The Trouble With Falling

“What about my tits?” I whisper in his ears and he closes his eyes like he’s in pain.

“Not here, sweets,” he whispers as he sets me back on my feet outside the reception hall doors.

We stand in line with his parents, stacking our little plates with fruit, cheese, and crackers. Eli and Frank head off to fetch us some drinks and I head off with Susan to find our table.

“What a beautiful ceremony. Wasn’t it a beautiful ceremony, Hartley?” she asks me as soon as I sit down next to her and I nod.

“It was lovely.”

Susan pops a grape into her mouth and looks around, checking our surroundings before she leans in and whispers, “You’ll serve better appetizers at your wedding, right?”

I laugh, trying to cover it with a cough when we get some curious looks from people nearby.

“Oh, absolutely. I’d serve more finger foods. Maybe some bacon-wrapped scallops. Brennan could make macaroni and cheese bites.”

“Oh, that sounds delicious. I’ll have to make sure that Eli proposes to you soon,” she whispers with a wink before she leans back in her seat.

Frank and Eli join us a moment later, and I’m distracted from her words. We talk about the ceremony and how pretty the bride’s dress was and the color of the bridesmaid’s dresses as we finish our appetizers.

Susan and Frank excuse themselves to go mingle and I turn to Eli.

“Should we mingle too?” I ask him but he shakes his head.

The decision is made for us though when some of Eli’s uncles and cousins join us at our table. Eli introduces me to everyone and I sip my glass of wine as I watch them all catch up.

The bride and groom come in a little while later and I clap with everyone else and they make their way to the head table where the bridal party is already sitting. Susan and Frank rejoin us at the table and the food starts to come out.

“I guessed and said that the chicken was okay,” Eli leans over to tell me and I nod.

“Sounds good. I’m starving.”

We eat dinner and Susan spends much of the meal asking me what I would do differently for the food and then introducing me as Eli’s girlfriend to anyone who will listen.

By the time the music kicks on and the dancing begins, I think Eli is relieved. We watch the bride and groom have their first dance before other guests join them on the dance floor.

“Did you want to dance?” I ask Eli when it’s just the two of us alone at the table once more.

I don’t expect him to say yes. Eli doesn’t seem like the dancing type. He’s practically hiding at our table, but he surprises me by standing and offering me his hand.

A slow song starts as we reach the edge of the dance floor and I grin up at him.

“I promise not to step on your toes,” I joke as I place my hands on his shoulders.

Eli’s hands land on my waist and pull me closer to him. We’re both quiet as the music plays and we sway along.

“Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?” Eli asks once the song has ended.

“You told me I’m beautiful. I think that counts,” I tease him.

“You look beautiful, Hartley.”

“Thanks, Eli,” I whisper back, straightening out his tie.

“Your hair looks pretty like that,” he says, brushing a few loose strands away from my face.

“Thank you,” I whisper back, stepping closer to him.

Our bodies brush up against one another and I gasp softly as I feel his arousal rub against my stomach.

“Hey, Hartley?” Eli asks.

“Yeah?”

“I really want to mess up your hair now.”