33. Quinn
Quinn
“I am going to need you to pinch me,” I say as we get out of the car.
Because I thought Myrtle was elaborate. Okay, I thought all of the weddings thus far were elaborate, from the American Sistine to the wooded fairy tale. But Drew’s wedding is next level.
“I could do other things to you if you’re looking for a little invigoration,” he says, but I choose to ignore him.
“So this is what fifty K looks like,” I say as I take in the grandeur of the White Rose Ballroom.
“Actually, this is what close to eighty K looks like,” Reid says.
“Because after hiring a band that is literally booked out for the next year and a half, plus the ice swan, the Dom Perignon fountains at every single table, not to mention the fact that every guest couple has been given a luxury car to rent for the duration of the wedding, it’s celebrity level status for sure. ”
“That is…wild,” I say, shaking my head.
“I couldn’t agree more.”
But I think the thing that is the most amazing to me is the orchestra, which too will be here all weekend. Like Bridgerton, they’re playing modern songs with 1800’s vibes.
“This is…” I trail off.
But instead of saying something snarky like he usually would, Reid simply smiles at me and holds out his arm for me to take hold of. “I’m glad you like it,” he says.
“You have no idea,” I shake my head as we make our way through the gates.
“You think the Duke would be impressed?” he asks.
“Are you kidding me?” I ask. “I think the Duke would shit himself,” I say, and Reid laughs.
“By the way? The salmon isn’t so bad…” I tell him, but Reid still makes a face.
I know he’s not a fan; he’s made that much clear.
And the fact that he has to wear it at both the welcome party and the wedding day is no doubt making him inwardly cringe.
But for someone who hates weddings, Reid is a surprisingly good best man.
From the sound of it, the bachelor party went well last night.
And by well, I mean every man is actually present tonight.
A couple of them look a bit green around the gills, but hey they’re all here. An impressive feat, for sure.
Not only that, but everything else is going smoothly as well. And the venue is ridiculous.
We go through the rehearsal and I can’t help but smile watching him in his salmon button down as he passes off the rings (or pretends to) and stands with an almost pride as he watches Drew tear up and Cassidy laugh and fan her face.
If it’s this emotional just at the rehearsal dinner, I can’t imagine how tomorrow is going to be.
I make a note to forfeit the fake lashes I considered wearing and opt for waterproof mascara and no eyeliner.
All weddings make me cry. But a wedding where two people are so beautiful and obviously right for each other?
And the groom is close to someone I care about?
Yeah. I’m going to be stuffing tissues down my dress for this.
After the rehearsal, we head to the ballroom for a candlelit dinner.
It’s a four-course meal that is just as fancy as most people’s wedding day dinners, if not more.
There’s a live band playing soft orchestra music and champagne on every table.
In short, it’s completely and entirely and incandescently over the top. And I love it.
The best part of it all is that all their friends are there.
It’s one of those weddings where people invite literally everyone they know, and no doubt there will be nothing short of five hundred people tomorrow.
Justin, Dani, AJ, Andie, Ophelia, and Nick are all sitting with us, as well as a few others.
Everyone is eating and drinking and carrying on; their hangovers slowly wearing off as they get buzzed again.
Honestly, I haven’t felt the need to do much more than that.
A nice, warm buzz is just enough for me right now.
That’s the thing about weddings for me. I love them enough that I don’t want to get drunk.
I don’t want to blur the memories or get sloppy.
I want to indulge in and remember every detail. A glass or two is more than enough.
“So that was the first time I met Drew,” Justin says. “Needless to say, we aren’t allowed at that pub anymore.”
“I think we might have been banned from that whole strip of pubs,” Drew says with a grin as he rubs the nape of his neck.
“Oh, you were,” Cass nods. “Trust me. We have to go incognito if we want to go back to the Wicked Tequila Room,” she says, and we all laugh.
“I think any place with the words wicked and tequila in the name gives a fair warning,” Ophelia says, and we all laugh again.
“Are you having fun?” Reid asks as he leans into me. His arm has been around me since we sat down, loose but present. His lips brush the shell of my ear with the question, and it sends a warm trickle down my spine.
“I am,” I smile at him. “Are you?”
I expect a snarky answer. Something about how having fun at a wedding is an oxymoron. Or maybe another comment about his forced attire. So I am a bit surprised to say, at the least when he smiles easily, sweeps his eyes over his friends and answers with, “I am.”
