Page 61 of The Significance of Moving On

This news is so monumental that I really think they need some, I don’t know, buddy bonding time or something. With being plagued by all these lasts over the past months since Tom left, it’s nice to be here, to bear witness to such an exciting first. While I start clearing the table I tell them, “why don’t you two go talk in the living room. I’ll clean up here.”

“No. You cooked.” Casey protests.

It doesn’t matter, I shoo them off. “Nonsense. Your friend is here. Go. I’ll let you clean next time.” Apparently love does strange things to the independent minded girl because when Casey leans in, brushing his thumb across my chin and kisses me I don’t care that I just maneuvered myself into the role of “the little woman”.

Jesse stays for two nights before he has to get back to work and his woman. He misses seeing D but the three of them Facetime for about an hour that second one. After he leaves Casey and I fall into a blissful pattern of normalcy.

He gets up and goes to work and I go to school. We shop together most of the time. We cook together and eat together. No, it’s not lost on me that I’m a senior in high school living with my boyfriend, but nothing about this year has been normal. Why should senior year be any different? We do what works for us. Outsider opinions be dammed.

It’s hard to remember the last time I was this happy being normal and before it seems possible the month passes and we’re sitting in the ornately decorated church, the whole gang of us—Me, Casey, Demetrius, Kelsey, Chris, Nick and Jesse’s old boss CJ (and his wife)—cheering on our friend.

White and pale pink roses tied up with beautiful white satin bows hang daintily from the end of each pew running the length of the aisle complimenting the white runner leading a path to where Jesse, Casey and Demetrius stand in their black suits and converse all stars.

When the Wedding March starts, we all stand and turn to the rear of the church. Becca’s nieces waddle through the doorway first in their puffy flower girl dresses the way preschoolers do, throwing handfuls of pale pink rose petals on the ground. Her sister, the girls’ mom, moves through next followed by the maid of honor, Bec’s best friend Tammy, and finally Becca herself.

She’s stunning, just a stunning bride, not showing yet which means she can still get away with the formfitting mermaid gown. The groomsmen’s ties are the same color as those flirty bridesmaid’s dresses matching the pale pink rose petals exactly.

I’m at a wedding staring up at the man I love, of course I can’t help thinking about me and Casey like this someday, not that I’d tell him as much. But what self-respecting girl wouldn’t have those thoughts seeing how Jesse can’t take his eyes off of Bec, and the way Casey keeps stealing looks in my direction?

The ceremony they keep short, only taking a half hour from start to finish. As the happy couple files out, the maid of honor and best man follow closely behind, arms linked. Casey winks at me as he passes by me and Kelsey, who squeezes my arm. When D and Becca’s sister pass us, he blows her a kiss.

Ushers release each row of attendees one row at a time starting with the back. When they get to ours, we follow the procession of well-wishers to take our place waiting to shake hands and hug it out in the receiving line.

Tammy, the maid of honor, still has her hand linked around Casey’s arm when we reach them, but in true guy form he’s oblivious, leaning in to kiss me. “Okay sweetheart, you and Kels should just head over to the reception hall. We have pictures after this.”

“Sure. I’ll see you there.” But I stake my claim so Tammy doesn’t get any wayward ideas about my man, and I give Casey more than a little lip touch.

Once I’m confident Jesse’s best man will be wearing lipstick smears in the wedding photos, I move to the bride and groom without Kelsey who has fallen back holding up the line because of Demetrius’ tongue shoved down her throat. “Jesse, Becca—congratulations. I’m ecstatically happy for you both.”

Becca leans in to hug me and she’s positively glowing. “Thanks for loaning us your man for the day.”

“Hey you guys are half the reason heismy man. I’m happy to loan him any time. Kids parties. Bar Mitzvahs.”

We don’t see the bridal party again for another hour. That’s a whole lot of photographs in my opinion, but since I’ve never been married, what do I know?

First thing when Casey walks into the reception hall he searches me out. I love that he searches me out. Unlike many receptions, Jesse and Bec opt not to have a bridal party only table, allowing dates to sit with them.

The food is delicious and the conversations flows. My only issue is the maid of honor who is fast becoming the maid of horror. Yes, it’s a wedding, and yes Casey has duties as the best man, but she finds a reason to steal him away from me every time he tries to talk with me.

She knows I can see through her little act; a blind person could see through her act and that’s beside Casey telling me that she’s been trying to get her hooks in him since high school. Take a damn hint.He doesn’t want you, Tammy.We haven’t even danced together yet. I’ve found myself alone most of the night because Becca’s sister is off with her husband, as she should be, leaving D to keep Kelsey occupied. If I didn’t have to drive Casey home tonight, I’d already have left.

“Hey Tal.”

My back goes ramrod straight from hearing his voice. “Daniel.” I clip, turning my head to look everywhere but where he tries to gain my attention.

“Good to see you looking so—South Beach, what a party, right?”

A party? “Don’t.” If wants a confrontation he’ll get it and lift my finger to poke his chest. “Don’t you dare. You left us,” I say, teeth gritted, nostrils flaring and seeing red. Absolute red.

He raises his hands in front of him as if to say ‘whoa there’. “I’m not your old man. That’s his job to tuck you in at night.”

“Anything could have happened. We could’ve been raped. Hell, Kelsey almost died and you abandoned us with strangers. Turns out Casey was right. Daniel only cares about Daniel.”

“You left her in South Beach? He left you inSouth Beach?” Shit. Casey. His voice goes up at least an octave which can only mean trouble. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I was meeting friends, not hired to babysit. And I told them I had business to attend to. They knew the score.”

“You stupid prick. You fucking piece of shit, Kelsey almost died.” Casey lunges for Daniel, grabbing him by his shirt collar. “Can’t leave my life alone. First Luke, now Tally.”

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