If I were getting married, I would do it on the beach with as few people as possible. I laugh. Not that I would ever get married. But, from the number of cars parked in the parking lot just for the rehearsal, I know that this wedding is going to be a big affair.
I enter the church and immediately feel everyone’s eyes turn to me. I look down at how I’m dressed in the same shorts and button-down shirt that I wore the last time I saw Sloane. I thought I was dressed up enough for a rehearsal. I was wrong.
I glance around the room at the suits and formal dresses that everyone else is wearing. But I don’t apologize for wearing something casual. I’m not going to bother spending money on something that I’d wear once and then never wear again.
“You made it,” Wes says to me, holding out his fist that I bump against mine.
“Of course, man. This seems like quite the ordeal here,” I say.
Wes smiles. “Yep. This is heaven to me. Everyone that I care about is here, and tomorrow, I’ll get to marry this amazing woman,” Wes says while wrapping his arm around Sloane’s waist.
She smiles at me while holding on to him. I hate watching her with him. I hate it. But, other than picking her up, carrying her over my shoulder, and literally kidnapping her, I don’t really have a choice at the moment.
“It’s good to see you again, Sloane. Excited to get married tomorrow?” I ask.
She stands in front of Wes, and he possessively puts his arms around her, which seems strange for her to allow when she is such
an independent person.
“Of course she’s excited. Aren’t you, honey?” Wes asks.
Sloane nods, her smile never faltering. She looks like a happy bride on the brink of marital bliss as she stands in the arms of her fiancé in a white lace dress that makes her boobs look amazing and her legs long and lean. But she’s not happy. I know her well enough to know that, no matter how much she loves Wes, she’s not happy with him, and she won’t be happy marrying him.
She’s made my decision for me. I must steal her before she gets married tomorrow. I’ll actually be doing her a service. She’ll have to deal with the pain for a couple of days to avoid a lifetime of unhappiness.
“I’m sure she is,” I say, sticking my hands in my pockets to keep myself from ripping Sloane out of Wes’s arms.
The minister begins waving Sloane and Wes toward the front of the church.
“I guess that’s our cue to go,” Wes says, grabbing hold of Sloane’s hand and leading her to the front of the church where the minister stands.
I follow slowly behind, keeping my hands in my pockets and staying on the outskirts of the crowd that is gathering around the couple.
“I’m Dean, the minister who will be conducting the ceremony tomorrow. Tonight, we are just going to run through the rehearsal, so everyone knows what they will be doing tomorrow. Then, you will be able to enjoy the dinner that the bride and groom are providing you.
“There has been a change of plans due to the weather tomorrow. Due to the extreme heat, we will be having the ceremony as well as the reception inside the church.”
My eyes go to Sloane. She doesn’t give away any hint of sadness. Or at least she doesn’t think she is giving away any hint that she doesn’t want to get married inside this damn church instead of out on the beach. But the people who know her well or take the time to know her at all can tell. I can tell even if there wasn’t the tiniest bit of welling in her eyes. I can tell that this isn’t what she wants.
The minister continues to talk about how the rehearsal is going to happen and what everybody needs to be doing, but I don’t listen. All I can see is Sloane. How she kisses Wes. How she mirrors his movements. How she is anything but independent when he’s around. It’s bizarre—her behavior.
People start moving into positions, and I follow Wes to the side of the church. Wes says something to me and his other two groomsmen standing behind me. I nod automatically and then follow Wes when he walks out into position. I stand next to him with the other groomsmen standing behind me. We all know where to stand, despite none of us listening.
Music starts up, and the bridesmaids begin walking toward us. It seems to take forever to get them down the aisle even though there are only three of them. Then, they stand opposite us. All beautiful, of course, but none beautiful enough to make me give up my plan to steal Sloane. She is my only focus.
The music changes, and Sloane finally starts walking down the aisle. She’s beautiful, of course, as she walks down the aisle by herself. Her blonde hair seems to blow, as if a fan were directed on her the whole time she walks. Her skin seems to glow. Her eyes though are what interest me the most. Everyone else who sees her walking down the aisle assumes she is looking at Wes, holding his gaze.
She isn’t though. Her gaze is on me.
Sloane looks at me the whole time she walks down the aisle, and her eyes tell me everything. That she wants me to rescue her. To save her from this. I grin because that is exactly what I’m going to do.
Sloane makes it down the aisle and goes through the motions of the ceremony as the minister explains everything that is going to happen. And then he calls for everyone to do everything again. Everyone sighs and moans quietly to themselves. With large fake smiles on our faces, we all go through the motions again while being completely bored out of our minds.
The only positive thing I get out of it is being able to study Sloane as she walks. Every curve of her gorgeous tan skin. Every curl of her blonde hair. The green color of her eyes. The confidence in which she walks or does anything.
The minister finally dismisses us, saying that we can all head into the dining hall where we can enjoy a dinner on the bride and groom. I head into the dining hall with the other groomsmen. I take a seat at the same table as they do even though I know they all want to punch me in the face. I’ve learned though not to take it personally. It is just the reaction I provoke in people.
Waiters start bringing out the first course of soup and salad. But the happy couple still hasn’t made their appearance. I pick at the salad. I’ve never been one for eating anything remotely healthy.