No joke. No jab. No negativity.
Between that and the utter extravagance of this wedding, I wonder if I am dreaming.
After dinner, most of the guests leave. The family heads out for the night, and the band packs up. But it’s only 9pm and both Drew and Cassidy aren’t ready to call it a night. Honestly, neither am I.
We head out onto the patio at the rear of the ballroom. There’s a gas fire pit, flower arrangements, fairy lights and enough seating for the ten of us. There’s also a couple of bottles of chilled wine and glasses.
“This is lovely,” Ophelia says with her natural energy as she sways over to take a seat around the fire.
“I agree,” I say, sitting next to her. Everyone else follows suit. “It’s arguably one of the most gorgeous venues I’ve been to yet.”
“That means a lot coming from someone like you,” Cass says as she relaxes into a chair, her and Drew holding hands.
“Why me?” I ask, meanwhile watching Reid as he pours wine for everyone who wants a glass. Like I said…these best man skills are impressive.
Everyone gives my question a funny look.
“Because you’re the wedding girl,” Andie says with a duh tone.
“It’s true,” my friend Dani agrees. “You’re the girl that inspires everyone to believe in love.”
I smile at that, but it’s also kind of an odd statement. Because if that’s the way people see me, it’s ironic that I’ve never found real love.
My stomach sours a little, but my eyes glance up at Reid and my nerves tingle.
I’m afraid to feel anything beyond that.
And yet…
“I just don’t understand how you could settle for an asshole like August here,” AJ says, clearly more than buzzing.
There’s that last name again. I make a mental note to look him up later. It’s odd to me that we’ve never talked about it. But also, I’ve never heard my dad mention an August either. Funny, since they work in the same field.
They’ve probably worked together.
Before I can give any more thought to it, Dani claps her hands together.
“We should play a game,” she says. And sure enough, there is a small pile of trivia and wedding-themed games sitting on one of the side tables.
“Let’s play something where couples go against each other,” Ophelia says. “On teams.”
“Or…something that pits men against women,” Andie says. “We’ll win for sure.”
“I resent that,” AJ says.
“Exactly,” Andie says, and everyone laughs.
But I think it’s safe to say that Reid and I aren’t so sure, yet they’re already opening one of the boxes.
“It’s okay,” Cass says as if she could immediately see my hesitancy. “We all know you two haven’t been together as long as everyone else. We aren’t keeping score.”
“That’s what women always say…” Drew jokes, and she swats him.
I look at Reid, biting my lip, and he shrugs and winks. And I guess we are doing this.
It’s a simple game. Someone asks the couple a question about one person or another. The person in question writes down their answer, hidden from everyone else. The partner guesses what they wrote.
Funnily enough, the other couples are hit and miss as well. Nick guesses that Ophelia’s favorite breakfast in bed is a bagel with cashew cream cheese and berries. She writes down cheese Danish from Lotus Flower Bakery.
“If I’m going to a fancy brunch spot, I’d like that, yes. But I don’t trust you to make cashew cream cheese. So a pickup order is preferred,” she smiles, and everyone laughs. Then they kiss.
AJ is asked what his idea of a perfect second honeymoon is, and Andie answers with Super Bowl tickets. And while he agrees that would be great, he answers that he just wants to sleep. She rolls her eyes.
When it comes to our turn, I smile, but I’m holding my breath too. I don’t want to give away our…situation…by looking like we don’t know each other at all. But at the same time, I am admittedly very good at these games.
“Reid,” Cass asks. “What is something Quinn has made you do that you ended up enjoying?”
I think about that. I think about all the memories we have, most of which are spicy, and not always in the good way. I think of times that he seemed to be enjoying himself and not just dragging through the situation at hand.
He writes something down and looks up at me with a smile. I study the smile. There’s something telepathic there, even though it’s not entirely readable.
“Quinn?” Dani asks.
“Watching Bridgerton…” I answer.
“You watched Bridgerton?” AJ snorts.
Then, slowly, he turns his sign around, and sure enough…
That Duke…
Everyone explodes, both a question of how I got him to watch the show but also…he enjoyed it?
“Alright, next,” Reid asks, ready to move on to the next conversation, though he is clearly smiling.
“Alright, Quinn…” Drew says. And while he is looking at the card, there’s something about his expression. Something that tells me he’s up to something. Cass even gives him a funny look.