I’m seated next to Elijah. It doesn’t bother me until he keeps leaning over to his other side and kisses Adriana. It’s fucking awkward, and the champagne they serve is for pussies. Just before the starters is to be served, I decide to make a quick dash to the men’s room then grab something hard at the bar.
On my way there, I run into Rocky and Nikki in the hallway. I could swear she had her hair in a bun at the church, and now it’s out, sitting messily on her shoulders.
“Babe, can you excuse us for a second?” Nikki asks Rocky.
He walks back into ballroom with a giant smirk on his face. That fucker just got blown. Nikki’s lipstick appears fresh as if it was reapplied minutes ago. I wouldn’t put it past them.
“First of all, that prank you pulled wasn’t funny. However, it serves him right for begging for the floorshow.”
“I can’t argue with that one,” I reply with a small chuckle.
“Look, you know me, I’m just going to say it how it is. I was there when Charlie found out. She’s very fragile right now… I want you to take that into consideration.”
“Nikki…”
“No, Lex, look… I’m butting out. This is your business. She’s your wife now. All I ask is that you take good care of her, okay? She’s family to me.”
I nod in silence. Charlotte means a lot to many people, and in no way, moving forward, do I want to hurt her anymore. Then, I remember Nikki just said Charlotte is my wife now. So, Charlotte told her. Does that mean what I think it means?
Nikki walks away, leaving me standing alone thinking about what she said and forgetting my urgent need to take a piss.
I quickly duck in and out of the bathroom, then make my way back to the table. Entrée is served, and we all sit there chatting amongst ourselves. I know it’s almost time for the speeches, but some moron in the crowd keeps tinkering with their glass. It’s that stupid tradition where one person starts tapping their fork against the glass and the whole room follows which forces the couple to kiss. It’s like the tenth time it has happened tonight, and after close examination, I realize it’s Rocky who always starts it.
Looking over at Rocky, I shoot him a fuck-off-and-stop-doing-that look. With a wide grin, he raises his glass to me before drinking it all in one go.
A few moments later, the MC announces it’s speech time. Thankfully, I’m second in line though I’m not worried about speaking in front of everyone. This is nothing compared to the large auditoriums where I have given speeches and presentations in front of the most powerful people in the world.
But I’ll have to follow my dad.
And that’s something else.
Dad is up first, and I know his speech will be emotional given Adriana is his only daughter. I recall my first wedding, his speech, and how everyone cried. This will be ten times worse.
“Thank you all for coming here today to celebrate the marriage of my beautiful and only daughter, Adriana, and my new and hopefully only son-in-law, Elijah.”
The crowd lets out a small laugh. My father is always witty, engaging people when needed.
“Even since Adriana could talk, she was obsessed with weddings. Her first failed marriage was at three. I walked into the living room and found all her dolls and bears dressed up sitting in rows. Adriana was wearing a Cinderella costume with a crown. I asked her what she was doing, and she said she was getting married and waiting at the altar for her groom. I couldn’t help but be amused by this little girl’s imagination, so I asked her who her groom was, and she simply replied, ‘Alex.’”
Laughter fills the room as I recall the memory. At the time, I was nine and having a little sister around was rather annoying.
“Her second failed marriage attempt was at the age of eight. We were due to move to Carmel in about a week. Adriana came rushing through the house with a basket full of items. I asked her why the rush and what was she doing. She explained that she was eloping in the backyard, and that we all needed to be there because she was marrying the next-door neighbors’ kid before we left. I explained to her again that marriage wasn’t something you committed to with just anyone. I still remember her