Chapter 03.4

“So we’ll hit fifty guests,” I grinned. Brian and Mayoko caught the reference.

“But yours doesn’t count,” Mayoko teased.

“I disagree,” I said, taking my seat.

The ceremony began. Dr. Cox appeared in a suit and took his place. Mickey walked in wearing an adorable little suit, followed by Jenny and Daniel. Then I understood Amber’s shirt choice—Jenny wore a long, strappy dress in the same soft orange shade. She looked stunning. She smiled at me the same way she smiled at every other guest—without touching her nose.

Mrs. Julie was escorted from the restaurant to the pavilion by Uncle Steve, who looked visibly proud. She wore a tasteful, mid-length skirt suit in a color similar to Jenny’s. Clearly, Jenny had inherited her looks from her mother.

Daniel was her witness, but Jenny and Mickey also sat in the pavilion. I spent the entire ceremony admiring her—just like I used to.

The ceremony was simple. After all, both had been married before. Their vows were short and to the point—no poems or clichés. The lawyer promised never to bake, and his wife promised never to give legal advice. Everyone loved it.

After the ceremony, the couple stood beside the pavilion as guests lined up to congratulate them. I joined the line behind my parents. Jenny congratulated them well before I reached them and walked off with her siblings. She didn’t avoid me, but she didn’t seek me out either. I was perfectly neutral to her.

“Mr. and Mrs. Cox,” I said when it was my turn, after my parents had moved on. ”Congratulations.”

“Thank you, son. Good to see you,” Dr. Cox said.

“I’m thinking of doing something stupid today,” I whispered so only they could hear.

“At least you’ll liven up the dinner,” the lawyer laughed.

Still in the garden, during the congratulations, I approached Jenny. She was standing between Daniel and Mickey, chatting with them.

“Jane, I’m sorry,” I said. She turned, surprised. ”Could we talk for a few minutes? Just the two of us?”

Daniel gently took Mickey’s hand and, with a nod, led him away.

“Jay,” she said, ”thank you for coming to the wedding.” She smiled. ”I’m not sure how much time I’ll have today—there are a lot of guests,” she added quickly.

“Do you have time now? Just a few minutes. One dance’s worth.”

“Sorry, but the dancing won’t start until later,” she said, and walked back to Daniel.

Dad and Brian were watching curiously, but they could tell I hadn’t succeeded.

Inside the restaurant, round tables were decorated and ready. The newlyweds sat together at the head table, off to the side near the entrance. Family members sat at the round table in front of them. Across from the head table was a stage for live music, and on either side of it were dessert and salad stations.

It was a seated dinner, and luckily, we were at a table with Brian and his family—including his parents and Frankie.

Brian’s dad was tall, with brown hair, blue eyes, and dimples when he smiled. His mom was also tall, slim, with dyed red hair and striking green eyes.

I couldn’t see Jenny from where I was sitting—my back was to her. So I asked Dad to switch seats with me, and he did with a smile.

“There was a reason for the seating arrangement,” Mom said as we swapped.

“I figured,” I grinned. ”But I’m the man, and I made a different decision.”

My family just smiled. Brian sighed quietly.

“Big crowd,” Mayoko said.

“Yes, almost everyone invited showed up,” Mom said proudly—she had organized the whole thing.

“Her dress is beautiful,” I whispered to Amber.

“Your shirt’s in the car if you need it,” she whispered back from beside Brad.

After dinner, I changed clothes. The dancing had already started, but I just sat and watched. Jenny was clearly attracting a lot of attention—several people asked her to dance, using it as an excuse to flirt. She looked slightly uncomfortable at times, but as much as I wanted to, I couldn’t go around tearing heads off. Even the master of ceremonies was among her admirers. When a slow mid-tempo song began, I stood up and walked to the dance floor. I stepped up to the guy Jenny was dancing with.