And my dress was the worst thing about it.
Because I looked like someone who was the opposite of myself. Someone I had pretended to be for years.
But Livy, God, she looked so gorgeous and so happy as she walked down the aisle on her brother’s arm. She didn’t wear a coy smile as the photographer that came with the chapel started snapping photos of her. No. Livy’s smile took over her face as she leaned into her brother.
Mason took his place behind Parker after he placed Livy’s hand into his, and everyone laughed when Livy whispered, “Holy shit. We’re doing this.”
Then Elvis started talking and the whole damn thing was magical.
“The bride and the groom have prepared their own vows,” the Elvis impersonator said with his horrible Elvis voice.
Parker cleared his throat as he pulled a piece of paper out of his pocket that looked like it had been wadded up then straightened back out at least ten times.
He took a deep breath and looked up at his girl. “Livy, I don’t really remember the day that I fell in love with you because I feel like I have been cliff diving into you since I was sixteen years old. I never stood a chance. You were always the only choice, and I do choose you. I choose you to be the one who I walk through this life with. I choose you to fight with. I choose you to make up with. I choose you to be the one who pushes me to be a better man, and I choose you to be the one who talks during movies even though you know it drives me crazy. I will choose you every day for the rest of our lives because I swear that I couldn’t love you any more than I do now, but God, I know I will fall more in love with you tomorrow.”
I wiped at my eyes as I watched tears stream down Livy’s face. She pulled a piece of paper out of the pocket of her dress and shook out her trembling hands.
“No pressure, huh?”
Everyone laughed including Elvis then Livy took a deep breath.
“Even though I am unsure about most things in life, I know with everything inside of me that I love you and will love you forever. I know that we will face many trials together, but I vow that we won’t face them alone. I vow to always laugh at your jokes even when they are questionable, and I vow to try my hardest not to use all of the hot water. I vow to pick you up any time you are down and to always remind you why we fell so madly in love with each other. More than anything, I vow to love you fiercely for the rest of our days. I love you.”
“By the power vested in me by the State of Nevada, I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride.”
Parker reached out for Livy and dipped her back as he devoured her mouth with his. Mason and I cheered while Brandon catcalled, and Parker took his time kissing his wife before he straightened her back to her feet.
“Ladies and gentlemen”—Elvis shook his hips—“it is my honor to present to you Mr. and Mrs. Parker James.”
Parker bent down and scooped Livy into his arms and carried her back down the aisle bridal style while she laughed uncontrollably, and I knew in that moment that I would never get married again. Not until I found a love like that.
Mason
My sister and best friend were married.
They were married and so deeply in love, and for the first time in my entire life, I felt truly jealous of what they had.
We had been celebrating for the last hour or so, and Staci had managed to avoid me for the entirety of it. She had barely even looked my way.
But I was tired of it.
Livy and Parker were out on the dance floor, and Staci was taking a shot at the bar with Brandon. She had been drinking since we had arrived at the club. Far more than I had ever seen her drink before.
I walked up beside her at the bar and reached for the next shot she was about to take. She narrowed her eyes at me as I threw it down my throat, but she didn’t say a word to me. She just held out her hand for the bartender and ordered another shot.
I could tell she was drunk, and I knew that it wasn’t the time or place to have an argument with her, but I couldn’t just stand back there watching her while she pretended like I didn’t exist.
“I think you’ve had enough. Don’t you?”
Brandon raised his eyebrows before he picked up his own drink off the bar and walked away.
“I’m pretty sure I already have a dad, Mason, but thank you for your concern.” She patted my chest with her hand, and I felt that touch like a brand.
“Do you?” I cocked an eyebrow at her.
“I wouldn’t know considering you never tell me anything.”
She started to turn away from me, but I touched her cheek to stop her. “Like where the hell have you been for the last three weeks?”
“I went home to see my dad.” She pulled her face away from my touch.
“Just like that. You decided to go and left without saying anything.”
“I don’t have to tell you what my plans are, Mason. I don’t owe you any sort of explanation.”
“Don’t you?”
She looked away from me again, but I wasn’t done with her.
“So, what? You get to tell me to fuck off and because you said so, I’m supposed to just stop having feelings for you?”
“You don’t have feelings for me, Mason.” She stepped away from me, but I followed her.
“You don’t get to tell me what I feel.”
She kept walking ahead of me, but I knew she could hear my words. I knew they were affecting her.
“Just stop, Mason.” She spun toward me and I almost ran into her. “I’m done talking about this. I’m going to my room. Just let me go. Okay?”
“Okay.” She looked as shocked by my words as I felt. “But you’re not walking to your room alone. I’ll walk you there then I will leave you alone.”
She rolled her eyes, but she didn’t argue as she led the way to our rooms that were all beside each other.
We walked down the hallway to the elevator which was packed with people who were either leaving the club or the casino, and I couldn’t help but smile when she was forced to stand right on top of me due to the lack of space.
Her arms were crossed and she refused to look at me as the elevator stopped floor by floor letting people off, and as soon as there was enough room, she moved away from me as if she was on fire.
An older gentleman at the other side of the elevator raised an eyebrow at me. “Lover’s quarrel?”
Staci’s gaze jumped up to him before she turned to look at me.
“Something like that.”
Staci huffed, but the man just continued.
“My wife has always been stubborn as a mule too, but let me tell you, son, she’s worth it.”
I started to reply to him, but Staci beat me to it. “I am not stubborn, and I am not his lover.” She hiked her thumb over her shoulder to point at me.
“Could have fooled me, sweetheart.” He winked at her as the elevator came to a stop, and he walked off.
“The nerve of some people,” Staci mumbled to herself but still didn’t look at me.
When the elevator finally stopped on our floor, she was walking out the door before it had completely opened.
I could feel the anger rolling off her, but I didn’t know what the hell she had to be angry about. If anyone had the right to be angry, it was me. Not her.