Chapter 8 Owen
G ood Lord, this cake is delicious. I’m going to ask Brandon if this was a special order from somewhere local because damn it’s amazing. The final bite is heavenly and even though I don’t think I got frosting anywhere, I thoroughly wipe my mouth. This is the first time I’ve been sitting on-display during a reception. The groomsmen’s and bridesmaids’ seats flank the happy couple’s on an elevated table. To say I’m eager to be moving around is an understatement. I’ve had too much time for my mind to drift back to the fact I need to tell everyone I’m moving back to New York soon. At least the bride and groom are enjoying their first dance.
Graham shifts in his seat, again.
“Everything okay?” I ask for the fifth time.
A sigh escapes him. “Yes. Sort of.”
“Finally a real answer,” I say with a smirk.
“See that guy over there?” Graham tilts his head to the right. “Blue suit with white shoes?”
“The one with the piercing blue eyes who’s currently staring at you?”
Graham’s head snaps to the right and he freezes.
“Relax, cousin,” I tell him. “Go ask him to dance, Brandon and Andi’s song is almost done.”
“You have to, too.”
“I’m not the one who wants to dance with him,” I joke, getting a sarcastic smile out of him.
“No, you need to ask someone to dance.”
I casually scan the reception hall before looking down the wedding party’s long table. My gaze finds Poppy’s for a moment before she looks down at her plate.
“Okay, I can’t guarantee anyone will join me.”
“Ask Aunt Mae if you need to.”
I snort a laugh. “I’ll check with the flower girl if my first attempt doesn’t pan out.”
Graham gives me a skeptical look. “You have one full song to be on that dance floor. Agreed?”
“Agreed,” I say. “Now, go get him.”
“Only if you go get her.”
“I have no idea what—”
“You’ve been, subtly, checking on Poppy since the ceremony began,” he says, cutting me off. “It wasn’t obvious, I promise, but I can put two and two together.”
It’s still odd to see him be the astute one. I suppose that’s what happens when you’ve lived away from your extended family most of your life and they aren’t necessarily who you remember them to be from the last family reunion, but now you get to see who they’ve become.
“So?” His hand makes a circling motion to get me moving.
First, I look to see that the guy is still glancing Graham’s way, which he most certainly is. Second, I make sure Poppy is still at her table and someone else hasn’t swooped in. Everything is the same there too.
“Alright, let’s go.” I say. “But separately, this doesn’t need to look like a mission.”
“Fair point, dude. Whoever drains their drink last has to stand up first.”
“You’re on.” We lift our half-full cups and the moment I nod, we both start drinking. Three gulps in and Graham sputters, but he manages to not spill on himself.
Graham curses under his breath, but takes a look at my now-empty cup and stands, patting me on the back as he passes behind me.
“Good luck, cousin,” I say.
“Right back at you.” He shakes out his arms and buttons his jacket.
Everyone claps as Brandon and Andi finish their first dance as a married couple. It’s as good as I’ll get for an excuse to get moving that looks semi-natural, so I check to make sure I don’t have cake on my jacket as I stand, feeling just the right side of buzzed. And then I see the bride smile at the crowd, but it slips for a split second when she looks toward Poppy. I sneak one more peek at her. At the house, I thought she looked stunning. And then I saw her after she changed for the wedding. The dress hugs her in all the right places and flows off of her like it was made for her alone. The other women in the wedding party have similar dresses on, but not one holds a candle to Poppy.
The more I’ve seen today between her and Andi, the more I understand how much Andi meant every word of her bridezilla warning. They’re clearly close, but there have already been moments where Poppy looks like she’s just bracing for something to happen. Likely for someone to bring up that breakup. She does a great job hiding it, but there’s a twitch in her cheek a few moments after the initial pleasantries are exchanged with someone.
Just after the ceremony, I overheard one of Andi’s aunts greet her and then drop the “But how are you really doing, honey?” bomb on her. I took a step closer, feeling drawn to shield her from such a crap question.
I knew the aunt meant well and Andi’s whole family clearly loves her best friend. But asking her about something that no person would want to talk about at a wedding reception? I’d call that a dick move.
Before I opened my mouth though, she just smiled and with a wave of her hand said, “Thankfully, I had some amazing travels as you might have heard, so I’m doing great.”
And she’s used a line like that a few times.
Not that I’ve been overattentive . Andi asked us to keep Poppy happy and that’s what I’m doing. Asking her to dance will keep her occupied and away from people coming up to inquire about her time away. A little confidence surges through me while I walk over to her.
And as I get close, I second-guess myself. What if she just wants to be left alone? I think of Andi’s worried look and how Brandon wants everything perfect for his bride. At least I know I won’t be an asshole to her and ask her to talk about crap she clearly wants left in the past.
“Can I sit here?” I ask, shifting her attention from the dance floor to me. Sparkling brown eyes look at me in surprise.
“Sure, I don’t think anyone is coming back any time soon.”
Sitting down, I offer my hand to her. “I’m Owen, Brandon’s cousin. I don’t think we’ve officially been introduced.”
Her hand slips into mine and there’s a zap of electricity that I feel the moment we touch. “I’m Poppy, Andi’s friend.”
“You’re—”
“Actually,” she interrupts, “I don’t mean to be rude, but can we just be Poppy and Owen tonight? Nothing else?”
I open my mouth to tell her that I worked at Honey Cove High School, but close it because the look on her face is almost pleading, like she needs to extend her time away from everyone a little longer.
So, I nod. “Absolutely. We can be anyone tonight.”