Chapter 16
Jake
T he wedding party has taken over my parents’ house. Mike, Jordan, and I are in my childhood bedroom, which is looking sparse since I’ve relocated most of my things to the apartment. There are paint swatches on the wall. It’s a little depressing how quickly my mom started redecorating. I’ve only seen Alice briefly today because she’s busy helping Danielle. Today is the first time we’ve been in the same space since I took her home after the storm.
The guys are standing around making uncomfortable small talk, waiting until we get word that the ladies are ready. We’re all wearing matching tan suits, and our ties are the same shade of Carolina blue as Alice’s bridesmaid dress.
“Hey man, could you give these to Danielle for me before we get started? She’ll understand.” Mike says, handing me a pack of peanut M&M’s.
I nod, grateful for the opportunity to have something to do, and I cross the hall to knock on the door of my parents’ bedroom where Danielle and her girls are getting ready. I try not to read too much into the wave of nerves that hits me, knowing Alice is on the other side.
“Is everybody decent in there?” I call out. The last thing I want is to walk in on any of the Daniels women changing, but it wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world if I happened to catch a glimpse of the maid of honor.
“We’re all dressed if that’s what you mean, but you’ll never hear me promise to be decent,” Ms. Honey yells from the other side of the door. I laugh as I open it, but as soon as I see my best friend standing there in her wedding gown, all the air is knocked out of me.
“Danielle.” It comes out in a whisper so tender I hardly recognize my own voice.
“It’s just a dress. Still me in here under all of this fabric. Call me Dan-Dan. It will make this all feel more normal.”
“I can do that.” I nod at her and clear my throat. “Mike asked me to give you these?” I take the M&M’s out of my pocket.
Honey lets out a loud laugh from the chair where she sits in the corner. “Always with the candy, that one.”
“I’ll just set them down here,” I say, putting the candy on a chair next to Danielle’s purse.
“Are you ready?” Ms. Heather asks, smoothing the back of her daughter’s dress.
“As much as I’ll ever be.”
I scoot out of the way and let the women walk ahead of me. Alice hangs back, too. She stops next to me to put on her heels, using my elbow to balance as she slips on a shoe and adjusts the strap.
“Hey, stranger. Rough day?” she asks, pinning me with a knowing look.
I shrug one shoulder, not wanting to admit it, but somehow it’s become impossible for me to lie to her. “Maybe just a little. Better now that I get to see you in this dress. Damn.”
She smiles and her eyelids flutter. “Nuh-uh. No flirting. We don’t do that anymore.”
“In my defense, it’s true.” I want to tell her exactly how good she looks with her hair curled, wearing the strapless blue dress that hits just below her knees. But the last time I told her what I think about her body things got out of hand. We both know we can’t let that happen today. But it doesn’t mean I’m not thinking about it.
“Stop deflecting. Talk to me for real, Gibson.”
I sigh. “I’ve only been gone for a week and my mom’s already redecorating my room. I didn’t think I’d care. But it feels a little like they’re trying to erase me. Plus, everything’s about to change with Danielle getting married. It’s just a lot, I guess.”
Alice squeezes the arm she’s still holding. “I get it.”
“I know you do.”
Alice nods and releases me. “I’m thrilled for them. I really am. But it’s hard not to feel like we’re losing her. Things won’t be the same after this. We’re growing up.”
“Growing up kind of sucks.” I laugh, looking down at her.
“It has its moments of pure suckage, for sure. But this isn’t supposed to be one of them, so pep up. Let’s go get our best friend married.” Alice tugs on my hand, and I walk slower than necessary because I don’t want her to let go.
We head outside and around to the backyard. Alice helps Danielle hold up the back of her dress as she glides across the grass my mom worked with the landscaping company all week to transform into something out of a Drew Barrymore movie. The ground is still a little damp, but everything else is perfect. Shelia Gibson would settle for nothing less. There’s an outdoor dance floor and a huge tent set up on the side lawn to serve a buffet dinner. People are seated in rows of white chairs that are lined up facing out to the water, with an aisle of grass down the center. Down on the pier, rope lights are strung between the pilings. Danielle and Mike are both beaming, and I really am happy for them.
Mike is standing next to Jordan, and Edna Plum is on his other side as the officiant. They’re waiting for us under a huge floral arch. Mike’s parents and sisters are sitting in the front row, and Jordan is not being as subtle as he thinks he is with the way he keeps looking in their direction. Rodriguez is standing on the edge of the grass with a guitar. He sees Danielle, nods in our direction, and starts fingerpicking an Ed Sheeran song. Everyone in the chairs rises to their feet.
Regina’s daughter, Emily, walks down the aisle first, tossing white petals as she makes her way to her mom in the front row. Then it’s time for me to escort Alice down to the pier. She holds a bouquet of white and blue flowers in one hand and slides the other hand into the crook of my arm.
“You really do look good today, Ace,” I whisper.
“You don’t look so bad yourself.” She squeezes my arm, and the faint scent of citrus floats up at me.
After the short ceremony, we all make our way to the catering tent. Mike and Danielle do their first dance, and then other guests take to the dance floor. Alice and I are seated together with the rest of the bridal party when one of Mike’s cousins comes over to our table. He’s the one with the hipster mustache who has been telling everyone within a three-table radius about his facial hair care routine and his plans to launch a new cryptocurrency targeted at teenage investors.
“You.” He points at Alice. “Dance floor.” He moves his shoulders with a slow shimmy that I think he intends to be attractive
Dude is delusional if he thinks this strategy’s going to work with her.
She plasters a big, fake smile on her face. “How flattering. But I’m afraid I’m not available. Jake here just asked me.” She turns to me, her raised eyebrows begging me to go along with her story.
I will, but I’m not above having a little fun in the process.
“That’s right. And now that Alice is finally out of the bathroom, we can get out on the dance floor. But only if you’re feeling better, dear. Is the Pepto finally kicking in? It was really touch and go there for a while.” I turn to the dude, who is looking confused, like he really thought ordering a stranger to spend time with him would produce better results.
To my surprise, Alice clutches her stomach and plays along. “You know, on second thought, I might need another minute.”
I hold in a laugh and look at Cousin Mustache. “Might want to stay away from the crab balls. They aren’t sitting well.” He nods and shuffles away.
Alice laughs and goes back to eating her food. “Thanks for that.”
“I do what I can. Do you actually want to get out there?” I point to the dance floor. “You know, with someone who won’t talk about beard oil the entire time.”
She plucks a green bean from her fork with her teeth. “Is that an invitation or just a general inquiry?” Even after everything that happened this week, she still wants to play hard to get?
I hold her gaze. “Will you dance with me, Alice?”
“One dance.” She nods and removes the napkin from her lap, setting it on the table as she stands to follow me out to the floor.
In those heels Alice is taller than usual, and her head nearly reaches my shoulder. I put one hand on her waist and take her hand in the other. Neither of us says a word, but as the music plays we sway back and forth, drawing closer to each other one centimeter at a time, until her cheek is resting on the lapel of my suit jacket. Finally, I let go of her hand to wrap my arms fully around her.
Over the top of Alice’s short curls, I see my mom glare at me and shake her head.