EVAN AND I walked into the crowded banquet hall, where I introduced him to Bianca and Kirk. He and Kirk hit it off instantly, bonding over college football. Bianca excused us and dragged me over to the bar to get a drink, where we were met by Shelby.
“You look so happy, Shel,” I gushed, hugging her tightly. “I’m so happy for you and Michael.”
“I’m so glad you are both here with me. I can’t imagine tomorrow without you.”
“You know you couldn’t keep us away,” Bianca said. “And we’ll get back to you in a second, but I have question for Becs.”
“What did I do?” I asked innocently.
“Who is Evan and why have I not heard about him before?”
“Did you call me, babe?” Evan asked as he walked over, wrapping his arm around my waist. Kirk stood next to Bianca and kissed the top of her head.
I smiled up at Evan and shook my head. “I was just about to tell Bianca about us.”
“No offense, but my friend here has been very tight-lipped. I didn’t even know she was seeing anyone,” Bianca accused.
“Damn, Becs…are you ashamed of me?” he teased, and I wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly.
“Of course not! I just wanted you all to myself.”
“You two are so cute it’s disgusting,” Bianca said with a smirk. “Okay, so…how did you meet?”
I opened my mouth to speak but Evan beat me to it, spouting off the one lie that I knew she would see through.
“She fell for me the moment she saw me,” he said with a straight face.
I watched as Bianca processed the information, her face alternating from disbelief to annoyance almost in a flash.
“Like literally fell,” he said, and then laughed. “We were standing near the elevator arguing because she was annoyed that my dog had escaped from my apartment without her leash. She was so flustered that she tripped over her camera bag.”
“Now that sounds like Becs,” Bianca laughed. “Not an ounce of grace in that body.”
“Who needs grace when you look like her?” he asked, and my skin heated at his compliment.
Shelby grinned and nodded her approval. She was the only person who knew the real story about Evan, but I wouldn’t be shocked if she decided to tell Michael too. We just needed to get through the weekend without anyone else finding out.
“Don’t look now, but James just walked in,” Bianca said with a sneer. She was never a fan of my ex, but even less so after he cheated. When she’d found out he was invited to the wedding, she called me, irate, and I had to calm her down so she didn’t attack Shelby. Considering that Michael and James were friends, it wasn’t surprising that he would be there.
Evan dropped his lips near my ear and whispered, “You ready?”
I looked up into his eyes and smiled. “Wanna go find our seats?”
“Lead the way,” he said, taking my hand in his.
We walked toward one of the front tables and spotted our place markers. Evan pulled out my chair and then took a seat next to me, draping his arm lazily over the back of my chair. I was beginning to relax and took a sip of my wine when James walked over to our table.
“Looks like we’re sitting here,” he said, pointing to the chairs across the way.
My pulse began to race and I squirmed in my seat, but Evan began tracing lazy circles on my exposed arm. He leaned in and whispered something to me, but I couldn’t quite hear. When I turned to ask him to repeat the words, our faces were inches apart and he smiled before kissing the tip of my nose. I was momentarily shocked until I remembered that James was still looking at us.
“Clearly there was a mix-up,” Bianca said, glaring at James.
“Bianca,” he started with his sarcastic tone. “Always good to see you.”
“Wish I could say the same,” she nearly growled.
There was no love lost between Bianca and James; she’d practically hated him the moment she met him. Still, I tapped her foot under the table and she shot me an angry look. I ignored it, opting to lean in closer to Evan. He didn’t seem to mind as he held me a little closer.
“Hey Becca,” James said as he sat down.
“James,” I muttered evenly.
I didn’t miss the fact that he didn’t pull out his fiancée’s chair or even introduce her to any of us. I felt bad