Fighting for My Best Friend (Fated #4) (4 page)

If it hadn’t been for how gorgeous Claire looked, I never
would’ve taken my eyes off him. I couldn’t remember the last time I’d seen him
so dressed up, and his broad shoulders looked even better in a suit than his
chest did in his scrubs or his legs did in his rugby uniform.

Damn. What had I done?

While the rest of the guests milled towards the room where the reception
was going to be held, the wedding party headed outside for a quick photo shoot.
First the bride and groom took some pictures. Then it was the bridal parties
turn, followed by the groomsmen.

Of course, when it was time for the whole group to cram in
together, I couldn’t help but notice that I was the only one left on the other
side of the camera, besides the camera man and his beret wearing assistant.

“Wait!” Claire said, before the group dispersed. “I want one
with Lucy. Lucy, come get in the picture.”

“Oh no, that’s okay,” I said. “It looks great the way it is.”

Claire raised her eyebrows in a way that made it clear my
joining in wasn’t optional.

“She’s a family friend,” she explained as I hurried to the end
of the line. “She’s the one that did my hair today.”

Her girlfriends murmured their approval as I approached.
Meanwhile, I could almost hear the watering mouths of the groomsmen thinking
“who is this idiot keeping us away from the open bar?”

“No,” Claire said. “Squeeze in here with us girls.”

At that point, I was ready to die of humiliation.

“Perfect,” Claire said once I’d found a spot beside the
friendliest- and perhaps not coincidentally the fattest- bridesmaid.

I tried to smile as big as I could, reminding myself that I
belonged in the photo just as much as the others. After all, besides the fact
that it was Claire’s idea (hopefully not just because I was standing awkwardly
by myself), I had in fact known her longer than everybody except for her
parents, Aiden, and one of her bridesmaids who I recognized as her bestie from
high school.

I was relieved when it was over, and I can only imagine everyone
else was, too. Even my face was sore from all the good cheer, and I’d only
joined the tail end of the shoot.

“You have a card or something?” Aiden asked, appearing next to
me as everyone made their way back inside the hotel.

“Sorry?”

“Claire wants to give your card to some of her friends in case
they want to use you at their own weddings.”

“Really?”

“Yeah.”

“That’s so nice of her.”

“She’s a nice person,” he said. “Plus, she has no reason to be
annoyed with you.”

I put my hand on his arm. “Aiden.”

He shrugged it off. “Do you have a card or not?”

“No,” I said. “But what I really care about is whether I still
have a best friend or not?”

He stopped in the gravel path and turned towards me, waiting
while the rest of the wedding party gained some ground.

I swallowed.

“I don’t want to be this mad,” he said. “But I can’t help it.”

“What can I do?” I asked. “I miss you. I miss-”

He looked down at the ground and dragged a toe through the small
rocks before looking back up at me. “I just need time.”

“Okay,” I said. “I’ll wait.”

His face looked so hurt with his eyes and mouth turned down at
their corners.

My chest tightened at the thought that I was responsible, that I’d
made him unsure of the only thing he never had to doubt before. “There’s
nothing I won’t do to-”

“You don’t have to say anything,” he said. “I know you didn’t
hurt me on purpose, okay? I just need some space.”

I pursed my lips. Space was the last thing I wanted to give him.
Time was one thing, but space, well, I felt like the more space I gave him the
worse the growing silence between us was going to get. After all, I knew he was
stubborn, too stubborn for his own good, and I’d never been on his black list
before. Nor had I seen anyone manage to get off of it.

“I need to get a drink before I make my speech,” he said. “You
want something?”

“Don’t worry about it,” I said. “Focus on your toast. Let me
know if you need anything.”

He turned on his heels and started down the path, staying close
enough ahead of me that it wouldn’t look weird to anyone else but far enough
ahead to make me feel left behind.

Fortunately for me, Aiden had so many responsibilities and
people he had to mingle with that it didn’t seem strange for him to avoid me.
If anything, it made me appear wonderfully supportive and easy going
considering how willing I was to share his attention. Or at least, that’s what
I told myself.

It wasn’t long before I’d casually skulled three glasses of
champagne, drinking them in such quick succession that even the gloriously
photogenic canapes that kept appearing on silver trays in front of me could do
nothing to take the edge off my buzz. 

And when it was time for Aiden to make his speech, I was feeling
pretty good… despite the fact that the man of the hour was secretly punishing
me in front of hundreds of his family’s closest friends.

Ugh.

I saw him tap his fork against his glass before the high pitched
clink bounced around the room. Without missing a beat, I angled my body towards
him, relieved that I would be able to admire him for a few minutes without
looking sad or clingy.

The hired MC handed him the microphone and he took it
confidently. Even the way his large hand looked wrapped around it was enough to
make my body ache.

