a momentary look of relief before mouthing thanks to Brody. Alyssa is at the head table smiling at the scene. She likely orchestrated the interruption. Ben starts to scan the room and I try to duck behind a pillar so I’m not caught spying. When his eyes meet mine, I know I’m out of luck. As he moves toward me, I startle and almost take a waiter out. Fortunately, he dodged out of my way. I mumble an apology. He assures me it happens all the time. By the time I recover, Ben is fully in front of me.
“Avoiding me again Dorothy?” he asks smirking. I knew on day one that smirk would be the end of me.
“I’m not avoiding you” I straighten. “You seem to be quite entertained without me.” I say falling into our normal flirtatious behavior. “Jules is quite the dance partner.”
He laughs it off “Watching me, Amelia? I thought I was your stalker.”
I gasp. “I –” don’t have a response.
“It’s okay. Jules is adorable. But I don’t think she’ll mind too much if I switch partners for a bit.” He is incredulous.
“Well, you have your pick.” I wave my hand as if to offer him the whole floor.
He buttons up his jacket that he loosened earlier and stands tall. “So it would seem” he says looking over the dance floor. Playful Ben has arrived. He stands in front of me and bows. “Amelia Roberts, I am no older gentleman or ringbearer, but may I have this dance?” He looks at me through hair that has fallen in his eyes. I want to take his hand but messing with him is too much fun.
“I don’t know. I don’t usually settle for groomsmen.” He holds his hand to his chest as if I have wounded him. I giggle then say, “I guess I can make an exception.”
“Yes.” He breaks character and balls his hand into a fist. He’s incredibly goofy. Taking my hand, he leads me to the dance floor as a violin starts to play. I recognize the tune but there are no lyrics. I think it’s a Taylor Swift song. Ben wraps one hand around my waist and takes my hand in his as I place my other on his shoulder. It’s formal, but I’m relaxed in his arms. He leads us into a Walz. Ben can Waltz?!
After an uncomfortable silence, I take a chance and look up. My first mistake of the night, because the way Ben looks at me ensures that I fall. I break every single rule I have ever made. I’m willing to throw out every hesitation I’ve ever had. I let myself not only want him in that moment but have him. We don’t speak. We just looked at each other. He spins me around and around and something clicks. By the time the song ends we stand still. He doesn’t release me. Then another song begins, and I go to move away but Ben pulls me back a little closer.
“One more?” he whispers. It’s a request and a plea.
“Okay.” I reply softly.
We dance for three more songs.
“I have to admit something to you” Ben says finally. “I’ve wanted to ask you out for a while.”
“Oh,” I breathe into him. My god he smells good. “And why haven’t you?”
“Honestly? I didn’t want to push. You made it clear that you didn’t want to go out, but then you flirt. I guess I was just waiting.”
“I mean, I didn’t want to.” I try to muster up some sort of courage.
“Didn’t but now you might?” He sounds hopeful.
“I could maybe be open to the possibility of going on a date. If I was asked.” I can’t make it too easy for him.
“Say I was to ask. What would Amelia Dorothy Roberts want to do on a date?” he spins me out and around.
“First, my middle name is Jane, and second, I might want to go to the fall festival in town next weekend.” I answer with my own smirk.
“Two weekends in Amelia’s world?” he grins fully. “In that case. Amelia, will you go to this fall festival with me next weekend?”
“I mean I would have to check and make sure I’m free” I draw out. He pulls me closer. “Yes, I would.”
“Yes!” He exclaims. We fall into a steady rhythm with the music before he breaks the happy silence, “I have to ask though. Why now? Was it dancing with Jules?”
“Actually, I had a talk with my mom.” How much do I tell him?
“Your mom told you to go on a date with me?” He sounds genuinely intrigued.
“No. Well yeah. No, I just.” I stop and take a breath. “So, before school started, I had a boyfriend. It ended badly so I swore off boys. Then I met you and I liked you, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to date again. Then my mom and I talked, and she let me know that not all boys suck.” I’m rambling.
“Remind me to thank your mom,” he says wholeheartedly. Then is quiet for a moment considering his next words. “This other boyfriend, what do you mean in ended badly?”
I don’t want to have this conversation with him. “He just didn’t respect some boundaries. He also hated the idea of me going to Briarwood. He kind of flipped when I got my acceptance letter.”
“He sounds like an idiot.” It’s a fair conclusion.
“He is,” I laugh it off.
“Well, I should thank him too.” Ben pulls me flush.
“Why?” I ask relaxing into him.
Ben whispers into my hair “Because now I get to go on a date with you.” Then he lightly kisses the top of my head.
My second mistake of the evening. I have fallen for Ben, and we haven’t even gone on a date yet.
Benedict
This is the best day ever, and not just because I can finally stop hearing about how Brody can’t wait to marry the love of his life. Today is the best day ever because today is the day I asked Amelia on a date, and she said yes. I have a date with Amelia. I got to dance with Amelia. She was beyond beautiful in her light blue dress. It looked like it was custom-made for her.
Everywhere she moved today, she caught someone’s attention. I was jealous at first, but it”s like she comes alive here. There’s no hesitation in her actions. She is unmovably sure of herself. When I first caught her watching me and Jules dance, I was ecstatic. I half expected her to hide away all night. I tried to break away, but I have a soft spot for Jules. Alyssa brings her around, and she is the cutest little girl. No one can tell her no. I’ll have to buy her a big teddy bear for helping me impress Amelia.
When she agreed to dance with me, I felt like I won a month-long marathon. Then when she agreed to go out with me. Man. I didn’t want to pry, but I do want to know more about her ex. Any guy who is stupid enough to lose her had to have messed up royally. She tensed up talking about him. What did she mean, didn’t respect her boundaries? Does she still see him around? Suddenly I’m jealous of a guy I’ve never met.
I need to take a breath. All that matters right now is I have a date to plan. I looked for her after the send-off, trying to get a few extra minutes, but I couldn’t find her. She must have been busy helping with clean up. I’ll have to ask around in the morning about this fall festival.