Lead Player - Alex Grayson Page 0,33

Even now, as the officiant offers an introduction and gives his thoughts on marriage, we both look at each other. The heat in his eyes and the way it makes me feel has my body flushing from head to toe.

Before I embarrass myself and pull the attention away from the bride and groom, I direct my eyes to Juliet and watch as she promises herself to James. A twinge of envy hits me when they recite their vows. One of the many aspirations I’ve had for years is to find a good man who loves me unconditionally, get married, and start a family. I thought I’d found that with Terry. I couldn’t have been further from the truth. That became abundantly clear when I walked in on him getting plowed from behind by his best friend, and the fact that I wasn’t really torn up about it. I mean, of course, it hurt—I gave three years of my life to a man I thought I would be with forever—but after the initial shock wore off, I’d realized he and I had already been drifting apart.

Despite catching him in the act of cheating on me—with another man, no less—Terry really was a good guy. He was handsome, funny, caring, and the sex was pretty great. Growing up, he had a lot of issues with his dad, which led to him hiding his true sexual preference. A couple of weeks after the incident, we met for lunch. He apologized profusely, and I truly believe he never meant to hurt me. He explained that he had been in love with his best friend for years, but he tried ignoring it because he knew his dad would never accept it.

I left lunch, not angry with Terry, but feeling sorry for him. How hard it must have been to hide part of himself that was so monumental. Yes, he should have sucked it up and stood up to his dad, but I’ve met the man. He was a judgmental prick.

I’m pulled back to the moment when the officiant announces James and Juliet as husband and wife. I dab a tissue I had tucked in the small bouquet I’m carrying under my eye when James swoops down and plants a scorching kiss against his new wife’s lips. Everyone cheers and claps, happy for the newly married couple.

I glance back at Enzo, and I’m mesmerized once again at the proud grin on his face. I don’t know how I missed it before, but he has a small dimple on his left cheek. Unbidden, an image of me licking that dimple flashes through my mind.

As if he knows what I’m thinking, his gaze moves to me and his grin turns into a smirk. At his wink, I blush and move my eyes away.

I really need to get my act together. This day is all about Juliet and James, not my obsessive desire for Enzo.

Several hours later, I’m sitting at one of the reception tables drinking a glass of the finest champagne money can buy. Juliet would have been fine with a simpler wedding, but James wanted to give her the best of everything. He certainly spared no expense.

“They really do look beautiful together,” Nikki says wistfully beside me, taking a sip from her own glass. “I’m kinda jealous right now.”

I laugh and look at Juliet and James on the dance floor. After pictures were taken, Juliet switched out of her wedding dress into something more comfortable. She loves to dance, and it would have been near impossible to do so in her dress.

I look back at my friend. “I have no doubt there’s a guy out there waiting to give you a day just like this.”

She snorts as she snags another glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “He may be waiting, but that doesn’t mean I am. Can you imagine me being with only one man for the rest of my life?” She has a point. Nikki loves men in a variety. “Besides,” she bumps her shoulder with mine, “I’m betting on you being the next one of us to take the plunge into domestic life.”

I choke on my champagne, almost spitting it out through my nose. Nikki pats my back helpfully, like she’s not the one who almost killed me.

“Are you drunk?” I wheeze. “How the hell am I going to get married when there aren’t any contenders?’

“Oh, there’s a contender alright. A very hot one.”

“Who?”

“Come on, Lay,” she says, exasperated. “No one here is blind.