“Ladies and soon to be dance machines,” he said. “May I please
have your attention.” He took a sip from his drink and cleared his throat while
the shuffling in the room came to a standstill. “I know that as Claire’s
closest friends and family, you came here under the guise that you would be celebrating
her official union with Dave, the great love of her life. But between you and
me, I know you really came to hear her get roasted by her baby brother.”

Everyone laughed, even Claire. Though I believe I saw a flash of
panic in her eyes.

“The trouble is, folks, most of the stories that are
embarrassing for Claire make me look really stupid, and for those of you that
know me well, you know my ego is a delicate thing.” His eyes met mine. “Perhaps
too delicate.” He pursed his lips. “But I will say that even when Claire was
outsmarting me- which was all the time- she always managed to make me feel good
about it. I personally believe that’s the true source of her power, the fact
that she can make it clear that she’s right and you’re wrong and somehow leave
you feeling great about it.” He looked down at the groom. “So good luck with
that Dave.”

Claire blushed and everyone nodded, as if she’d outsmarted them,
too, at some point or another.

“And trust me folks, I wracked my brain thinking of ways I could
embarrass her today, but then it occurred to me that it would be totally
inappropriate to do that. Because the truth of the matter is, she has never
embarrassed me. On the contrary, being her little brother has arguably been the
greatest source of pride and comfort I’ve had in my entire life.” He swallowed.
“And when I think about what a privilege it is to call her my sister, I know
without a shadow of a doubt that she will be a wonderful wife.”

Dave put his arm around Claire, and for the first moment during
the speech, Aiden looked nervous, but he pulled himself together.

“And if I have to share her with anyone, I’m glad it’s Dave.
Because from the very first time she introduced me to him, I could tell that he
knew how lucky he was to have a chance with her. And I know he’s not going to
blow it. Not only because he’s smart enough to know he’ll never find a more
impressive woman to spend his days with, but because I will kill him.”

Knowing nods peppered the room’s perimeter.

He raised his glass. “To my beautiful big sister and the
luckiest guy on Earth, may they be as happy for the rest of their lives as they
are today.”

Claire stood up and wrapped her arms around me.

“Was that okay?” I asked, hugging her back.

“It was wonderful,” she said, smacking me in the chest. “But I
could kill you for making me so nervous.”

“It’s not too late, ya know?” I grabbed the mic off the table.
“I’m sure an encore would be appreciated if you’re not satisfied.”

“Don’t even think about it,” she said, giving me the same
serious eye she’d been giving me since I was old enough to test her.

“Nice job, man,” Dave said, standing up behind her.

“Thanks, Dave.”

“The part about coming after me was a bit overkill, but-”

“I meant every word of it,” I said, smiling.

“I know you did, big guy.”

“You guys set for drinks or can I get you something?” I asked.

“I think we’re good,” Claire said, looking between her glass and
Dave’s.

“Cool. Well, I’m going to get hammered now so if I don’t offer
again, please don’t think I’m a dick,” I said, draining the rest of my
champagne as I thirsted for something stronger.

“You are free to go,” Claire said. “Thanks for doing your bit.”

I nodded. “And for doing it so well.”

“That, too,” she said.

I walked around the table just as my Dad was walking up with two
short whiskeys. “Well done, son,” he said, shoving one at me.

I took the glass and knocked it against his. “Thanks, Dad.”

“My favorite part was the bit about killing him if he blew it.”

“Funny,” I said. “That was Dave’s least favorite part.”

“He’s just lucky he doesn’t have to hear it twice,” he said,
knocking his drink back. “I was going to share a similar sentiment, but I like
the fact that you did it publicly. Way to keep it classy.”

I laughed. “That’s me, Dad, a bundle of class.”

“I noticed you brought Lucy Ryan as your date.”

“Yeah. It was Claire’s idea. She did her hair.”

“The two of you still just friends?”

“Why?”

“Just curious.”

“Why?”

“She’s pretty.”

“She’s always been pretty.”

“Yeah, but she used to be emo.”

I laughed. “She wasn’t emo, Dad. She just likes to wear black.”

“Well, the yellow is refreshing.”

“I’m glad you approve.”

“And I spoke to her, and she didn’t cuss a single time.”

“Jesus, Dad.”

“What? All I’m saying is that it looks like she’s turned out to
be a pretty respectable young lady.”

“Yeah, well, we’ve all come a long way since we were sixteen.”

“You should tap that.”

“Excuse me?”

“You should tap that.”

“That’s what I thought you said.” I loosened my tie. “Who taught
you to say that?”

“Our new intern.”

“Well stop it. You’re too old to say that.”

“Christ. I only said it to you, Aiden.”

“I mean it, Dad. Never again.”

He blew air out from between his lips.

“How much whiskey have you had?” I asked.

“Just this one.” He stared at the drops in his glass. “Times
six.”

