Page 131 of It Couldn't Be You
I could hear my high heels click against the wet pavement as I hurried toward the tall French doors with my big umbrella open overhead. I told the well-dressed hostess waiting by the door that I was there for the rehearsal dinner. She promptly led me through the chandelier-lit rooms winding to the backroom.
I had on a dark blue satin sleeveless dress with a sweetheart neckline. My hair was curled in a way that made me feel like a 60s movie starlet, and my lips were red. When I thought of my lips, I thought of him.
This night was about Katie and Terrence, I reminded myself, as I walked into the party.Not Gabriel and me.
Immediately, Gabriel’s eyes were on me from where he stood in a far corner of the room. He grinned devilishly when he saw me. I had been thinking about him all day long, but I swallowed down the feelings and looked for the bride.
The backroom was all lavish with rich reds, sparkling golds, and vintage French chandeliers hanging overhead, just the place for Champagne toasts.
Katie, in her white silk slip dress, was encircled by people, her friends and family. I joined the circle. She saw me and grabbed my arm, pulling me to her.
“I put the bags in the back of your car before I came inside,” I whispered.
“Perfect. Thank you,” she said to me. Then, she turned to the whole crew. “I was just telling everyone how our Canadian guests are staying the night in Denver. They’re staying at a hotel by the airport and keeping an eye out to hop on the earliest flight to Texas that they can.”
I could hear the thunder through the rain-soaked windows. “I’ll be praying it lets up soon,” I said.
“Hey,” Gabriel whispered against the back of my neck. I quickly turned to him, leaving the group.
“I like this.” He touched my dress, also touching my waist.
“No shenanigans tonight, remember?” I said quietly, trying to remember how to breathe a single breath. “Katie’s special orders.”
“I would never shenanigan on Wedding Eve,” he promised in earnest. I raised an eyebrow. He winked.
Then, Mr. Hernandez tapped a glass, so we all turned to listen. It was time to find our seats, he told us. I wasn’t seated by Gabriel. I was seated with a couple of other bridesmaids and close friends who weren’t related to Katie. Gabriel was at a table behind mine, but I was seated at an angle where I could see him out of the corner of my eye. He noticed.
He kept leaning back in his chair and glancing at me. To me it felt like we were making a scene, though no one else would think anything of it. Except maybe those in the room who knew what we were up to yesterday. When someone said something funny during a toast, we would look at each other and laugh together, as if sharing each joke, like passing a note.
Terrence was belly laughing at Katie’s brothers’ shared stories, tearing up at her parent’s prayers, and squeezing Katie’s hand. I watched all of it. He was enjoying the evening even though it wasn’t going to plan, wasn’t his vision of perfect, and was lacking essential people. The person who seemed the most distracted by the family missing was his soon-to-be-wife. I sipped my Champagne and said another prayer for the rain to stop, even as I heard it hammering on the roof.
The dinner ended. People were taking photos and exchanging hugs before running out the door armed with umbrellas. I was talking to Tanya, letting her newest son chew on my finger, when Gabriel appeared beside us.
“Gabe,” she said to him. “I might head out early. I’m worried about London. He was really scared when the storm started up, and now he’s at our house all alone.”
“He would appreciate the company, I’m sure. He’s not a fan of thunder,” Gabe said, then to me, “Jack London was kicked out of Mom and Dad’s due to wedding festivities and his love of chewing.”
“No one wants a chewed-up wedding veil,” I said.
“Okay, can you tell Mom and Dad for us? I haven’t been able to get either of them alone to talk to them. I’ll stop off at home to deposit my husband and the kids before I join up for the bachelorette festivities. I still need to pack my overnight bag, anyway.”
“Sure,” he said. She disappeared into the party, leaving Gabe and me alone.
It was like the moment our eyes locked, all the air left the room, along with all the chitchat and music. It was just us two.
He stepped closer to me. “So, about yesterday.”
“Before we were interrupted,” I said.
“You said, and I quote, ‘I’m going to be with you.’” His voice was a notch above a whisper.
“I did.” I bit my lip.
“Was that an invitation or an order?” He asked.
“More of an announcement.”
“Thanks for letting me know.” He touched his fingers to mine.
