wedding wouldn’t be able to take place on the beach. But Chloe being the ultimate planner ensured a backup plan.
“Now let’s eat!” Dom screamed, receiving applause from us all.
We made the short trek to the nicest restaurant on the resort. It was dimly lit with a romantic ambiance to it. The family and friends who weren’t part of the rehearsal were already there and seated. There were four empty tables along the back corner for the bridal party.
I took the seat closest to the wall and furthest in the corner so I could see everything in front of me. Tisha took the seat to my right. And I smiled when I saw Kingston make a beeline for the seat on my left. Just as he sat down, Chloe stopped in her tracks. She was in the middle of a conversation with one of her family members and she looked at me, then looked at Kingston, then she looked at Corrine and then she looked back at me. I pretended I had no idea what that look was about as I smiled and waved to her.
It’s a table for four! I thought with a sigh. What did she expect me to do?
“Is Chloe going to fight you on her wedding eve?” Tisha asked under her breath as she reached for the menu.
“She’d wait until Sunday to avoid messing up any pictures,” I replied.
She snickered. “That’s the truth.”
“Even if she wanted to send Corrine over here, it’s too late.” I lowered my voice. “Here comes Eli.”
She looked up, saw him heading to our table, and then back down at the menu. “We are never going to be able to tell our stories.”
“In the morning. Before we do whatever is on the itinerary.”
“Deal!”
We shook on it.
“Why do I have the feeling you’re going to get roped into showing Corrine around Atlanta,” Eli speculated, sitting between Kingston and Tisha.
Kingston chuckled. “Chloe already asked me down at the pool today.”
“Are you going to do it?” Latisha wondered.
My focus was on my menu, but I was listening hard.
“I probably won’t have time to be honest. I will link her up with some people though. I’ll look out for her and make sure she’s in good hands,” he answered.
A waiter came over and filled our glasses with water. He said he was going to come back to take our orders.
Eli and Tisha immediately got into a playful argument about the song that was playing. Their attention was fully on one another.
Not allowing my eyes to linger, I glanced quickly at Kingston. “What are you getting?”
“This chicken special,” he responded.
“That sounds good.” I kept looking at the menu, refusing to steal another glance. “I’m trying to decide on my sides.”
I just need to get some food in my stomach to soak up this alcohol and then I’ll be fine.
Eli made a joke on the other side of Kingston and pulled him into their conversation. I was spared for a couple minutes. I took a deep breath, keeping the menu as my focal point.
“You know you’re getting those cheese things, why are you—” Kingston stopped talking abruptly. Lowering his voice, he asked, “Why won’t you look at me? You haven’t looked at me since I sat down.”
“Because you’ve been making me feel some things,” I responded, still staring at the menu.
“Simone.” He waited a few seconds. “Simone, look at me,” he demanded.
With a sigh, I looked at him. The longer I held his gaze, the more I felt the effects of the alcohol coursing through my veins. His eyes darkened and there was a surge of something carnal that started at my core and radiated throughout my body. What he said earlier played like music in my ears and I couldn’t take it any longer. I tore my eyes away from him.
“I think I will order the cheese things… and the side salad,” I murmured finally, staring at the menu in front of me.
He leaned closer to me. “Why can’t you look at me?” he uttered.
“Because when you look at me like that, all I can think about is what you said earlier,” I answered softly, the words rolling off my tongue before I could stop them.
He exhaled audibly. “Which part?”
Looking up, I scanned the room. Chloe and Dom were finally in their seats at the next table with the best man, Tyler, and maid of honor, Maria. Omar and Corrine were at the table on the other side of them with Tanzania and Kenny, friends from college who