“Maybe you should drink some water.”

“Are you kidding me? And watch everyone else get silly at the
bar I’m paying for?”

“I see your point, Dad, but it’s still early. If you fuck up
Claire’s day, she’ll punish all of us.”

He sighed. “Damn.”

“How’s Mom holding up?” I asked, looking around the room.

“Oh fine. Except her life is over.”

“What? What are you talking about? No it’s not.”

“Try telling her that.”

“I will,” I said. “If you promise me you’ll switch to beer.”

“Yeah, whatever.”

“How about I get you your first one?”

“Deal,” he said, heading back to his table.

I had no intention of getting him anything else to drink. My
hope was that he’d get bored waiting for me and drink the water on the table. Or
even the wine. Anything to keep him off the whiskeys this early. Fuck. Maybe I
couldn’t get hammered just yet.

I looked around the room and saw my Mom flirting with one of the
waiters while she smuggled a bunch of pieces of salmon roulade into a napkin.

“Hi Mom,” I said, squeezing in between her and the underage
staff member. “How are you holding up?”

“Good,” she said. “Except for the fact that I’m past my sell
by.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Well, you don’t need me anymore,” she said, popping an
appetizer in her mouth. “And your sister used to at least humor me, but now
that she’s officially flown the nest she’ll never tell me anything again.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Now it’ll just be her and Dave and I’ll be the enemy that they
try to avoid as much as possible.”

“That’s not true.”

She stared at me the same way Claire had two minutes ago. “Yes
it is,” she said. “You think I don’t know what marriage does to people? It
makes them secretive. It’s like a private club for two. And the two always need
someone to align themselves against, and it’s always the mother in law.”

“That’s ridiculous. Why don’t you focus on the positive?”

“And what might that be?”

I grabbed one of her salmon bites and prayed for a light bulb.
“I can think of three things.”

“I’m listening.”

“Number one is the fact that you’re a fantastic Mom to have
raised such a well-adjusted daughter who is going to make such a good wife and
mother.”

She dismissed my comment with a wave of her hand. “Claire raised
herself. I didn’t even pack her lunches.”

“But nobody here knows that.”

“True.”

“So you can take the credit.”

“Fine. What else?”

“This is a great party and you put everything together.”

“It is fab, isn’t it?”

“Yeah. I even heard a few people saying it was the classiest
wedding they’d ever been to,” I lied.

“Who?”

“I don’t know their names.”

“What table are they sitting at?”

I pretended to look around. “I don’t know.”

“If you see them, point them out to me.”

“Okay.”

“What’s number three?”

“Number three is that soon you’ll be a Grandma and you’ll
basically get to be a parent again without all the shitty parts.”

“I need a drink.”

“Was that not helpful?” I called after her. Damn.

I weaved my way through the room back to my table, slumped in my
chair, and put my head in my hands.

“What’s wrong?” Lucy asked.

“My family is beyond insane.”

She laughed. “They put on a great party though.”

I turned my head towards her. “I’m glad you’re having fun.”

She smiled and put a hand on my shoulder. “Your speech was
wonderful.”

I sat up and leaned back in my chair. “You think so?”

She nodded. “It was lovely, Aiden. I actually got choked up.”

“Claire was worried I was going to embarrass the shit out of
her.”

“I know. She told me when I was doing her hair.”

“Which looks great by the way.”

“Thanks,” she said, glancing down at her lap. “Not that it
matters. I mean, your sister is absolutely glowing today.”

“I know. It’s mad, isn’t it?”

“It’s like she’s filled with tea lights.”

I smiled. “Thanks for coming.”

“Thanks for inviting me.”

“I can’t imagine anyone else being here. It’s stressful enough
without having to worry about making sure my date is okay.”

She pursed her lips.

“Not that I don’t care if you have fun, but-”

“I know what you mean,” she said.

I reached for the white wine and tipped it over my glass. Two
mouthfuls came out.

“Did you write your speech on paper?”

“Just notes. Why?”

“Cause maybe you could give it to Alex if I ever get married so
he doesn’t cock everything up.”

“I don’t think you need to worry about that.”

“Which? Getting married or Alex making a mess of it?”

I turned to look at her.

She blushed.

“You have a yellow streak,” I said, noticing a cheeky flash of
color in her hair. “I didn’t see that before.”

She smiled. “It matches my dress.”

“So it does,” I said, draining my wine glass. “My Dad’s
delighted that you’re not emo anymore, by the way.”

She rolled her eyes. “I know. He told me he was glad I’d left
the dark side.”

I laughed. “I think he might be wasted.”

“He’s one to watch alright.”

I opened my mouth to say something, but I stopped myself when I
noticed Lucy’s eyes drift over my head and double in size.

“Sorry I’m late, babe,” I heard someone say in a familiar voice behind
me. “Did I miss your speech?”